A Preview to the Autumn Marathon Season

By Jörg Wenig

The Fastest Men of the Year Set to Run Berlin
Ryan Hall and Sammy Wanjiru in Chicago
Haile Gebrselassie in New York
Selected Autumn Races

The finishing straight in Berlin, directly behind the Brandenburg Gate. © www.photorun.net

Thrilling duels, world-class times, and millions of spectators worldwide—it’s time for the autumn marathons! The season officially kicks off with the Berlin Marathon on September 26, followed by Chicago in October and New York in November to comprise the autumn season of the World Marathon Majors (WMM) Series. Germany will host another race during this period, which also promises world-class results: the Commerzbank Frankfurt Marathon on October 31. That same day, the 2,500-year anniversary of the world’s first marathon will take place in Greece. In 490 B.C., legend has it that the famous Athenian runner Pheidippides ran from the battlefield in Marathon to the city of Athens, 26 miles away to deliver the news of victory over the Persians. Approximately 20,000 runners—a record for the race—are expected to take part.

While the tough Athens course makes world-class times practically impossible, there’s a good chance the world record may fall in either Berlin or Chicago due to the fast courses and extremely competitive fields.

The Two Fastest Men of the Year Set to Run Berlin

Patrick Makau, the fastest marathoner in the world this year, will run Berlin. © www.photorun.net

At the starting line in Berlin this year will be two men who have broken the 2:05-hour barrier: Patrick Makau and Geoffrey Mutai. Both men are capable of setting a new world record. The current record is held by Haile Gebrselassie (2:03:59), which was set at the real,- Berlin Marathon two years ago. Another five runners with personal bests under 2:07 will be in the line-up for Germany’s biggest marathon.

After winning the race four years in a row, Haile Gebrselassie will not be running in Berlin this fall. This means spectators can expect to see a different race compared to previous years—a much more open-ended race with the winner being decided in the closing stages. Fans should keep an eye on is Patrick Makau. He knows the streets of Berlin just as well as Haile Gebrselassie. The 25-year-old Kenyan has run four times previously in Berlin. And, like Haile Gebrselassie, Patrick Makau has won all his races in the German capital city. In 2006 and 2007, Patrick Makau won the Berlin 25K, and in 2007 and 2008, he was victorious in the Berlin Half Marathon where his time of 58:56 minutes remains the course record. In his third marathon, the Fortis Rotterdam Marathon, Patrick Makau improved his personal best to 2:04:48 hours, putting him fourth on the all-time list. Patrick Makau’s profile can be found here on the Take The Magic Step Web site.

Only seven seconds slower than Patrick Makau in Rotterdam was runner-up Geoffrey Mutai who will also run in Berlin. Geoffrey Mutai has shown impressive form in the 10,000m event this past summer. A third favorite is also a Kenyan: Eliud Kiptanui. Just 21, he won his first international race at the Prague Marathon in April where he improved the course record to an incredible 2:05:39 on a course considered anything but fast.

Compared to the men’s race, the women’s field isn’t as deep. Two Ethiopians are considered pre-race favorites: Bezunesh Bekele and Aberu Shewaye. Bezunesh Bekele is the fastest woman in the field with a best of 2:23:09 that she set in Dubai in 2008 when she placed second there. Finishing second in Dubai this year was her compatriot Aberu Shewaye in 2:24:26. She also won the Rotterdam Marathon in 2:25:29 in April.

Tomo Morimoto (Japan/2:24:33), Genet Getaneh (Ethiopia/2:26:37), and Sabrina Mockenhaupt (2:26:22) can be contenders for a a place on the podium in the German capital as well. 29-year-old Sabrina Mockenhaupt hopes to run under 2:25 hours on her Berlin Marathon debut.

Ryan Hall and Sammy Wanjiru Headline the Men’s Field in Chicago

Sammy Wanjiru returns to Chicago as defending champion. © www.photorun.net

The organizers of the Chicago Marathon—led by race director Carey Pinkowski—have put together a solid men’s field. Four runners claim personal bests under 2:06. Among them is the defending champion and Olympic gold medalist Sammy Wanjiru. The Kenyan superstar will face off against Tsegaye Kebede (Ethiopia) as well as fellow countryman Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot. Tsegaye Kebede won this year’s London Marathon and has a personal best of 2:05:18. He also shares the lead in the WMM series with Sammy Wanjiru. Robert K. Cheruiyot improved the course record in the traditionally tough Boston Marathon to 2:05:52 this April. (You can learn more about him by reading his athlete profile on the Take The Magic Step Web site.)

The second-fastest man in Chicago will be Vincent Kipruto (Kenya/2:05:13). Also in the mix is the American, Ryan Hall (2:06:17). Ryan recently ran the 2010 Boston Marathon where he finished as the top American and is very excited at the prospects of racing the flat course in Chicago. “I’ve just been dying to run fast for a long time,” he told journalists following his Chicago commitment press release. Sammy Wanjiru also wants to run fast there. “You can never predict the weather conditions in Chicago. If they’re good, then I want to run 2:04,” he predicted. Sammy Wanjiru improved the course record by one second with his time of 2:05:41 hours.

