Press Release - Vienna City Marathon - 4/7/10

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

       Kenya's Felix Limo Heads Strong Men's Field In Vienna

The Vienna City Marathon, which will be staged for the 27th time on 18th 
April, could well see the best quality men's race in its history. Eight 
runners have been signed with personal bests of sub 2:10. The fastest of 
this group is the fastest marathoner ever entered into the Vienna City 
Marathon: Felix Limo features a personal best of 2:06:14. The 29 year-old 
Kenyan intends to show that he still belongs to the best marathon runners 
worldwide. Among Limo's strongest rivals will be his fellow-countrymen Luke 
Kibet, the World Champion from 2007, and Paul Biwott, who boosts a personal 
best of 2:07:02.

While the course record of 2:07:38 – established by the current World 
Champion Abel Kirui (Kenya) in 2008 – may well be under threat a different 
record has already been broken: Organisers have registered close to 31,000 
entries for Austria's number one running event. This includes races at 
shorter distances which will be held together with the marathon. Despite 
the tough winter there has never been a bigger field in the history of the 
Vienna City Marathon. Late entry for the marathon race will  still be 
possible, though online registration closes this Friday (9th April). Please 
visit the event's website for further information: www.vienna-marathon.com

While Luke Kibet as well as Austria's national record holder Günther 
Weidlinger (2:10:47) had been announced to run Vienna earlier, a goup of 
half a dozen strong Kenyans has now been added to the field. Clearly Felix 
Limo is the most prominent name. Only a few years ago the Kenyan was one of 
the dominant figures in marathon running. He took the events in London 
(2006), Berlin (2004), Chicago (2005) and Rotterdam (2004). Three times 
Limo clocked sub 2:07 results: In Rotterdam 2004 (2:06:14), in Berlin 2004 
(2:06:44) and in Amsterdam 2003, when he finished second in his marathon 
debut race with 2:06:42. 

Felix Limo has tremendous speed and holds the current 15 k world record 
with 41:29. The Kenyan is one of few athletes who can claim to never have 
lost against world record holder Haile Gebrselassie in the marathon. Two 
times the two marathon greats have met so far at this distance – and on 
both occasions Limo was ahead of the Ethiopian legend in London. Due to 
back problems Felix Limo was not at his best in 2009, but he is confident 
that he will run strong again in Vienna at the end of next week.

Felix Limo will have to be in peak form if he wants to take the Vienna City 
Marathon since he faces tough opposition. While Luke Kibet – winner in 
Vienna in 2007 before taking the world championship gold – has not yet 
reached his full potential regarding a fast time (PB: 2:08:52) there is one 
runner in the field who came very close to a sub 2:07. Paul Biwott improved 
to 2:07:02 last year, when he was third in Amsterdam. The Kenyan knows the 
course in Vienna from his third place finish in 2008 (2:08.53). Wilson 
Kigen (Kenya/2:08:16 when second in Frankfurt in 2008), Joseph Maregu 
(Kenya/third in Vienna in 2009 with 2:09:25), Mesfin Ademasu 
(Ethiopia/seventh in Rotterdam 2009 in 2:09:32), Leonard Mucheru 
(Kenya/second in Tiberias in 2009 with 2:09:37) and Jonathan Yego 
(Kenya/winner of the Rome Marathon in 2008 with 2:09:57) complete the group 
of Africans starting in Vienna with personal bests of sub 2:10. 

The 2010 Vienna City Marathon can be watched live worldwide on the 
internet. The live stream will be available on www.vienna-marathon.com on 
18th April. Three hours of coverage will be provided by Austrian national 
TV station ORF and will begin at 8.40 am.

More information and online entry for the Vienna City Marathon is available 
at: www.vienna-marathon.com 

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