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Ethiopian Women Dominate in Beautiful Budapest

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By Clay Shaw
All photos courtesy of Michael Scott

August 26, 2023, Budapest, Hungary, World Championships Marathon—I had been to Budapest twice before, and was really hoping to be there in person in 2023.  But, things didn’t workout as hoped.  The next best thing was to watch live on CNBC at 1 AM and hear Kara Goucher’s thoughtful expertise.  The coverage was awesome and featured extended coverage of the finish and looks back to secondary packs.  The scenery of Budapest was quite the star of the show, too:  the start and finish at Heroes’ Square, the long straightaway on Andrassy Avenue, the Opera House (with performers), the St Istvan Basilica (St Stephen’s), the Szechenyi Bridge or Chain Bridge, and through a tunnel on the Buda side of the Danube under Castle Hill.  The runners competed on the 10k loop with a short 2.195 km extension (good for TV and the athletes to check out what’s going on behind or ahead of them).

USA’s Susanna Sullivan of Reston, VA led on the first lap through Buda and Pest.  The fifth-grade school teacher said she had some knee inflammation and needed to be comfortable away from the congestion of the lead pack. Although her knee gave her problems, she held on to finish. Heat and humidity contributed to some discomfort for the competitors, but water, sponges, and their own aid stations helped, as did the 7 AM start and a fair amount of shade.

While the rest of the field caught Sullivan after 10k, the pace was conservative.  USA’s Keira D’Amato of Midlothian, VA, led the large group of athletes through the halfway split in 1:14:30. Keira recently set a new USA half-marathon record of 1:06:39 at the Gold Coast Half Marathon in Australia.  Like Sullivan, D’Amato experienced hip flexor and other issues.  She worked through the issues to finish 17th in 2:31:15.

Lindsay Flanagan of Louisville, CO had solid day, placing in the top ten, with a ninth place finish in 2:27:47 on the penultimate day of competition at the World Championships. Kudos to all three USA women.

At Heroes’ Square at 32k, four Ethiopians led the field and they were impressively ramping it up. Amane Beriso Shankule, the Ethiopian record holder (2:14:58) and second at 2023 Boston Marathon, began to take charge.  At 34k Tshey Gemechu just stopped, done.  The three remaining Ethiopians were racing, and soon Gotytom Gebreslase was dropping back on the Chain Bridge.  On the Buda side of the Danube, Beriso (Shankule) began to break away from Yalemzerf Yehualaw and ran alone in front. 

Crossing back across the Danube, Gebreslase caught and passed Yehualaw to take over second place.  Gebreslase, who won in Eugene, Oregon in 2022, was looking to medal again.  She closed half of the gap on Beriso, but in the end it was Amane Beriso Shankule with the 2:24:23 win and Gotytom Gebreslase with a 2:24:34 for the silver medal in second.

Behind them Yehualaw was fading, and there would be no Ethiopian sweep.  Fatima Gardadi of Morocco, who was charging with great mindful form and strength, passed Yehualaw and earned the bronze medal in 2:25:17, a first for Morocco in the women’s marathon.  Gardadi, running strong, had to hold off 2022 bronze medalist Lonah Salpeter of Israel, who placed a solid fourth in 2:25:38.  Yehualaw, was at one point flailing her arms to try anything to keep herself going, and did place fifth in 2:26:13.

65 women completed the World Championships Marathon.  A shout out to fellow photographer Michael Scott for use of his great photos.

