Participation and performance trends of East-African runners in Swiss half-marathons and marathons held between 2000 and 2010.

International audienceBACKGROUND: This study examined the changes in participation, performance and age of East African runners competing in half-marathons and marathons held in Switzerland between 2000 and 2010. METHODS: Race times, sex, age and origin of East African versus Non-African finishers of half-marathon and marathon finishers were analyzed. RESULTS: Across time, the number of Kenyan and Ethiopian finishers remained stable (P > 0.05) while the number of Non-African finishers increased for both women and men in both half-marathons and marathons (P 0.05). In half-marathons and marathons was no difference in age between the best Non-African and the best African runners (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: During the last decade in Switzerland, the participation of Kenyan and Ethiopian runners in half- and full- marathons remained stable. In marathons there was no difference in age and performance between the top African and the top Non-African runners. Regarding half-marathons, the top African runners were faster but not younger than the top Non-African runners. Future insight should be gained by comparing the present results with participation, performance and age trends for East African runners competing in marathons held in larger countries