Press Release - Vienna City Marathon - 4/18/10

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kenyans Henry Sugut and Hellen Kimutai Take Windy Vienna City 
Marathon

Kenyans took both wins in the Vienna City Marathon for the first time in 
the history of the event. Henry Sugut was a surprise winner with 2:08:40 
while Hellen Kimutai clocked 2:31:08. A strong headwind in parts of the 
race had slowed the elite runners considerably. The 27th edition of 
Austria's biggest and best quality running event registered a record number 
of 32,940 runners from 108 nations. 

The men's race had started fast and it looked as if the course record of 
2:07:38 could be broken. Temperatures were ideal at the start with 8 
degrees Celsius and sunshine. Accordingly the first split times were very 
fast. The leading group passed the 5 k point in 14:50 and had reached 10 k 
in 30:07. But then unfortunately the wind picked up strongly, pacemakers 
tired early and split times slowed. Soon after they passed half way in 
64:30 minutes the last pacemaker dropped out. In the windy conditions none 
of the eleven runners in the lead at 25 k (1:16:15) increased the pace.

After they had passed 30 k (1:32:19) four runners broke away: Henry Sugut 
and his fellow Kenyans Paul Kimugul and Joseph Lomala Kimospo as well as 
Ethiopia's Mesfin Ademasu. It was then with around five kilometres to go, 
when Henry Sugut surged away from this group. The 24 year-old Kenyan had 
only run one marathon before (3rd in Reims with 2:10:45 in 2009) and thus 
had not belonged to the big favourites. Clocking 2:08:40 in Vienna on 
Sunday he improved his personal best by more than two minutes despite the 
wind. Joseph Lomala Kimosop took second place with 2:09:32, also clocking a 
personal best. Ethiopia's Mesfin Ademasu was third with 2:09:41. Fourth 
placed Henryk Szost (Poland) established a European seaon's best with 
2:10:27 while Austria's big hope Günther Weidlinger suffered of a calf 
muscle problem and came in 12th with 2:14:05.

Pre-race favourite Felix Limo (Kenya) had to be content with seventh place 
in 2:11:34 while his fellow-countryman Luke Kibet, Kenya's World Marathon 
Champion from 2007, had dropped out soon after the start with a calf muscle 
or Achilles tendon injury. 

"I am really happy and very proud to have won this race. Next time I hope 
to further improve my personal best," said Henry Sugut. He also explained: 
"When the pacemakers dropped out early I did not want to push that early. 
Instead I waited until 30 k."

In the women's race a group of four runners reached the half way mark in 
1:14:40. Among them were defending champion Andrea Mayr (Austria), the 
two-time Vienna winner Luminita Talpos (Romania/2007 and 2008) plus Irene 
Mogaka and Hellen Kimutai. The two Kenyans then took the lead before the 
25k mark and started opening a substantial gap. It was then Mogaka who took 
the lead. She was six seconds ahead with seven kilometres to go. But then 
the Kenyan could not keep the pace and Hellen Kimutai overtook her with 
five kilometres to go. The 32 year-old Kimutai, who had been second in 
Vienna ten years ago, won with 2:31:08, followed by Irene Mogaka (2:31:28) 
and Olha Kalenarova-Ochal (Ukraine/2:33:05), who showed a strong finish 
coming from well behind. While Luminita Talpos came in fourth with 2:33:37 
the defending champion Andrea Mayr (Austria/2:34:09) finished fifth. "I 
knew Vienna is a good race, otherwise I would not have come back here," 
said Hellen Kimutai, who has a personal best of 2:25:52. Asked about how 
she manages to run at this level for such a long time with four children 
(11 and 8 years old plus twins at the age of 6) she replied: "My husband, 
who is a farmer and also helps me in training, takes care about the 
children. I owe my success to him." Hellen Kimutai will head back to Kenya 
with 15,000 Euros to boost the family's bank account. Henry Sugut collected 
the same amount for his first place.


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