Press Release - World Marathon Majors - 9/26/10

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

        real,- BERLIN-MARATHON: Makau and Kebede Battle the Rain to 
                     Take World Marathon Majors Race 

Patrick Makau (Kenya) and Aberu Kebede (Ethiopia) had to battle the 
elements before taking victory at the real,- BERLIN-MARATHON. They were 
rewarded with 25 points each in the World Marathon Majors (WMM) series. 
Since both of them collected their first WMM points in their careers they 
have no significant impact on the current 2009-2010 series. This one will 
most likely be decided at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, which takes 
place on 10th October. The ING New York City Marathon on 7th November will 
then be the final event of the 2009-2010 series.

So often in the past running conditions had been ideal at the real,- 
BERLIN-MARATHON. But Sunday appeared to be the opposite with steady and 
partly heavy rain, a slight wind and a cool starting temperature of 12° 
Celsius. In what were the worst conditions for more than 20 years during a 
real,- BERLIN-MARATHON Patrick Makau still achieved a remarkable time of 
2:05:08, winning by just two seconds from his fellow-countryman Geoffrey 
Mutai. Ethiopia’s Bazu Worku was third with 2:05:25. Mutai and Worku also 
collected their first WMM points (15 and 10 points). It was the first time 
that three runners clocked sub 2:06 times in the history of the real,- 
BERLIN-MARATHON.

In the women’s race Aberu Kebede won in 2:23:58. She was exactly a minute 
ahead of fellow-Ethiopian Bezunesh Bekele (2:24:58) while Japan’s Tomo 
Morimoto took third (2:26:10). Kebede and Bekele are now in a joint fifth 
place in the 2009-2010 WMM series with 25 points, but leader Liliya 
Shobukhova (Russia) has already collected 60.

The following athletes have collected WMM points at real,- BERLIN-MARATHON 
this Sunday (points counting for 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 series):

Men:
1. Patrick Makau        KEN   25 points    02:05:08
2. Geoffrey Mutai       KEN   15           02:05:10
3. Bazu Worku           ETH   10           02:05:25
4. Yemane Tsegay        ETH   5            02:07:52
5. Eliud Kiptanui       KEN   1            02:08:05
 
Women:
1. Aberu Kebede         ETH   25 points    02:23:58
2. Bezunesh Bekele      ETH   15           02:24:58
3. Tomo Morimoto        JPN   10           02:26:10
4. Sabrina Mockenhaupt  GER   5            02:26:21
5. Olena Burkovska      UKR   1            02:28:31
 
The current standings in the 2009-2010 WMM series:

Men
1  Tsegaye Kebede       ETH   50 points
2  Samuel Wanjiru       KEN   50
3  Deriba Merga         ETH   35
4  Emmanuel Mutai       KEN   35
5  Jaouad Gharib        MAR   30
 
Women
1  Liliya Shobukhova    RUS   60 points
2  Irina Mikitenko      GER   40
3  Salina Kosgei        KEN   36
4  Teyba Erkesso        ETH   30
5  Bezunesh Bekele      ETH   25
   Atsede Habtamu       ETH   25
   Aberu Kebede         ETH   25
   Derartu Tulu         ETH   25
   Bai Xue              CHN   25
 
Full standings for the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 WMM series as well as 
further information about the WMM and participating athletes are available 
from: www.worldmarathonmajors.com

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