FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Champions of Abbott World Marathon Majors Announced
- King of the road Kipchoge makes it four in a row
- New kid on the block Romanchuk takes his first series win
- Schär does the sensational seven
- Kosgei claims first Series honors
The Abbott World Marathon Majors - the world's elite series for marathon
running - has crowned their Series XII Champions following today's BMW
BERLIN-MARATHON.
Eluid Kipchoge kicked-off the elite men's Series in style with a new world
record time of 2:01:39 at the 2018 BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, and followed up
with a new course record on his Virgin Money London Marathon win to take
top spot on the leaderboard and secure his fourth consecutive series title.
In the elite women's competition, fellow Kenyan Brigid Kosgei takes home
her first Abbott World Marathon Majors trophy thanks to her victories at
the 2018 Bank of America Chicago Marathon and the 2019 Virgin Money London
Marathon.
Tim Hadzima, Executive Director of the Abbott World Marathon Majors said,
"Series XII of the Abbott World Marathon Majors has been full of
nail-biting finishes, world records and new emerging talent.
Congratulations to all our champions.
"Stand-out moments like Kipchoge breaking the world record here in Berlin
last September; and Manuela Schär winning every race from Berlin to Berlin
reinforces the incredible talent that we witness across the Series. The
Abbott World Marathon Majors is a series where the world's best come to
compete."
The wheelchair competition was one of the most memorable with a new men's
champion being crowned in 21-year old Daniel Romanchuk from the USA.
Battling against a vastly experienced field at every Major, Romanchuk took
the tape at four races this series: Bank of America Chicago Marathon, TCS
New York City Marathon, Boston Marathon and the Virgin Money London
Marathon. He became the first ever American to win the wheelchair race in
New York City and Boston.
Manuela Schär of Switzerland achieved the unimaginable in the last 12
months - she powered through the finishing tape ahead of the pack at all
seven races in the series one after the other from Berlin 2018 to Berlin
2019. The victories included her world record-setting performance at the
2018 BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, consecutive victories at the TCS New York City
Marathon and the Tokyo Marathon, and a maiden triumph in Chicago.
Schär's remarkable feat was also recognized with a specially created gold
version of the Six Star finishers medal. Never before has an athlete won
every race in succession.
Her grit, resilience and success in the sport has been documented by the
Abbott World Marathon Majors and can be viewed here.
In the race for second with the elite men, Lelisa Desisa and Birhanu Legese
ended the Series tied on 41 points, so it was down to a Race Directors vote
to determine that Desisa would secure second, Legese in third.
Desisa reigned supreme in the TCS New York City Marathon last November and
followed up with a second place in Boston after being narrowly beaten
across the line. Legese championed in Tokyo at the start of the spring
races and wrapped the series with a second place in Berlin today.
For the elite women, second place goes to Ruti Aga of Ethiopia thanks to
her Tokyo Marathon victory and second place in the 2018 BMW Berlin
Marathon. Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya picks up third place after finishing
second in both the TCS New York City Marathon and the Virgin Money London
Marathon.
Today's men's wheelchair winner Marcel Hug of Switzerland finishes the
series in second after a solid season of two wins (Tokyo Marathon and 2019
BMW Berlin Marathon), two second place (Bank of America Chicago Marathon
and TCS New York City Marathon) and two wheelchair bonus sprint points
(Tokyo and Berlin).
Canada's Brent Lakatos claims third spot after his 2018 Berlin victory and
second at the Virgin Money London Marathon.
Tatyana McFadden from the USA takes back to back second position in the
women's wheelchair series with 72 points from her second placings in New
York City, Tokyo, Boston and London, along with the sprint bonus points in
New York City.
Australia's Madison de Rozario finished in third place, her first Series
podium, after claiming second in Chicago (also taking the sprint bonus
points), and third in Boston, London and Berlin.
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon will be the first major of Series XIII
on 13 October 2019.
Series XII of the Abbott World Marathon Majors consisted of:
- 2018 BMW BERLIN-MARATHON
- 2018 Bank of America Chicago Marathon
- 2018 TCS New York City Marathon
- 2019 Tokyo Marathon
- 2019 Boston Marathon
- 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon
- 2019 IAAF World Championship Marathon (Women only)
- 2019 BMW BERLIN-MARATHON
Top 3 in each category
Elite Men
1. Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) 50 pts
2. Lelisa Desisa 41 pts*
3. Birhanu Legese 41 pts*
*Race Directors vote to determine 2nd and 3rd placing
Elite Women
1. Brigid Kosgei (KEN) 50 pts
2. Ruti Aga (ETH) 41 pts
3. Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN) 32 pts
Elite Men's Wheelchair
1. Daniel Romanchuk (USA) 124 pts
2. Marcel Hug (SUI) 98 pts
3. Brent Lakatos (CAN) 42 pts
Elite Women's Wheelchair
1. Manuela Schär (SUI) 124 pts
2. Tatyana McFadden (USA) 72 pts
3. Madison de Rozario 51 pts
ABOUT ABBOTT WORLD MARATHON MAJORS
The Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) is a series of six of the
largest and most renowned marathons in the world - Tokyo Marathon, B.A.A.
Boston Marathon, Virgin Money London Marathon, BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, Bank of
America Chicago Marathon and TCS New York City Marathon.
Encompassing an annual series for elite runners and elite wheelchair
athletes, AbbottWMM also applauds the achievements and passion of everyday
champions from around the world. The new AbbottWMM Six Star System is an
online results hub that celebrates every runner who has completed from one
to six of the races in the series and encourages them to 'Reach For The
Stars'.
The AbbottWMM also launched the AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Rankings in
2018 and the first AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Championship race will
take place at the Virgin Money London Marathon, April 2020. Series
2019/2020 will feature more than 175 races with the world championships
being held in Spring 2021.
For more information, visit www.Abbottwmm.com
ABOUT ABBOTT
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at
all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the
spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in
diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines.
Our 103,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.
Connect with us at www.abbott.com, on LinkedIn at
www.linkedin.com/company/abbott-/, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Abbott
and on Twitter @AbbottNews and @AbbottGlobal.
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