Two Kenyan Athletes Claim Victories in the 2019 International Oasis Marathon de Montréal

Quebecers Ariane Raby and Philippe Viau-Dupuis win the half-marathon

MONTRÉAL, Sept. 22, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ - Approximately 10,430 registered runners took to the streets on Sunday to participate in the 29^th edition of the International Oasis Marathon de Montréal, a musically themed Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series^® event. Giving runners the opportunity to run to the Beat in Their Feet™, the Marathon de Montréal provided participants great music in a community environment as runners of all athletic levels enjoyed the sights and sounds of Montréal.

Boniface Kongin and Grace Kwamboka Momanyi from Kenya gave strong performances and reached the top step of the podium, winning the 2019 running of the Marathon de Montréal.  

With a time of 2:15:18, Kongin crossed the finish line first in the male marathon, followed by Mohamed Aagab from Morocco in second place, finishing with a time of 2:19:43 while the third step of the podium belongs to Isaac Maiyo of Kenya with a time of 2:23:17. On the women's side, Kenyan athlete Grace Kwamboka Momanyi finished first with a time of 2:40:51 followed by fellow Kenyan Joan Massah in second, with a time of 2:42:46. Magarsa Tafa from Ethiopia rounded out the podium with a time of 2:46:41. Standout performance from Quebecers François Jarry and Paméla Bouvier, who finished in 5^th and 6^th position, respectively, place them atop of all runners representing the province.

The elite field competed for a total of $55,000 (USD) in prize money.

"The Marathon de Montréal's race program represents a solid challenge for both seasoned athletes and newcomers alike. It is always inspiring to see them all surpass themselves and give everything to cross the distances of the marathon and the half-marathon. Driven by the encouragement of the crowd throughout the course, it is always with great emotion that we welcome them to the finish line," said Dominique Piché, producer and race director of the Marathon de Montréal. 

Late start
During today's event, an issue with road closures caused the start of the race to be delayed. Event officials recognized it immediately and reacted quickly to correct the issue. As athlete safety is paramount, the event officials and the local authorities worked together to assure a safe Marathon de Montreal and minimize further delay.

As with all Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series events, the objective is to create an unparalleled and world-class experience. Event officials were able to count on the valuable cooperation of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) in organizing the event. Event officials will be working with GardaWorld, the agency who was responsible for the course security and staffing of the event, to assess future changes. "We are sincerely sorry for the delays at the start of this 2019 edition of the Marathon. Our priority was to make sure everything was safe for our runners. We would like to thank our athletes and their loyal supporters, families and friends, for their understanding," added Mr. Piché.

Beyond the excitement of the elite race, runners from across the world converged on The City of Saints from all age groups to achieve their goals and celebrate in a festive atmosphere enhanced by live and local music across the course. The musically themed road race celebrated the day's accomplishments with the sounds of Montréal based funk group The Brooks delighted participants and their supporters with an electrifying performance to close an action-packed event.

Full results from the event are available here: www.runrocknroll.com/en/Events/Montreal/The-Races/Results.   

For complete results from this weekend's event or for information on the 2020 event, visit RunRocknRoll.com/Montreal.  

Footage and photography is provided courtesy of The IRONMAN Group for news and editorial coverage within 48 hours of the event. Any commercial use or other use of the photography or footage is strictly prohibited unless a separate written license is obtained from and signed by an authorized representative of The IRONMAN Group.

About the International Oasis Marathon de Montréal
In 2019, the Montreal will host the 29th running of the International Oasis Marathon de Montreal, a major sporting, musical and cultural event presented by the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series. With 18,000 participants across five distances, the race is the largest running event in Quebec. For more information or to register for the 2020 edition, visit: www.runrocknroll.com/montreal/

About Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series
The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series^® is the world's largest running series taking part in over 30 destination events around the world every year. Established in 1998, the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series simple idea of making running fun has transformed both the U.S. and global running landscape by infusing the course with live bands, cheer teams and entertaining water stations, creating a block-party atmosphere for participants and spectators alike. Focused on running, music and community, race weekend kicks off with a free Health & Fitness Expo showcasing the latest in running gear, sports apparel, health and nutritional information and much more. Events culminate with an entertaining finish-line festival featuring some of the biggest names in music, with past performances including Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, O.A.R. Aloe Blacc, Pitbull, Flo Rida, The Band Perry, Fitz and the Tantrums, the Goo Goo Dolls and Bret Michaels. Further information about the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series can be found online at www.RunRocknRoll.com and follow @RunRocknRoll on all social platforms.

About The IRONMAN Group
As part of Wanda Sports Group, The IRONMAN Group operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN^® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN^® 70.3^® Triathlon Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series^®, Iron Girl^®, IRONKIDS^®, International Triathlon Union World Triathlon Series races, road cycling events including the Velothon^® Series, mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic^®, premier running events including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon and The Sun-Herald City2Surf^® presented by Westpac, trail running like Ultra-Trail Australia™, and other multisport races. IRONMAN's events, together with all other Wanda Sports Holdings events, provide more than a million participants annually the benefits of endurance sports through the company's vast offerings. The iconic IRONMAN^® Series of events is the largest participation sports platform in the world. Since the inception of the IRONMAN^® brand in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE^® by crossing finish lines at the world's most challenging endurance races. Beginning as a single race, IRONMAN has grown to become a global sensation with more than 230 events across 53 countries. For more information, visit www.ironman.com.

About Wanda Sports Group
Wanda Sports Group (Nasdaq: WSG) is a leading global sports events, media and marketing platform with a mission to unite people in sports and enable athletes and fans to live their passions and dreams. Through our businesses, including Infront and IRONMAN, we have significant intellectual property rights, long-term relationships and broad execution capabilities, enabling us to deliver unrivalled sports event experiences, creating access to engaging content and building inclusive communities. We offer a comprehensive array of events, marketing and media services through three primary segments: Mass Participation, Spectator Sports and Digital, Production, Sports Solutions (DPSS). Our full-service platform creates value for our partners and clients as well as other stakeholders in the sports ecosystem, from rights owners, to brands and advertisers, and to fans and athletes. Headquartered in Beijing, China, Wanda Sports Group has more than 60 offices and 1,600 employees around the world.

SOURCE Marathon international Oasis de Montréal