The World Marathon Majors (WMM) achieved ever-increasing public profile following the spectacular finale to the first series in New York last November. On that occasion the Kenyan Robert Cheruiyot and the Ethiopian Gete Wami were acclaimed as the first series winners. Each received a check for $500,000.

Wami’s prospects are again looking good in the overlapping, two-year WMM series after the two spring races in London and Boston. Although she was third in London, she leads the 2007-2008 series ahead of – and this is the real surprise of the current WMM series – Irina Mikitenko. The 35-year-old became the first German to earn WMM points with her second place finish in the Berlin Marathon last September. Then she won in sensational style in London, and surged ahead to second place. In the 2008-2009 series, she shares the lead with the Boston winner, Dire Tune.

“I’m not thinking too much about where I am in the WMM rankings right now because there is a long way to go,” says Mikitenko. “If I can run three good races in the WMM series, then that will be another thing altogether.” The Olympic Games in Beijng – the next race counting for WMM points – are Mikitenko’s next objective.

Martin Lel leads the men in the 2007-2008 series. The Kenyan has achieved a maximum 75 points from three races. He won in London, New York and then again in the British capital. Second is his compatriot Robert Cheruiyot (55 points), who has just won Boston. They share the lead in the 2008-2009 series. Tied for third are Samuel Wanjiru (Kenya) and Abderrahime Bouramdane (Morocco). The three Kenyans have subsequently been selected to run the Olympic Marathon.

The WMM series continues with the men’s Olympic Marathon on August 17 and the women’s on August 24 in Beijing. They are followed by the real,- Berlin Marathon on September 28, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 12 and the finale to the 2007-2008 series at the ING New York City Marathon on November 2.

World Marathon Majors Standings

The WMM scoring system works like this:

• 25 points for 1st place in a qualifying race;
• 15 points for 2nd place;
• 10 points for 3rd place;
• 5 points for 4th place; and
• 1 point for 5th place.

The male and female winner of each series receives $500,000. There are no prizes beyond first place. Below are the current standings for the two overlapping series.