Uganda’s Abel Chelangat produced a strong late surge to win the men’s race at the Zurich Barcelona Marathon on Sunday, clocking 2:04:57 to secure victory in one of the weekend’s fastest marathon finishes.
Chelangat pulled away in the closing stages after a tight battle with Kenya’s Patrick Mosin. The pair had broken from the rest of the field earlier and reached the 40km mark together in 1:58:40, setting up a tense run to the finish in the streets of Barcelona.
The Ugandan made his decisive move near a water station with just over two kilometres remaining. Once he accelerated, Mosin struggled to respond as Chelangat quickly created a small gap and maintained control through the final stretch.
He crossed the line first in 2:04:57, just four seconds ahead of Mosin, who finished second in 2:05:01. Kenya’s Jonathan Samanayo Korir completed the podium in 2:05:29.
Chelangat’s victory highlighted a strong performance in a race that also saw standout results in the women’s field. Ethiopia’s Fotyen Tesfay delivered one of the fastest marathon debuts in history, winning the women’s race in 2:10:51 to move to second on the world all time list.
While Tesfay’s run grabbed global attention, Chelangat’s composed finish ensured Uganda had a major moment in Barcelona, claiming the men’s title after a patient and perfectly timed attack in the final kilometres.
