Athens, Greece – November 10, 2024 – Babis Pitsolis and Matina Noula stormed to victory in the 41st Authentic Marathon today, claiming the titles of Greek Marathon Champions in dramatic fashion.
The Panathenaic Stadium witnessed a thrilling finish as both athletes delivered stunning late-race surges to secure their gold medals.
Pitsolis (GAS Ilissos), coached by Giorgos Zorzos, unleashed an impressive burst of speed in the final two kilometers, overtaking Panagiotis Karaiskos (Iraklis) to cross the finish line with a time of 2:18:56.
This victory marks Pitsolis’s second national title, adding to his 2022 win. Karaiskos finished a close second at 2:19:50, followed by Giorgos Menis (AOPF) at 2:21:41.
In the women’s race, Matina Noula delivered a similarly powerful performance. Around the 28th kilometer, Noula launched her attack, overtaking Gloria Privileggio (GS Glyfadas) to win her first Authentic Marathon title. Noula’s victory was even more impressive as she shattered the Greek championship record with a time of 2:40:20, eclipsing Tina Kefala’s previous mark of 2:40:36. Privileggio finished second with a time of 2:41:58, while Giota Vlachaki (GAS Ilissos) secured third place at 2:47:28.
An elated Pitsolis commented on his victory, "When I saw the time – I didn't expect to achieve it here! I'm so happy, especially with the way it happened because I had so much energy left after the 30th kilometer… This race is definitely in my Top 2 favorite races.”
Karaiskos, while disappointed to miss out on the win, graciously congratulated Pitsolis: "The truth is, I didn't expect Babis Pitsolis to perform so well… He was very good."
Noula, still emotional after her win, said, "I still haven't processed it… I had trained very well for so long… I think I believed deep down that I could win.”
Privileggio, reflecting on her second-place finish, remarked, "I did my best, but I didn't manage to win… I'm not satisfied with my tactics. That’s sport.”
This year's Authentic Marathon proved to be a captivating spectacle, showcasing the resilience and determination of Greece's top marathon runners. The thrilling finishes and record-breaking performance by Noula will undoubtedly be remembered as highlights of the 2024 race.