April is the traditional marathon month of the year. During no other time of the year there are so many high class races at 26.2 miles. After Rotterdam and Paris the climax is next week: On Monday the Boston Marathon takes place and six days later the London Marathon follows almost at the same time as the Hamburg Marathon. In Boston something special commences. The World Marathon Majors Series has its premiere. „Boston has been the site of so many revolutions through history,” said Race Director Guy Morse in terms of the race’s unique tradition. It was first held in 1897 and will have the 110th edition this year. Guy Morse added: „ We see this as the start of another revolution in our sport, and we hope the shot we fire on April 17th is a very positive one and a long term successful one for marathoning in general.”
US-American Keflezighi Runs Boston
For many years the Boston Marathon was in Kenyan hands. But in the past year an Ethiopian triumphed on this hilly and therefore quite hard course: Hailu Negussie wants to defend his title on Easter Monday. His most inveterate opponents come from Kenya. Among the 20,000 participants will be Timothy Cherigat, winner in 2004, and Wilson Onsare, who has the fastest time in this field of 2:06:47 hours. The hope of the US Americans rests with Olympic silver medallist Meb Keflezighi. In the women’s race Reiko Tosa (Japan) and Jelena Prokopcuka (Latvia) are among the favorites.
London with a Field Full of Stars
With 35,000 participants the London Marathon will not only have the biggest field but will have a stellar field. But the organizers have to cope with the withdrawal from Paula Radcliffe. The English marathon world record holder (2:15:25 hours) still suffers of a foot injury. This was also the reason why she didn’t compete at the Commonwealth Games. Deena Kastor of the USA could profit from Paula Radcliffe’s drop out. “We still have a top field,” said Race Director David Bedford and added: „And in the men’s race we might have the best field of all times.” That is not exaggerated. World record holder Paul Tergat (Kenya/2:04:55) will run as well as Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia), Olympic champion Stefano Baldini (Italy) and last year’s winner Martin Lel (Kenya).
In Hamburg George Okworo Could Surprise
Hamburg expects around 20,000 participants at the second biggest marathon in Germany. Wilfred Kigen (Kenya), Jose Manuel Martinez (Spain), Claudia Dreher (Germany) and Edith Masai (Kenya), who recently won the Berlin Half Marathon in a world class time of 67:16 minutes, were officially confirmed. George Okworo could be in with a surprise. The Kenyan so far has only a personal best of 2:11:47 hours, but trains together with Evans Rutto (Kenya/2:05:50), who will run London.
The Favorites With the Best Times
Boston Men: Wilson Onsare (KEN) 2:06:47, William Kiplagat (KEN) 2:06:50, Tesfaye Tola (ETH) 2:06:57, Benjamin Maiyo (KEN) 2:07:09, Patrick Ivuti (KEN) 2:07:46, Julius Ruto (KEN) 2:08:10, Hailu Negussie (ETH) 2:08:16, Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (KEN) 2:08:59, Timothy Cherigat (KEN) 2:09:34, Mebrahtom Keflezighi (USA) 2:09:53, John Yuda (TAN) 2:10:13, John Korir (KEN) Debut
Boston Women: Reiko Tosa (JPN) 2:22:46, Jelena Prokopcuka (LAT) 2:22:56, Rita Jeptoo (KEN) 2:24:22
London Men: Paul Tergat (KEN) 2:04:55, Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 2:05:38, Evans Rutto (KEN) 2:05:50, Felix Limo (KEN) 2:06:14, Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) 2:06:20, Abdelkader El Mouaziz (MAR) 2:06:42, Jaouad Gharib (MAR) 2:07:02, Martin Lel (KEN) 2:07:26, Stefano Baldini (ITA) 2:07:29, Shigeru Aburaya (JPN) 2:07:52, Hendrick Ramaala (RSA) 2:08:32, Tsuyoshi Ogata (JPN) 2:08:37, Mubarak Hassan Shami (QAT) 2:09:22
London Women: Margaret Okayo (KEN) 2:20:43, Deena Kastor (USA) 2:21:16, Constantina Tomescu-Dita (ROM) 2:21:30, Lyudmila Petrova (RUS) 2:22:33, Susan Chepkemei (KEN) 2:23:12, Mari Ozaki (JPN) 2:23:30, Salina Kosgei (KEN) 2:24:32, Berhane Adere (ETH) 2:41:50