The outcome of the World Marathon Majors (WMM) Series is very likely to be decided at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 10. The German women’s record holder, Irina Mikitenko (2:19:19 in Berlin 2008), will be running this race. There, she’ll face off against Liliya Shobhukova for the fourth consecutive marathon. At the 2008 London edition, Irina Mikitenko won, while Liliya Shobhukova was third. However, the tables were turned in Chicago when the Russian defeated the German and repeated her triumph in London this April, while Irina Mikitenko, the defending champion, was forced to drop out of the race because of injury: shin splints and soreness in the lower left leg.

Irina Mikitenko runs in Chicago. © www.photorun.net

“The Chicago Marathon is a race which I would dearly like to win in my career. After coming second last year, I’m delighted to have another chance. Of course, I know it’s going to be tough,” Irina Mikitenko has said while preparing for the marathon in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

As the defending champion, Liliya Shobukhova is the clear favorite. She is also the fastest women in the world this year, clocking 2:22:00. The Russian also leads the WMM Series 2009-2010, which Irina Mikitenko has won for the past two years. Going into the last round of the series, Liliya Shobhukova has 60 points, which gives her a 20-point lead over Irina Mikitenko who is in second place. The German will have to win in Chicago and run a quick time to stay in the running. In addition, Liliya Shobukhova would have to finish outside the top three—something unlikely to happen as the Russian has already made it known that she is going for a new Russian record in Chicago (faster than 2:20:47). Galina Bogomolva set that mark in Chicago in 2006.

Haile Gebrselassie Aims to Win in New York

It’s New York instead of Berlin for Haile Gebrselassie. © www.photorun.net

Haile Gebrselassie has decided to run the ING New York Marathon this year over his previous choice, Berlin. Instead of hunting for a new world record, the Ethiopian superstar as decided to go for the win in the Big Apple. “The New York Marathon is a great race. One day someone will ask me, ‘Did you win the New York Marathon?’ If I didn’t run here, there would be something missing in my career,” Haile Gebrselassie says. His opponents on November 7 include Swiss champion Viktor Röthlin. After a serious pulmonary illness, Viktor Röthlin came back in sensational style by winning gold with an outstanding performance at the European Championships in Barcelona last month.

In the women’s field, a marathon debutant will take center stage. Mary Keitany is the top contender for the win and may some day better the current world record set by Briton Paula Radcliffe (2:15:25). The 28 year old made headlines in Berlin last May when she set the world 25-kilometer record (1:19:53), becoming the first woman to break 1:20 hours for the distance. Among Mary Keitany’s competitors will be the Briton Mara Yamauchi who finished second behind Irina Mikitenko in London in 2009 and the Ethiopian, Werknesh Kidane, who will also be making her marathon debut.

The New York Marathon is not a typically fast race due to the difficulty of the course. But in terms of mass turnout, it’s been number one for many years. In 2009, 43,660 runners reached the finish line in Central Park. No marathon had ever claimed 40,000 finishers.

Dates and Leading Runners of Selected Autumn Races

BERLIN (September 26)

World Marathon Majors (WMM)-Race
IAAF Gold Label Race
Entry Limit: 41,000
Entries: closed
Internet: www.berlin-marathon.com
TV: Live on n-tv and Eurosport as well as live-stream in internet (Universalsports.com)

Prize Money: 52,000 Dollars
Total Prize Money (without Time Bonuses): 300,000 Dollars

Course Records:
2:03:59—Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) WR
2:19:12—Mizuki Noguchi (JPN)

Elite athletes and their personal bests (at the time of going to press):
Men: Patrick Makau (KEN/2:04:48), Geoffrey Mutai (KEN/2:04:55), Eliud Kiptanui (KEN/2:05:39), Bazu Worku (ETH/2:06:15), Gilbert Yegon (KEN/2:06:18), Yemane Tsegey (ETH/2:06:30), Eshetu Wondimu (ETH/2:06:46), Bernard Kipyego (KEN/2:07:01).
Women: Bezunesh Bekele (ETH/2:23:09), Aberu Kebede (ETH/2:24:26), Tomo Morimoto (JPN/2:24:33), Sabrina Mockenhaupt (GER/2:26:22), Genet Getaneh (ETH/2:26:37), Adriana Pirtea (ROM/2:28:52), Leah Malot (KEN/2:29:17).

