Kenyan Bett wins Athens Classic Marathon, runner dies of heart attack

 ATHENS, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan Raymond Kimutai Bett won on Sunday the 30th Athens Classic Marathon which was marked with a new record participation¹ for the authentic² course of 26,000 elite³ athletes and ordinary citizens from 100 countries and regions worldwide.

In a sad moment for an otherwise sunny day in Athens, an elderly runner who competed in the 10 kilometer race, died of heart attack, Greek organizers announced, expressing deep sorrow over the incident.

The 59 year old man finished the race and collapsed⁴ shortly afterwards. He was immediately transferred to a nearby hospital, but did not win this battle.

Earlier, Bett had covered the 42 kilometers distance from the Marathon Tomb to Athens first run by Greek legendary⁵ soldier Pheidippides 25 centuries ago, in 2 hours, 11 minutes and 35seconds.

It was the second time in two years he crossed first the finish line inside the Panathinaikon stadium where the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896.

Bett set a new race record, beating last year's Moroccon winner, but did not manage to break the Marathon course record held by Italian Stephano Baldini since the 2004 Athens Olympic Games (2:10:55).

He was greeted with warm applause by thousands spectators, as it happened with Kenyan athlete Consalater Chemtai Yadaa who won the women's Marathon race at 2:40:07, and all competitors.

Under blue sky on a sunny day in Athens the crowd celebrated⁶ the feat⁷ of each participant with similar enthusiasm, since for Greek organizers "winners are all participants."

Approximately 9,500 runners followed this year the steps of Pheidippides who according to legend in 490 B.C. announced the victory of Greeks over Persians forces in the Marathon battlefield and died of exhaustion⁸.

Thousands more competed in shorter distance races in the historic centre of the Greek capital. Entire families with parents pushing baby trolleys⁹, white-haired pensioners¹⁰, Special Olympics athletes and local celebrities¹¹ promoting social awareness¹² for various causes, joined the ten and five kilometer courses.

Among them was Despoina Layonika, a Greek customs clearer, who ran the 5 kilometer race, encouraged by her brother Christos.

"It is the first time I compete and I am overwhelmed. I could not imagine the extent of participation. The atmosphere is great," she told Xinhua at the marble Panathinaikon stadium.

"The race as race, noble rivalry¹³ and participation- that is the message," she added, when asked what she will keep in mind and heart from this day.

Greek policeman Nikiforos Tsihlakis is a fan of the Marathon for years. He has taken part in several races in Athens and abroad.

"For Greece the Marathon race is something unique, because it started from here and this stadium is unique. I have participated in other marathons across the globe, but the Athens Marathon course is different," he told Xinhua, shortly after finishing the 10 kilometer course.

Christos called on citizens of the world to take part in the authentic course at least once, if possible. Otherwise, "take up running and sports wherever" they can.

"The Marathon race and in general sports have a lot to offer to people and Greeks who are facing significant difficulties this period, due to the economic crisis.. The Marathon is a way to leave problems behind," he stressed, referring to the crisis which has hit hard Greece and global economy over the past three years.

The Athens Classic Marathon race is dedicated¹⁴ to the memory of Grigoris Lambrakis, a Balkan Games Champion, member of Greek parliament and pacifist who in 1963 organized the first Peace Marathon race and was assassinated¹⁵ shortly afterwards.

1 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

2 authentic   

a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的

参考例句：

• This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
• Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。

3 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。

4 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。

5 legendary   

adj.传奇（中）的，闻名遐迩的；n.传奇（文学）

参考例句：

• Legendary stories are passed down from parents to children.传奇故事是由父母传给孩子们的。
• Odysseus was a legendary Greek hero.奥狄修斯是传说中的希腊英雄。

6 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

7 feat   

n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的

参考例句：

• Man's first landing on the moon was a feat of great daring.人类首次登月是一个勇敢的壮举。
• He received a medal for his heroic feat.他因其英雄业绩而获得一枚勋章。

8 exhaustion   

n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述

参考例句：

• She slept the sleep of exhaustion.她因疲劳而酣睡。
• His exhaustion was obvious when he fell asleep standing.他站着睡着了，显然是太累了。

9 trolleys   

n.（两轮或四轮的）手推车( trolley的名词复数 )；装有脚轮的小台车；电车

参考例句：

• Cars and trolleys filled the street. 小汽车和有轨电车挤满了街道。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Garbage from all sources was deposited in bins on trolleys. 来自各方的垃圾是装在手推车上的垃圾箱里的。 来自辞典例句

10 pensioners   

n.领取退休、养老金或抚恤金的人( pensioner的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He intends to redistribute income from the middle class to poorer paid employees and pensioners. 他意图把中产阶级到低薪雇员和退休人员的收入做重新分配。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I am myself one of the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. 我自己就是一个我们的高贵的施主遗留基金的养老金领取者。 来自辞典例句

11 celebrities   

n.（尤指娱乐界的）名人( celebrity的名词复数 )；名流；名声；名誉

参考例句：

• He only invited A-list celebrities to his parties. 他只邀请头等名流参加他的聚会。
• a TV chat show full of B-list celebrities 由众多二流人物参加的电视访谈节目

12 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

13 rivalry   

n.竞争，竞赛，对抗

参考例句：

• The quarrel originated in rivalry between the two families.这次争吵是两家不和引起的。
• He had a lot of rivalry with his brothers and sisters.他和兄弟姐妹间经常较劲。

14 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

15 assassinated   

v.暗杀( assassinate的过去式和过去分词 )；中伤；诋毁；破坏

参考例句：

• The prime minister was assassinated by extremists. 首相遭极端分子暗杀。
• Then, just two days later, President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. 跟着在两天以后，肯尼迪总统在达拉斯被人暗杀。 来自辞典例句