体坛英语新闻：Kenyans awarded best Marathon runners in Athens

ATHENS, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Two Kenyan runners were awarded the best Marathon runners of the year by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) Friday night in a gala ceremony in Athens ahead of the 32nd Athens Marathon, the Authentic.

As the world's fastest Marathon runner, Dennis Kimetto bagged the 2014 Male Best Marathon Runner Award. Kimetto had been the dominant marathon runner in the world since October 2013, when he won the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, until the end of September, when he won the BMW Berlin Marathon with 2:02:57.

Florence Kiplagat won the 2014 Female Best Marathon Runner Award. Kiplagat is the holder of the Half Marathon World Record with 1:05:12, achieved during the eDreams Barcelona Half Marathon in February 2014.

Two months later, Kiplagat won the silver medal in the Virgin Money London Marathon with 2:20:24.

Starting from 2013, AIMS inaugurated a new award celebration dedicated to the Best Marathon Runner of the Year. More than 330 AIMS members and all international Marathon Races organizers are called to nominate the best male and female marathon runner of each year, based on a series of criteria set by AIMS.

Parallel to the award of the Best Marathon Runner of the Year, special awards at personal and community level were also announced at the ceremony co-organized by Athens Marathon, the Authentic and the Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS).

This year's Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to George Hirsch, founder of the "Runner's World" magazine (United States). Meanwhile, BMW Frankfurt Marathon won the Green Award for its effort in promoting environment protection during the event, Tokyo Marathon won Social Award in recognition of its achievement of organizing charity activities.

Four Greek women, Argyro Ploumi, Alexandra Monastirioti, Elina Makridi and Christina Kaltsa, were awarded as "Health Runner" by SEGAS during the ceremony.

With a new record participation of 35,000 runners from worldwide in all road races, including 13,000 Marathon runners for the classic 42,195 meters course, the 32nd Athens Marathon, The Authentic will be held on Sunday.

The course was run first 25 centuries ago by the ancient Athenian soldier Pheidippides who inspired the modern marathons. Participants in the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 in Athens followed in his footsteps and thousands of athletes ever since.

Throughout the decades the Athens Marathon turned into the biggest annual sports event for Athens and Greece and an opportunity to celebrate life and showcase the best image of Greece.