PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Africans, German debutant are favourites at METRO Group Marathon in Duesseldorf
Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - Strong Africans, European hopes plus a much anticipated debut by Germany’s Jan Fitschen – are the line up for Sunday’s METRO Group Marathon taking place in Duesseldorf, Germany, according to a press statement, issued in Duesseldorf by the Race News Service, and received by PANA here.
While Africans will chase both course records, Austria’s Günther Weidlinger and Russia’s defending champion Natalya Volgina hope to be among the leading finishers.
German hope Fitschen will go for a sub 2:15 debut marathon. “We have a perfect mixture in our elite field and expect an interesting race. I just hope it does not get to warm,” said Jan Winschermann, the Race Director of the METRO Group Marathon Duesseldorf.
"High temperatures and a possible wind could harm performances on Sunday," he said.
Adding other running events, the race has around 14,000 entries.
The METRO Group Marathon Duesseldorf is an IAAF Bronze Label Race.
Three runners feature personal bests of sub 2:10: -- Stephen Kiogora (Kenya/2:08:24), Chala Lemi (Ethiopia/2:08:49) and Jonathan Yego (Kenya/2:09:57).
After his injury in January, Kiogora has been looking forward to this event. “I have trained well and hope for a good result. I will try to break the course record and the 64 minutes that are planned for the first half would be fine for me," said Kiogora, who was second in New York in 2006.
While elite race coordinator Christoph Kopp tips Chala Lemi to shine, there are seven more runners with personal bests of sub 2:12 in the race. The course record established by Iaroslav Musinschi (Moldavia) in 2010 stands at 2:08:32.
Usually Kopp hands bib number 7 to someone who he thinks could cause a surprise. On Sunday, Günther Weidlinger will get this number.
“Looking at my training, I should be able to improve my personal best. But we will have to wait and see how warm it gets,” said Weidlinger, the Austrian record holder, who ran 2:10:47 in Frankfurt, Germany in 2009.
If conditions are suitable, the 33 year-old intends to go for a first half between 65:20 and 65:30 minutes. The minimum Weidlinger wants to get on Sunday is Olympic qualification for London 2012. In contrast to Germany, the Austrian federation has allowed their marathon runners to already use this year’s spring races as a qualifier.
“I will have to run 2:14:00, which should be no problem,” said Weidlinger.
There are three women with personal bests of sub 2:30 -- Merima Mohammed is the big favourite. Still only 18 years old, the Ethiopian clocked 2:23:06 in Toronto in 2010, where she finished third. She will have a go at the six year-old course record held by Germany’s Luminita Zaituc (2:26:44).
Among her strongest rivals, will be Leah Malot (Kenya/personal best: 2:29:17) and defending champion Natalya Volgina (2:27:32). "My aim is to reach a personal best and finish inside the top three,“ said Volgina.
-0- PANA PR/VAO 6May2011
While Africans will chase both course records, Austria’s Günther Weidlinger and Russia’s defending champion Natalya Volgina hope to be among the leading finishers.
German hope Fitschen will go for a sub 2:15 debut marathon. “We have a perfect mixture in our elite field and expect an interesting race. I just hope it does not get to warm,” said Jan Winschermann, the Race Director of the METRO Group Marathon Duesseldorf.
"High temperatures and a possible wind could harm performances on Sunday," he said.
Adding other running events, the race has around 14,000 entries.
The METRO Group Marathon Duesseldorf is an IAAF Bronze Label Race.
Three runners feature personal bests of sub 2:10: -- Stephen Kiogora (Kenya/2:08:24), Chala Lemi (Ethiopia/2:08:49) and Jonathan Yego (Kenya/2:09:57).
After his injury in January, Kiogora has been looking forward to this event. “I have trained well and hope for a good result. I will try to break the course record and the 64 minutes that are planned for the first half would be fine for me," said Kiogora, who was second in New York in 2006.
While elite race coordinator Christoph Kopp tips Chala Lemi to shine, there are seven more runners with personal bests of sub 2:12 in the race. The course record established by Iaroslav Musinschi (Moldavia) in 2010 stands at 2:08:32.
Usually Kopp hands bib number 7 to someone who he thinks could cause a surprise. On Sunday, Günther Weidlinger will get this number.
“Looking at my training, I should be able to improve my personal best. But we will have to wait and see how warm it gets,” said Weidlinger, the Austrian record holder, who ran 2:10:47 in Frankfurt, Germany in 2009.
If conditions are suitable, the 33 year-old intends to go for a first half between 65:20 and 65:30 minutes. The minimum Weidlinger wants to get on Sunday is Olympic qualification for London 2012. In contrast to Germany, the Austrian federation has allowed their marathon runners to already use this year’s spring races as a qualifier.
“I will have to run 2:14:00, which should be no problem,” said Weidlinger.
There are three women with personal bests of sub 2:30 -- Merima Mohammed is the big favourite. Still only 18 years old, the Ethiopian clocked 2:23:06 in Toronto in 2010, where she finished third. She will have a go at the six year-old course record held by Germany’s Luminita Zaituc (2:26:44).
Among her strongest rivals, will be Leah Malot (Kenya/personal best: 2:29:17) and defending champion Natalya Volgina (2:27:32). "My aim is to reach a personal best and finish inside the top three,“ said Volgina.
-0- PANA PR/VAO 6May2011
