A "Galaxy Entertainment Macau International Marathon 2024" was concluded with great success on Sunday 1 December at the Olympic Sports Centre Stadium. The event, co-organised by Sports Bureau, Galaxy Entertainment Group and Macau General Athletics Association, celebrated the 75th anniversary of the People's Republic of China and the 25th anniversary of the Macau Special Administrative Region.
In the marathon, the Ethiopian athlete Fikadu Debele Kebebe stood out as he defended his title as overall men's champion with a time of 2:12:16. In the women's race, the Russian Alexandra Morozova, who completed the race in 2:34:22. In the category of athletes from Macau, Wang Kun broke the local record with 2:24:35, while Wu Yangyang became the women's champion.
Routes and Participation
The routes for the 43rd edition included crossing the Governador Nobre de Carvalho and Sai Van bridges, as well as passing through the integrated Galaxy Macau™ resort, for a total of 42.195 kilometres. The races, which started at 6am, also included half marathons and mini marathons, attracting elite athletes and local and international enthusiasts.
Marathon results
In the men's general classification, second place was won by the Kenyan Anderson Seroijust two seconds behind the winner, followed by Ethiopia's Mesfin Teshome Bekele. For women, Rodah Tanui e Kirongo key, both from Kenya, took second and third place respectively.
In the Macau athletes category, Fong Ieng Wai e Leong Kin Keicompleted the men's podium, while Chio Tong Tong e Xu Zhonghuangfollowed Wu Yangyang in the women's.
Half Marathon results
In the Half Marathon, the Kenyan Mathew Samperu was the overall men's champion with a time of 01:04:50 while Emebet Getawy Beyene, from Ethiopia, took the women's title. Among the athletes from Macau, the champions were Wong Chin Wa e Wong San Sanin the respective men's and women's age groups.
In the men's race, the representatives of the Olympic Committees of Portuguese-speaking Countries (ACOLOP) came 4th. Daniel Wacanhuco Emídio of Angola with a time of 01:08:20, 6th place went to Artur Jorge Fortes Silva of Cape Verde, 7th place o Ismael Tavares de Carvalho of Santo Tomé and Príncipe, 8th place o Cristiano Francisco Mendes of Guinea Bissau9th place o Chin Wa Wong of RAEMacau, and 15° o Teddy Davecelia Cardozo of Goa, India.
In the women's race, 4th place went to Lucia Kawele Chissapa Capingala of Angola7th place to Jessara Rosana Xavier Lopes dos Santos of Cape Verde and 9th place to San San Wong of RAEMacau.
Mini Marathon results
In Mini Marathon (4.5 kilometres) the winners included Leong Kai In in the men's category, with a time of 00:15:12 and the athlete Rosa Mota in the women's race with a time of 00:16:52 and winner of the race in 2019 and 2023.
Special Awards and Recognitions
In addition to the traditional medals and trophies, the event awarded the "Active Group Cup" and the "Most Creative Costume Award", encouraging fun and group participation. A novelty was the "Macao Sovereignty Transfer to China Cup", honouring the top three finishers in the marathon and half marathon.
Among the distinguished attendees were Rosa Mota, the Portuguese Olympic gold medallist, several local authorities and representatives of the Galaxy Entertainment Group.
