Press Release - Berlin Marathon - 9/8/06

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                         Contact: SCC-RUNNING
                                                  Glockenturmstraße 23
                                                  14055 Berlin
                                           Phone: 030-301 288 10
                                             Fax: 030-301 288 20
                                                   
                                                  www.berlin-marathon.com

             Olympic Champion Mizuki Noguchi cancels start
              at the real,- BERLIN-MARATHON due to injury

The Olympic Champion in the marathon, Mizuki Noguchi had to call off her 
participation in the 33rd real,- BERLIN-MARATHON on September 24 due to 
injury, Race Director Mark Milde announced today. The 28 year-old Japanese 
woman won the real,- BERLIN-MARATHON in 2005 with a course and Asian record 
time of 2:19:12, making her the third fastest female marathon runner of all 
time. 

"We greatly regret that Mizuki Noguchi will not be able to compete on 
September 24," said Mark Milde, adding: "We wish Mizuki Noguchi all the 
best for her recovery and hope that we will see her take part in the real,- 
BERLIN-MARATON again in the future." As last year, Mizuki Noguchi has been 
in high-altitude training in St. Moritz since the middle of July in 
preparation for the real,- BERLIN-MARATHON. Prior to that she won the 
Sapporo Half Marathon, and her training times were better than last year. 
In the middle of August she slipped in her bathroom and injured her hip. 
After a few days of rest she was able to continue training, but at the end 
of August she started having problems with her foot. These problems could 
not be alleviated in time, so that in the end Mizuki Noguchi had to quit 
her preparations for the real,- BERLIN MARATHON. She will not run another 
marathon this year. 

It is the first time in ten years that a top athlete had to drop out of the 
real,- BERLIN-MARATHON on short notice. "Over the past years we have always 
been lucky with our starts - unfortunately, not this time. Nonetheless, I 
still believe that we will have a very good women’s race," Mark Milde said. 
The new favourites for a now open race are the Ethiopian Gete Wami 
(personal best: 2:22:19) and the Kenyan Salina Kosgei (2:24:32). For the 
men, superstar Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia) will be competing.

Further information is available at tel: +49 30 – 3012 8810 or online at: 
www.berlin-marathon.com

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