Ethiopia's Lelisa Desisa has won the men's midnight marathon in a sprint finish at the World Athletics Championships in Qatar, ending an 18-year-wait for a world title over the long distance for his country. Desisa, last year's New York marathon winner and world silver medallist in Moscow six years ago, became the first Ethiopian to win the title on Sunday since Gezahegne Abera in 2001. "I am the second man from my country to win this title and it is not just for me, it is for my country." Fifty-five of the 73 starters completed the course for the men's marathon, with the last runner, Nicolas Cuestas of Uruguay, finishing half an hour behind the winner. The 17th edition of the world championships, the first to be held in a Middle Eastern country, will wrap up on Sunday.

Source: Ethiopian News October 06, 2019 09:45 UTC