Press Release - World Marathon Majors - 4/7/11

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

           World Marathon Majors Doubleheader Weekend Sure to 
                    Have Huge Leaderboard Implications
                 Series leaders Kebede and Shobukhova pace 
                     world's best into London and Boston

April 7, 2011 - The 2010–2011 World Marathon Majors series resumes with a 
doubleheader weekend, beginning with the Virgin London Marathon on Sunday, 
April 17, then jumping over the Atlantic for the Boston Marathon the next 
day.

The WMM series leaderboard is sure to be reshuffled in the chase for the $1 
million jackpot. Many of the world's top marathoners will be looking to 
chase down WMM series points leaders Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia and Liliya 
Shobukhova of Russia on the streets of London. And another group of 
talented athletes will be in the hunt for the title on the famed 
Hopkinton-to-Boston course. 

In London, Kebede and Shobukhova lead one of the most talented packs of 
athletes ever seen on a starting line. Kebede, with 40 points, brings a 
10-point lead into London. A win would push him at least 15 points ahead of 
anyone who could potentially reach second place in the series standings. He 
will have his work cut out for him, however, as Kenyans Emmanuel Mutai (30 
points) and Patrick Makau (25 points) will toe the line with him. 
Unfortunately, a leg injury has sidelined the 2008 Olympic champion and 
reigning WMM series champion, Kenya's Samuel Wanjiru. 

Shobukhova is the early favorite to retain her WMM series title. She comes 
into London with 50 points, after 2010 wins in London and at the Bank of 
America Chicago Marathon. Another London win would give her an almost 
insurmountable lead heading into the fall marathon season. Ethiopia's Aberu 
Kebede (25 points), ING New York City Marathon 2010 champion Edna Kiplagat 
of Kenya (25 points), and fellow Russian Inga Abitova (20 points) will try 
to keep Shobukhova from running away with the WMM crown.

In Boston, Kenya's Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot (25 points) and ING New York 
City Marathon 2010 winner Gebre Gebremariam (25 points) of Ethiopia could 
climb the ladder with strong finishes on Patriots' Day. American favorite 
Ryan Hall could also work his way into the picture with a podium finish.

In the women's race, returning champion Teyba Erkesso (25 points) of 
Ethiopia could stay in contention with another win. She can expect 
challenges from last year's runner-up Tatyana Pushkareva (15 points) of 
Russia, and American star Kara Goucher, who is returning to WMM action 
after the birth of her first child last fall.

2010-2011 WMM Leaderboards

Men
Place   Name                     Country   Points   Spring '11 marathon
1       Tsegaye Kebede           ETH           40   London
2       Emmanuel Mutai           KEN           30   London
3       Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot KEN           25   Boston
3       Gebre Gebremariam        ETH           25   Boston
3       Patrick Makau            KEN           25   London
3       Samuel Wanjiru           KEN           25   London
7       Tekeste Kebede           ETH           15   Boston
7       Geoffrey Mutai           KEN           15   Boston

Women
Place   Name                     Country    Points  Spring '11 marathon
1       Liliya Shobukhova        RUS            50  London
2       Teyba Erkesso            ETH            25  Boston
2       Aberu Kebede             ETH            25  London
2       Edna Kiplagat            KEN            25  London
5       Inga Abitova             RUS            20  London
5       Bezunesh Bekele          ETH            20  London
7       Atsede Baysa             ETH            15  Idle
7       Shalane Flanagan         USA            15  Idle
7       Tatyana Pushkareva       RUS            15  Boston

World Marathon Majors Scoring

1st: 25 pts   2nd: 15 pts   3rd: 10 pts   4th: 5 pts  5th: 1 pt 

Complete WMM Series leaderboards are posted at www.worldmarathonmajors.com.