CHICAGO (October 10)

World Marathon Majors (WMM)-Race
IAAF Gold Label Race
Entry Limit: 45,000
Entries: closed
Internet: www.chicagomarathon.com
TV: NBC5 Chicago as well as live-stream in internet (Universalsports.com and nbcchicago.com)

Prize Money: 125,000 Dollars
Total Prize Money (without Time Bonuses): 485,000 Dollars

Course Records:
2:05:41—Sammy Wanjiru (KEN)
2:17:18—Paula Radcliffe (GBR)

Elite athletes and their personal bests (at the time of going to press):
Men: Sammy Wanjiru (KEN/2:05:10), Vincent Kipruto (KEN/2:05:13), Tsegaye Kebede (ETH/2:05:18), Robert Kip. Cheruiyot (KEN/2:05:52), Ryan Hall (USA/2:06:17), still to be confirmed: Duncan Kibet (KEN/2:04:27).
Women: Irina Mikitenko (GER/2:19:19), Naoko Sakamoto (JPN/2:21:51), Liliya Shobukhova (RUS/2:22:00), Lidiya Grigoryeva (RUS/2:25:10), Magdalena Lewy-Boulet (USA/2:26:22), Desiree Davila (USA/2:27:53), Liz Yelling (GBR/2:28:33), Maria Konovalova (RUS/2:35:21).

AMSTERDAM (October 17)

IAAF Silver Label Race
Entry Limit: appr. 10,000
Entries: still possible but only until the end of this week
Internet: www.amsterdammarathon.nl

Prize Money: not known

Course Records:
2:06:18—Gilbert Yegon (KEN)
2:22:20—Gete Wami (ETH)

Elite athletes and their personal bests (at the time of going to press):
Men: Chala Dechase (ETH/2:06:33), Paul Kirui (KEN/2:06:44), Wilson Chebet (KEN/Debut)
Women: not yet known

FRANKFURT (October 31)

IAAF Gold Label Race
Entry Limit: provisionally 13,000
Entries: still possible to enter
Internet: www.frankfurt-marathon.com
TV: Live on hr and live-stream in internet planned

Prize Money: 20,000 Dollars
Total Prize Money (without Time Bonuses): 120,000 Dollars

Course Records:
2:06:14—Gilbert Kirwa (KEN)
2:25:12—Alevtina Biktimirova (RUS)

Elite athletes and their personal bests (at the time of going to press):
Men: Wilson Kipsang (KEN/2:07:10), Wilfred Kigen (KEN/2:07:33), Alemayehu Shumye (ETH/2:08:46), Lusapho April (KEN/2:10:44), Evans Kiplagat (KEN/2:10:46), Martin Beckmann (GER/2:13:42).
Women: Dire Tune (ETH/2:24:40), Zivile Balciunaite (LIT/2:25:14), Caroline Kilel (KEN/2:25:24), Azalech Masresha (ETH/2:25:34), Mare Dibaba (ETH/2:25:38), Hellen Kimutai (KEN/2:25:52), Natalia Volgina (RUS/2:27:32), Hilda Kibet (NED/2:30:33), Yelena Sokolova (RUS/2:31:54).

NEW YORK (November 7)

World Marathon Majors (WMM)-Race
IAAF Gold Label Race
Entry Limit: appr. 50,000
Entries: closed
Internet: www.ingnycmarathon.org
TV: Live on WNBC, Eurosport as well as live-stream in internet (Universalsports.com)

Prize Money: 130,000 Dollars
Total Prize Money (without Time Bonuses): 800,000 Dollars

Course Records:
2:07:43—Tesfaye Jifar (ETH)
2:22:31—Margaret Okayo (KEN)

Elite athletes and their personal bests (at the time of going to press):
Men: Haile Gebrselassie (ETH/2:03:59/WR), Abel Kirui (KEN/2:05:04), Emmanuel Mutai (KEN/2:06:15), Viktor Röthlin (SUI/2:07:23), Arata Fujiwara (JPN/2:08:40), Meb Keflezighi (USA/2:09:15), Dathan Ritzenhein (USA/2:10:00), Gebre Gebremariam (ETH/Debut), Peter Kamais (KEN/Debut).
Women: Mara Yamauchi (GBR/2:23:12), Kim Smith (NZL/2:25:21), Mary Keitany (KEN/Debut), Werknesh Kidane (ETH/Debut), Shalane Flanagan (USA/Debut).

Dates of other Autumn Marathons

3 Oktober	Cologne
10 October	Eindhoven
10 October	Munich
17 October	Beijing
24 October	Venice
31 October	Athens (celebrating 2,500 years of the Marathon)
7 November	Seoul
14 November	Turin
5 December	Fukuoka (Men’s Elite Race)
5 December	Singapore

World Marathon Majors (WMM)
2009-2010* Standings

Men:

1.	Sammy Wanjiru	KEN	50 Points
	Tsegaye Kebede	ETH	50
3.	Deriba Merga	ETH	35
	Emmanuel Mutai	KEN	35
5.	Jaouad Gharib	MAR	30
6.	Meb Keflezighi	USA	26
	Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot	KEN	26
	Abel Kirui	KEN	26
9.	Haile Gebrselassie	ETH	25

Women:

1.	Liliya Shobukhova	RUS	60 Points
2.	Irina Mikitenko	GER	40
3.	Salina Kosgei	KEN	25
4.	Teyba Erkesso	ETH	30
5.	Derartu Tulu	ETH	25
	Atsede Habtamu	ETH	25
	Xue Bai	CHN	25
8.	Aselefech Mergia	ETH	20

(*Each WMM Series takes place over a two-year cycle. The men’s and women’s winners each receive 500,000 US Dollars in prize money)

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