GREECE: ATHLETICS - GERMANY'S JENS LUKAS WINS THIS YEARS 246KM SPARTATHLON FOOT RACE FROM ATHENS TO SPARTA

Record ID: 646132

  • Title: GREECE: ATHLETICS - GERMANY'S JENS LUKAS WINS THIS YEARS 246KM SPARTATHLON FOOT RACE FROM ATHENS TO SPARTA
  • Date: 26th September 1999
  • Summary: BETWEEN ATHENS AND SPARTA, GREECE 1. EVENTUAL WINNER JENS LUKAS RUNNING AT NIGHT NEAR SPARTA 2. JEAN PIERRE GUYOMARCH, WHO FINISHED SECOND, BEING WARMED WITH A BLANKET DURING RACE 3. GUYOMARCH RUNNING 4. STATUE OF LEONIDAS IN SPARTA, FINISH POINT 5. LUKAS ARRIVING WITH HANDS IN AIR AT FINISH 6. LUKAS TOUCHES STATUE AND WREATH PLACED ON LUKAS HEAD 7. (SOUDNBITE) (ENGLISH) LUKAS SAYING I didnt think I would win with such runners like James Zerai (in the race). I thought I could take third place, I cannot believe it, Ii am very happy this is the biggest event in my life." 8. GUYOMARCH FINISHING Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 11th October 1999 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SPARTA, GREECE
  • Country: Greece
  • Reuters ID: LVALH590U6Y9N70DZACSXCFBW9A
  • Story Text: Germany's Jens Lukas won this year's 246 km Spartathlon
    foot race from Athens to Sparta.It was the German's fourth
    attempt at the race which he called the biggest event of his life.

    Raising his hands in the air in triumph, the exhausted
    but jubilant 33-year-old reached the finishing line in the
    town of Sparta after running for 25 hours 38 minutes.

    Lukas said it was the biggest moment in his life after
    attempting the race three times before.He said he didnt
    expect to win with such strong runners as competition, and had
    hoped for third place.

    He said many runners had difficulties because of the heat
    during the day during the race, and he said for him the first
    day was the hardest and he tried to keep the tempo slow during
    the day.

    Second place went to 45-year-old Jean Pierre Guyomarch
    from France with a time of 27.08.57.

    Jun Onoki of Japan, 44, took third place with a time of
    27.16.36.Both runners had run before.Many of the Spartathlon
    runners, who come from all over the world, were over the age
    of forty this year.

    Of the 26 countries participating France, Japan and
    Germany had the highest turnouts, France with 52 runners,
    Japan with 54 and Germany with 21.

    Last year's race was won by Greek Constantine Reppos with a
    time of 25:11.Repos, who also ran this year but had to drop
    out near Corinth because of stomach problems.

    The best time for the 246km foot race is held by a Greek,
    Yannis Kouros won with a time of 20:25 in 1984.

    The race covers difficult terrain, the athletes running
    through the night through mountains and valleys after setting
    off from Athens.The route retraces the legendary journey of
    Greek military messenger Pheidippides who ran 246 kilometres
    from Athens to Sparta for reinforcements against the Persian
    invasion in the 5th century B.C.The race is now in its 17th year.

    It has become one of the most popular races in the world
    with participants coming from as far as Argentina.

    The only prize for the winner is a olive wreath once they
    reach the statue of Leonidas, the ancient king of Sparta.


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