The 29th edition of the traditional Nîmes half-marathon started on Wednesday May 1 at 8:15 a.m. Rainy edition, happy edition: participation and time records have been broken!
The rain did not discourage them! Precisely 3,160 runners in total (out of the 3,200 bibs available) participated in the 29th edition of the Nîmes half-marathon on May 1, i.e. 459 more registered than in the previous edition, and distributed as follows, according to the distances offered:
- Semi (21.1 km, qualifier for the French and departmental championship): 1,750 participants out of 1,780 places available
- 10 km: 1015 runners out of 1020 bibs available
- 5 km: 395 runners out of 400 bibs available
Records broken
In terms of times, new runners stood out this year: Maamar Bengriba (Olympique de Marseille athletics) covered the 21.1 km of the semi in 1h04’38, better than Youssef Benhadi’s record for the semi achieved in 1h08’45 in 2023. On the wheelchair wheelchair side, Gautier Moustier-Caramelon wins this edition in 2h17’17.
For the different challenges organized each year to spice up the events, the Daniel-Leboissetier challenge trophy (tribute to the late Nîmes sportsman and adventurer, club licensee) awarded to the 1er scratch for the 5km (real time from the starting line), went to Paul Baubiet (RTN30) in 17’20.
The Nîmes Macadam club challenge which rewards the greatest number of participants from the same entity over the three races was, inevitably, once again won by the soldiers of the 2nd REI (each year more than 500 participants). The City of Nîmes challenge which crowns the club most represented in the three races goes to Nîmes Running. The CCI du Gard high school wins the business challenge which rewards the entity most represented in the 5km.
More than 250 volunteers were present alongside the runners. The team is already thinking about the next edition which will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Nîmes half-marathon. A great birthday in perspective.
