by RBR Admin
Austrian Women’s Run start, Credits: Agentur Diener
We thought you would like to see how large the Austrian Women’s Run is, with over 35,000 women in Vienna on May 20, 2017. Special thanks to race management for this story and photos.
30th Austrian Women’s Run on May 21st 2017
Vienna
ï‚· 35.140 participants at the 30th Austrian Women’s Run in Vienna
ï‚· Sara Moreira (POR) wins the 5k Eliteâ€Competition with 15:35,4 min
ï‚· Fastest Austrian Jennifer Wenth places 9th (16:51,4 min)
35.140 Women and girls from 90 nations participated in the 30th Austrian Women’s Run on Sunday, May 21st 2017 and celebrated the special anniversary. In 1988 everything began with 440 pioneers at the starting line, today the Austrian Women’s Run is among the leading women’s runs worldwide.
The internationally and nationally starâ€studded elite-field ensured a highly exciting race, which included the winners of the last 12 years, in celebration of this year’s anniversary.
Sara Moreira (POR) wins the 5K eliteâ€competition in 15:34,4 min
After very strong first kilometers with a running time of 3:02 minutes (at km 1) the elite field was still lead by Susan Krumins (NLD) and the young Kenyan runner Pauline Naragoi Esikon. After a change in leadership, the competition favorites Sara Moreira (POR) and Susan Krumins (NLD) were still sharing the forefront at kilometer 4, on the final straight however, Moreira was able to prove herself against her toughest competition.
The reigning European half marathon champion and last year’s winner Sara Moreira from Portugal wins the 5k elite competition in 15:35,4 min and could also improve her running time from the previous year (15:37,1 min). “I’m very happy with my victory in Vienna. Thank you people of Vienna for this big support,” she says thrilled by the great atmosphere and numerous spectators.
The Dutsch medium and longâ€range runner Susan Krumins followed and placed 2nd with a running time 15:40,1 min. Krumins, who was the second best European and placed 8th with a time of 15:00,00 min at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, competed in the Austrian Women’s Run for the first time. “I really enjoyed the race – a nice and fast course. I had some problems in advance so I came in with no expectations for today. But I do want to come back, be better prepared and I do want to beat the course record. The race today gave me confidence to start the season.”
Pauline Naragoi Esikon (KEN) who ran for the Austrianâ€Kenyan running project run2gether, finished the 5K race in 15:53,2 minutes and came in 3rd.
Fastest Austrian Jennifer Wenth
Jennifer Wenth, the Olympian finalist and among top 5 European runners over 5.000m in 2015, was not able to carry through with her regular training plan, due to various injuries. The Austrian Women’s Run helped to determine her status, with a running time of 16:51,4 minutes over 5K she placed 9th in the strongly represented eliteâ€field. “I was happy to compete in the race. I felt good. The atmosphere on the course was very good.”
In total 28 national athletes were at this year’s Austrian Women’s Run. The fastest Austrians after Jennifer Wenth, were Bernadette Schuster (17:20,2 min), Julia Mayer (17:26,3 min), Cornelia Moser (17:53,9 min) followed by Franziska Füsselberger with 17:59,9 min.
Women’s Runâ€pioneer Kathrine Switzer (US) visited Vienna on occasion of the anniversary and ran with the starting number 35.000 (Time: 27:20,6 min over 5K).
35.140 Starters from 90 nations participate
A total of 90 nations were represented at the anniversary of the Austrian Women’s Run. With a fantastic atmosphere at the start, on course and in the finishing area, each runner showed her personal bestâ€performance.
„I never dreamed, that one day 35.000 participants would participate in the Austrian Women’s Run. That was unimaginable 30 years ago. I am very happy, that the passion for running is being passed on over generations and that so many women share this passion” Ilse Dippmann, Initiator and Organizer of the Austrian Women’s Run. In this year’s race, and age difference of 81 years set apart the youngest participant (6 years old) and oldest participant (87 years old).
Anniversary specials
Time to celebrate! – This is the motto of the 30th Austrian Women’s Run. After the run, at the biggest award ceremony in Austria, the elite runners as well as all of the top 3 runners in each ageâ€group are honored and the anniversary is celebrated accordingly by all participants and thousands of visitors on the festival grounds with a fun filled program, including music and more.
5K Elite Competiton
1. Sara Moreira (POR) †15:35,4 min, 2. Susan Krumins (NLD) – 15:40,1 min, 3. Pauline Esikon (KEN) – 15:53,2 min, 4. Krisztina Papp (HUN) – 16:05,5 min, 5. Jessica O’Connell (CAN) – 16:09,7 min
Facts & Figures 2017
11 internationale elite runners 28 national elite runners
90 nations
149 schools
5.008 school participants (incl. 546 teachers)
6.263 girls under 18 years 35.140 starters in total
youngest participant – Birthyear 2011 oldest participant – Birthyear 1930
