Marhu Teferi breaks Israeli marathon record set in 2003

Taking part in European Athletic Championship, runner beats his own best time by more than 1 minute to come in 7th

Israeli runner Marhu Teferi on Sunday broke a 15-year-old Israeli marathon record as he snatched 7th place in the European European Athletics Championships in Berlin.

“I felt good during the run. I did not think I’d come seventh. The position surprised me more than breaking the record,” Teferi told national broadcaster Kan after completing the race in 2:13:00.

The record caps a great week for Israeli distance runners after Lonah Chemtai Salpeter won Israel’s first ever gold at the championships in the women’s 10,000-meter race.

“I was very excited to do it at the right time — the European Championship is not just any competition,” he said. He also broke his own personal best time by more than one minute.

Teferi, 25, was born in Ethiopia and moved to Israel at the age of 14. He broke the previous record of 2:14:11, held by Ayele Seteng since 2003.

Culture and Sports Minister praised Teferi’s record-breaking run.

“A fantastic achievement for Marhu Teferi, who shattered the legendary record from 2003 and finished in seventh place,” said Regev, according to the Sport 5 network.

“One by one, our athletes continue to break records and represent our country with great pride. The Israeli flag flies proudly on German soil, and this is the real victory,” she said.

On Wednesday, Lonah Chemtai Salpeter won the women’s 10,000-meter run at the 2018 European Athletics Championships in Berlin, completing the race in 31 minutes, 43.29 seconds.