Andy Liebner, a USA PhD student in the International PhD Program under the supervision of Professor Nikos Comoutos at the University of Thessaly's Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, is competing in the Athens Marathon.
There are a few traditions associated with the Athens Marathon, one of which occurs the night before; it’s called the University's 5K.
Any students or staff currently attending or instructing at any University in Greece are welcome to compete!
The Universities 5K is a celebratory event, held in the evening starting at 19hr, the city lights make for fun and excitement for both spectators and participants. It promotes the health and fitness of students and staff in Greece.
The course winds through downtown Athens, and the final 2 kilometers overlap the same final 2 kilometers of the Marathon to finish in the famous Panathenaic marble stadium.
The Athens Marathon (42 kilometers) starts at 9hr the next morning in Marathon and follows the known historic route of Pheidippides in 490 BC. Andy represented the University of Thessaly, Trikala
Runners (club), and his home country of the USA. His goal was to complete the distance in under 3 hours and successfully crossed the line again in the Panathenaic stadium in Athens with an official time of 2:59:20 placing him 256 out of the 21,000 participants.
Well Done Andy!!!
