FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE VOLKSWAGEN PRAGUE MARATHON ANNOUNCES ELITE FIELD
Prague, April 22, 2011: The organizing committee of the Prague
International Marathon spol. s r.o. ("PIM"), has released their list of
confirmed elite athletes for the Volkswagen Prague Marathon on Sunday, May
8th. A quick overview:
3 men with sub-2:08:00 PB's (12 sub-2:10:00). 3 women with sub-2:30:00 PB's
(5 sub-2:35:00). 2 important men's debuts; Samuel Kiplimo Kosgei of Kenya
who set a new 25 km world record last year in Berlin, and Sérgio
Silva of Portugal, plus 1 important women's debut, Filomena Costa of
Portugal.
In the men's category, one of the expected favourites is Samuel Kiplimo
Kosgei, whose PB running half marathon is 0:59:39. He also holds the 25 km
race world record of 1:11:50.
The women's race, however, should make for an interesting competition with
a diverse, international field consisting of runners from Kenya, Ethiopia,
Namibia, Brazil, Portugal, the UK, and the USA.
Serena Burla of the US has an amazing story, as she overcame cancer just
one year ago, having undergone surgery to remove a Synovial Sarcoma in her
right leg in February of 2010. She has very quickly and successfully
returned to competition with strong performances, most recently running
1:11 in the half marathon in January, 2011.
Lydia Cheromei of Kenya, a World Champion at age 13 and still running at
34, is the new record holder from the Hervis Prague Half Marathon this year
and is hoping to break the record in the Volkswagen Marathon as well, given
good weather conditions on race day. Her competition will include Olga Glok
(RUS), who was the winner of the Volkswagen Prague Marathon in 2009 when
she ran her PB of 2:28:27.
Unfortunately for the men's race, both favourite Kenyan runners Nicholas
Kiprutto Koech and Duncan Kibet have withdrawn due to health reasons.
2011 Elite Race Favourites:
MEN
2:06:30: Yemane Tsegay (Adhane) (ETH)
2:07:34: Gudisa Shentema (ETH)
2:07:58: Kenneth Mburu Mungara (KEN)
1:11:50 (25 km), 0:59:36 (Half Marathon): Samuel Kiplimo Kosgei (KEN)
WOMEN
2:23:01: Lydia Cheromei (KEN)
2:27:45: Yeshimebet Tadesse (ETH)
2:28:27: Olga Glok (RUS)
Best Czech favourites:
Men:
2:17:11: Pavel Novák
2:17:47: Robert Krupièka
Women:
2:44:58: Ivana Martincová
2:45:29: Radka Churáòová
Race Records:
Men: Eliud Kiptanui, KEN 2:05:39 (2010)
Women: Helena L. Kirop, KEN 2:25:29 (2010)
Prize Money Purse – Please see the attached document for more information.
LIVE TV Broadcast on CT4, Sunday, from 8:50 am
LIVE Free Web Broadcast: Sunday, from 8:50 am at
http://live.praguemarathon.com
View the course map and watch online and in real time with Google Street
View: http://google-maps.praguemarathon.com
For more information on all of the above, please visit:
www.praguemarathon.com.
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