The 2009 edition will take place on Sunday 26 April.

Elias Chebet. (picture Nadia Verhoft)

It would be difficult to find out the exact amount of people cheering the runners along the route, but they were out in thousands. Many a personal record was broken.

CHEBET

The ING Antwerp marathon was won by the Kenyan Elias Chebet, the primary survivor of a streunous race. Chebet already broke away early on in the race, pulled by two Kenyan pacesetters. He was joined later on by Elias Chelanga and Rik Ceulemans.


The Belgian had to let go after km 10 (32'25) as he couldn't keep up with the group's speed. Other Belgians, like Koen Van Rie and Stefaan Van Den Broeck tried chasing, as did Eric Gérome and Guy Fays. But all in vain. The Kenyan athletes continued their race.


Chebet continued the latter part of the race on his own and finished in 2h17m56, followed by his fellow athlete Chelanga and Rik Ceulemans. Anja Smolders finished as the first woman in a time of 2h43m17.

With Hans Janssens the ING Antwerp 10 miles got a worthy winner. Right after the start a lead group formed, including Janssens, Compernolle, Neven, De Poortere, Houben, Schoffelen, Stessens, Vandevelde and Van Peborgh, but when Janssens upped the rhythm only Compernolle and Neven were able to follow.

About half way, Janssens accelerated again, dropped his two competitors and headed straight for the finish in 49.49. A surprisingly strong Koen Neven finished second, Dries De Poortere came in third. In the women's category there was no holding Xenia Luxem, who finished in a respectable 57.18.

As could be expected, the Asics Ladies Run was won by Nathalie De Vos. She struggled with Elke Van Hoeymissen, but in the ultimate kilometer De Vos made the difference. Isabelle Sluysmans finished third, keeping a three second lead on Sylvie Verthé and Alemitu Bekele.

ING Antwerp marathon

Men: 1. Elias Chebet (Ken) 2h17.56 2. Elias Chelanga (Ken) 2h18.54 3. Rik Ceulemans (Bel) 2h19.20 4. Eric Gérome 2h20.02 5. Stefaan Van Den Broeck 2h30.47 Women: 1. Anja Smolders 2h43.17

ING Antwerp 10 miles

Men: 1. Hans Janssens 49.49 2. Koen Neven 50.00 3. Dries De Poortere 50.13 4.Tom Compernolle 50.41 5. Gert Van Poucke 50.51 6. Joeri Schoffelen 50.54 7. Tim Stessens 51.27 8. Stijn Vandevelde 51.30 9. Robby Houben 51.37 10. Pieter Rijnders 51.50. Women: 1. Xenia Luxem 57.18 2. Sofie Goos 1.01.33 3. Nathalie Lambrechts 1.01.42.

Asics Ladies Run

1. Nathalie De Vos 15.30 2. Elke Van Hoeymissen 15.40 3. Isabelle Sluysmans 16.00 4. Sylvie Verthé 16.03 5. Alemitu Bekele 16.03

Overall Partena Run Classics Vlaanderen

Men: 1. Hans Janssens 25 punten 2. Koen Neven 20 p. 3. Dries De Poortere 17 p 4. Tom Compernolle 15 p. 5. Gert Van Poucke 13 p. Women: 1. Nathalie De Vos 25 p. 2. Elke Van Hoeymissen 20 p. 3. Isabelle Sluysmans 17 p. 4. Sylvie Verthé 15 p. 5. Alemitu Bekele 13 p.

The images can be viewed for free as of Tuesday via the results on www.ingantwerp10miles.be. A camera symbol that can be clicked will be placed behind each name. You can see an example underneath.




At the ING Antwerp Marathon there will be filmed at the start, half-marathon point and finish. Flash player 8 or higher is needed to view the images.

The positive comments about the fast course convinced the organizers not to change it. Good news for the runners, who will have a beautiful finish waiting for them on the Grote Markt on April 20 2008.

The course, which was developed together with the sports council of the City of Antwerp, runs through 5 Antwerp districts: Antwerp, Berchem, Borgerhout, Deurne and Wilrijk.

Click here to view the track.

If you book direct with the hotel using the code "Antwerp Marathon 2008" you only pay 85 euro per double room per night.

Furthermore there is an extra service for runners: There will be the possibility to breakfast really early on the day of the competition and also to check out really late, so you can enjoy a well earned shower after the run!

All the information about this arrangement and Holiday Inn Express Antwerp, you will find here.