by Maria Spiliopoulou


ATHENS Cheap New Balance 574 , Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan runner Yego Hillary Kipkogei won the 31st Athens Classic Marathon on Sunday amidst a festive atmosphere across the authentic course.


Kipkogei crossed the finish line at the Panathinaic Stadium in Athens with a time of two hours, 13 minutes and 50 seconds.


The 42-km distance from Marathon was first run by legendary Athenian soldier Pheidippides 2,500 years ago.


Kipkogei did not beat the record held by Italian Stephano Baldini since the 2004 Athens Olympic Games (2:10:55), but improved his personal best.


"Athens is my lucky city," he said inside the marble venue of the first modern Olympics under the warm applause of thousands of spectators.


Kipkogei's compatriots Kimeli Dicson (2:14:40) and Rutoh David Kipkorir (2:14:47) ranked second and third.


Kenyan Rotich Otich Nancy Joan (2:41:38) won the women's Marathon, followed by Ukrainian Stanko Svitlana (2:42:03) in the second place and Greek athlete Magda Gazea (2:46:07) in the third.


Greek Sports Federation (SEGAS) President Kostas Panagopoulos said that although Kipkogei did not break the record New Balance 574 Sale , there is still much to celebrate - the most important record of participation was broken.


Approximately 31,000 runners from more than 100 countries and regions, took part in this year's event, creating an amazing image of recession-hit Athens.


"They sent a message of hope to the world," Athens Mayor Yorgos Kaminis said.


The Athens Classic Marathon Race originates from the historic battle between Greeks and invading Persian forces 2,500 years ago in Marathon.


According to legend New Balance 574 Clearance , Pheidippides ran from the battlefield to Athens to announce the Greeks' victory and died of exhaustion.


Ever since his name was connected to a feat which has inspired modern Marathons worldwide.

Army soldiers atop an armored military vehicle drive near the Holey Artisan restaurant after Islamist militants attacked the upscale cafe in Dhaka, Bangladesh, July 2, 2016. REUTERSMohammd Ponir Hossain

DHAKAMUMBAI - Some leaders of Bangladesh's $26 billion garment industry expect Western fashion retailers to review their ties with the world's second-largest garment exporter after Islamist militants killed 20 foreigners in an attack on a Dhaka restaurant.


Bangladesh, one of the world's poorest countries, relies on garments for around 80 percent of its exports and for about 4 million jobs New Balance 574 Sport , and ranks behind only China as a supplier of clothes to developed markets like Europe and the United States.


Islamist militants killed 20 people, including at least nine Italians, seven Japanese and an American, inside an upmarket restaurant in Bangladesh's capital, before security forces stormed the building and ended a 12-hour standoff on Saturday.


Islamic State said it was responsible for one of the most brazen attacks in the South Asian nation's history, but that claim has yet to be confirmed.


It marks a major escalation in a campaign by militants over the past 18 months that had targeted mostly individuals advocating a secular or liberal lifestyle in majority-Muslim Bangladesh with 160 million people.


"An incident like this will definitely impact us New Balance 574 Kids , in as much as our importers from places such as (the) U.S. and China will be wary to visit because of the security concerns," said Shahidul Haque Mukul, managing director of Ananta Garments.


The industry had been recovering strongly from a major tragedy three years ago, when a factory building collapsed, killing more than 1,100 people New Balance 574 Womens , prompting safety checks that led to many factory closures and the loss of exports and jobs.


It had also seemed little touched by a spate of recent murders on liberals, gays, foreigners and religious minorities in sporadic attacks claimed by Islamic State and al Qaeda.


Between October and January, its exports surged 14 percent from a year earlier.


But Friday's attack signalled a more chilling threat to foreigners. The militants targeted a building housing two upmarket eateries popular with foreigners, and several of those killed were Italian garment entrepreneurs.


"Bangladesh has never seen such a horrific incident," said Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman New Balance 574 Mens , president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.


"It is a strong slap to our image. It will put pressure on our business, but we cannot say to what extent at the moment."


A Bangladesh-based executive for a French-based garment buyer said he feared a deep slump in business in the coming days.


But other industry figures said heightened security fears could be managed and that manufacturers could hold more meetings with Western customers outside Bangladesh, in Asian cities such as Singapore or Hong Kong, a trend that had begun some time ago.


"Concerns on visiting our factories, holding meetings, etc New Balance 574 , by foreign nationals will be there for a few months but I believe within six months, the intensity will thaw and things will be back to normal," said Abdullah Hil Rakib, head of exporter Brothers Fashion Ltd.


At least two European retailers which source clothes from Bangladesh, Sweden's H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB and Britain's Marks and Spencer Group PLC, say their operations in the country are not immediately affected.


Both said their workers are unaffected and that they have no plans to change their sourcing, but are monitoring the situation.


H & M's spokeswoman said the company has “safety routines” for workers, though she did not elaborate.