(07/11/2005)

Kenyan James Saina and Ethiopian Sisay Measo were both winners at the 23rd edition of the Athens Classic Marathon.

The duo led the African domination in both men’s and women’s race in a good weather condition at the town of Marathon - the original marathon course used for the last Olympics Games in 2004.

Saina, with a personal best of 2:15:24 (Napoli, April 2005), led a group of Kenyans that include Sammy Chemweno, Paul Kanda and Michale Kimutai along with Ethiopian Gebre Gebremariam winning his first ever marathon race in 2:16:05.

Chemweno was second in 2:16:14 while Kanda settled for third in 2:16:57.

Ethiopia’s Sisay Measo took a relatively confortable women's race in 2:38:39.

Countrywoman Hiruet Abera came a distant second in 2:41:30 whilst the reigning Greek champion, Georgia Ambatzidou, finished third in 2:42:50 - her fifth consecutive national title.

Click here for the complete Athens Marathon 2005 results