Full results here

Top Finshers

  1. 2:24:23 Amane Beriso Shankule, Ethiopia
  2. 2:24:34 Gotytom Gebreslase, Ethiopia
  3. 2:25:17 Fatima Gardadi, Morocco
  4. 2:25:38 Lonah Salpeter, Israel
  5. 2:26:13 Yalemzerf Yehualaw, Ethiopia
  6. 2:26:42 Rosemary Wanjiru, Kenya
  7. 2:27:09 Selly Chepyego Kaptich, Kenya
  8. 2:27:23 Nazret Weldu, Eritrea
  9. 2:27:47 Lindsay Flanagan, United States
  10. 2:28:54 Dolshi Tesfu, Eritrea
  11. 2:29:04 Melat Kejeta, Germany
  12. 2:29:10 Giovanna Epis, Italy
  13. 2:29:15 Mizuki Matsuda, Japan
  14. 2:29:34 Rebecca Cheptegei, Uganda
  15. 2:30:09 Natasha Wodak, Canada
  16. 2:30:50 Lisa Weightman, Australia
  17. 2:31:35 Keira D’Amato, United States
  18. 2:31:40 Mercyline Chelangat, Uganda
  19. 2:31:53 Rika Kaseda, Japan
  20. 2:31:57 Sayaka Sato, Japan
The great Sean Hartnett (Professor of Geography at University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire) produced the ‘technical maps’ for World Athletics. This map is provided to athletes, coaches, managers and media and provides details about many aspects of the course. See more details here.
Susanna Sullivan of USA strides through Pest in the first hour of the World Championships Marathon. Budapest, Hungary; Aug 26-27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
World Championships Marathon passed many historic sights. All three Americans are in this photo. Susanna Sullivan, Keira D’Amato, and Lindsay Flanagan. Budapest, Hungary; Aug 26-27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
Americans Susanna Sullivan and Keira D’Amato in the front pack mix at the World Championships Marathon. Budapest, Hungary; Aug 26-27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
World Championships Marathon early action on Andrassy Avenue in Budapest. Budapest, Hungary; Aug 26-27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
The Buda side looms in the background as the leaders cross into Pest in the World Championships Marathon Budapest, Hungary; Aug 26-27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
The scenery of Budapest was on full display in the World Championships Marathon. The lead group passes the Danube and the Chain Bridge at 29K. Budapest, Hungary; Aug 26-27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
World Championships Marathon leaders, Rosemary Wanjiru of Kenya, Gotytom Gebrslase, Amana Beriso Shankule, Tshey Gemechu all of Ethiopia, Lonah Salpeter of Israel, and Nazret Weldu of Eritrea. Budapest, Hungary; Aug 26-27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
Fatima Gardadi of Morocco had a strong finish and moved up to third in 2:25:17 earning bronze. Budapest, Hungary; Aug 26-27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
Lindsay Flanagan of the USA was top American and ninth overall in 2:27:47. Budapest, Hungary; Aug 26-27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
Natasha Wodak of Canada, and Giovanna Epis of Italy run together after the Chain Bridge. Wodak was 15th in 2:30:09. Epis was 12th in 2:29:10. Budapest, Hungary; Aug 26-27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
Mizuki Matsuda of Japan was 13th in 2:29:15. Budapest, Hungary; Aug 26-27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
Sayaka Sato of Japan and Keira D’Amato of USA re-enter Pest together. Sato was 20th in 2:31:57. D’Amato was 17th in 2:31:35. Budapest, Hungary; Aug 26-27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
Gulshanoi Satarova of Kyrgyzstan was 28th in 2:35:06. Budapest, Hungary; Aug 26-27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
Irvette Van Zyl of South Africa was 45th in 2:38:32 at the World Championships Marathon Budapest, Hungary; Aug 26-27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
Gotytom Gebreslase of Ethiopia, who won gold in Eugene 2022, would win silver with her second place finish in 2:24:34 in Budapest 2023. Budapest, Hungary; Aug 26-27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
Amane Beriso Shankule of Ethiopia coming off the Chain Bridge, won the WC Marathon in 2:24:23. Budapest, Hungary; Aug 26-27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
Lindsay Flanagan of the USA ran a solid race to place ninth in 2:27:47. Budapest, Hungary; Aug 26-27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
Natasha Wodak of Canada, the Canadian Marathon record holder (2:23:12), was 15th in 2:30:09. World Championships Marathon Budapest, Hungary; Aug 26-27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
Lisa Weightman of Australia ran 2:30:50 to place sixteenth. Lisa is 44. Budapest, Hungary; Aug 26-27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
Keira D’Amato of USA was 17th in 2:31:35. Keira set the new USA half-marathon record of 1:06:39 at the Gold Coast Australia event in July. Budapest, Hungary; Aug 26-27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
Monika Jackiewicz of Poland ran 2:37:18 for 40th place. Risper Gesabwa of Mexico was 44th in 2:38:29. Budapest, Hungary; Aug 26-27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
Working together, Nina Chydenius of Finland, Nicolasa Condori of Peru, and Fortunate Chidzivo would all finish in 2:42. Budapest, Hungary; Aug 26-27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
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