FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Eliud Kipchoge is ready for the challenge: Showdown of top
athletes at the BMW BERLIN MARATHON on September 27
Once again, the fastest marathon course in the world has drawn the crème de
la crème of endurance runners to the start. The most successful marathon
runner in the last twelve months will face the second- and third-fastest
marathon runners of all times at the BMW BERLIN MARATHON on September 27.
Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya, who won the London Marathon in the spring of 2015
and the Chicago Marathon in October 2014, hopes to demonstrate that he is
the best marathon runner in the world on September 27 in Berlin. However,
he will be facing strong competition at the 42nd edition of the BMW BERLIN
MARATHON. First, there is Emmanuel Mutai, who is the third-fastest marathon
runner of all times, who last year at the BMW BERLIN MARATHON finished just
behind the winner, Dennis Kimetto, who set a new world record in 2:02:57.
Mutai, who did quite a bit of the pace work for this world record, finished
in 2:03:13 hrs. The third in this top trio is Geoffrey Mutai (not related),
who four years ago ran the classic distance of 42.195 km faster than anyone
before him at his victory at the traditional Boston Marathon with a time of
2:03:02. Boston Marathon times, however, are not eligible for records or
best times, as the total gradient of the course is too great (plus
start/finish lines too far apart).
All three athletes have this in common: They all have experience with the
Berlin course and all have stood on the winners' podium. Kipchoge was
second with his personal best time of 2:04:05 in 2013, behind his fellow
countryman, Wilson Kipsang, who set a world record (2:03:23). Last year,
Emmanuel Mutai finished second, and Geoffrey Mutai had a spot on the podium
twice: in 2010 behind Patrick Makau (2:05:10) after a race in the pouring
rain, and in 2012 as the winner with a time of 2:04:15.
"We are delighted to have these three runners at the start, and with their
qualifications, we can certainly look forward to exciting race," says Race
Director Mark Milde, who is responsible for signing the top runners at the
BMW BERLIN MARATHON.
A short clip on these three runners you can find here.
The BMW BERLIN MARATHON is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors (AWMM),
the association of the six most important marathons in the world (Tokyo,
London, Boston, Berlin, Chicago, New York).
Brief portraits of the top three runners:
Eliud Kipchoge, Kenya, b. 5 November 1984
Best Time: 2:04:05 (Berlin 2013)
2003 Junior World Champion in Cross Country
WCh 1st 5.000 m
2004 OlyGames 3rd 5.000 m
2007 WCh 2nd 5.000 m
2008 OlyGames 2nd 5.000 m
2010 CG 2nd 5.000 m
2013 1st Hamburg-Marathon
2nd BMW BERLIN MARATHON
2014 1st Rotterdam Marathon
1st Bank of America Chicago Marathon
2015 1st Virgin Money London Marathon
Emmanuel Mutai, Kenia, b. 12 October 1984
Best time 2:03:13 (Berlin 2014)
Marathon
2007 1st Rotterdam
2009 2nd WM
2010 2nd London
2nd New York
2011 1st London
2nd New York
2013 2nd London
2nd Chicago
2014 2nd Berlin
Geoffrey Mutai, Kenia, b. 7 October 1981
Best time: 2:03:02 (Boston 2011)
Marathon
2010 2nd Rotterdam
2nd Berlin
2011 1st Boston
1st New York
2012 1st Berlin
2013 1st New York
WCh: World Athletics Championships
OlyGames: Olympic Games
CG: Commonwealth Games
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