Tadesse Abraham smashes records to win Barcelona Marathon
Meseret Dinke claims rank three in the Catalan capital, while Juliette Whittaker and Maia Ramsden spearheaded On successes at the NCAA Championships in Boston.
Barcelona, SPAIN, March 11th, 2024 - On athlete and marathon veteran Tadesse Abraham took an impressive victory at the 45th Barcelona Marathon. The 41-year-old’s win had several records tumbling, including Abraham’s personal best, the Swiss marathon record, and the course record in Barcelona when he crossed the finish line in 2:05.01.
Abraham strategically executed a negative split, accelerating in the race's second half to leave his competitors trailing behind. Despite fierce competition until kilometer 35, he broke away from Kenyans Collins Kipkurui Kipkorir and Edmond Kipngetich to claim victory in a class of his own.
“It’s a lot about positive thinking. I had a good feeling leading up to the race. I benefit from many years of experience - you learn from every race you run”, Abraham said about deciding factors in his race. “The night before the marathon Olivier Bernhard, Co-Founder of On, sent me a text message saying, ‘I believe in you - show the world how strong you are’. This meant a lot to me. People see only me crossing the finish line first, but it’s a team win: I had great support from my family, On friends, and sponsors along the way - so many people came for me to support. That made me fly today.”
In the women's race, Ethiopia's Meseret Dinke secured an impressive third place, crossing the finish line in 2:22:58, while fellow On athlete Zinash Senbata claimed the 4th position with a time of 2:24:51.
“My last marathon in Frankfurt was very disappointing. I didn’t make it to the finish line. This has pushed me today: I wanted to show everyone what I am capable of. The crowds in Barcelona were amazing and a great support. I am very happy with my race and finishing third”, Dinke said.
Whittaker and Ramsden shine at NCAA Indoor Championships
Simultaneously, across the Atlantic, On's collegiate athletes showcased their prowess at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Boston. Juliette Whittaker (Stanford) and Maia Ramsden (Harvard) distinguished themselves with impressive victories, etching their names in the record books.
Whittaker dominated the 800m event, clocking an impressive time of 1:59.53 and setting a new meet record. Ramsden, fresh from the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, clinched the Mile gold with a meet-record time of 4:25.13.
Adding to the success story, Olivia Markezich (Notre Dame) secured a second-place finish in the 3000m event, crossing the line in 8:46.71. Meanwhile, Australian talent Ky Robinson earned his 11th All-American honor by claiming third place in the 5000m event, completing the race in 13:27.79.
About On
On was born in the Swiss Alps in 2010 with the mission to ignite the human spirit through movement – a mission that still guides the brand today. Fourteen years after market launch, On delivers industry-disrupting innovation in premium footwear, apparel and accessories for high-performance running, outdoor, training, all-day activities and tennis. On’s award-winning CloudTec® innovation, purposeful design and groundbreaking strides within the circular economy have attracted a fast-growing global fan base – inspiring humans to explore, discover and Dream On.
On is present in more than 60 countries globally and engages with a digital community on www.on.com.