FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Elites Confirmed for Edinburgh Marathon 2014:
As EMF Offers Support to Team Scotland Glasgow 2014 Runners
Some of the world's fastest marathon runners will take to the streets of
Edinburgh and East Lothian on the 24th and 25th May 2014 as part of the
12th Edinburgh Marathon Festival. As well as some of the members of Team
Scotland who are taking part in races as part of their pre Commonwealth
Games race build up.
Abi Beautyman, Edinburgh Marathon Festival Elite Coordinator, predicts
another "super fast series of road races on the ultra fast Edinburgh
routes" with David Toniok, 30, from Kenya starting favourite to win the
2014 Edinburgh Marathon with the fastest PB among the confirmed elite
runners recording a time of 2:10:39. This is almost five minutes ahead of
the current course record set in 2005 by Zachary Kihara of Kenya in
2:15:26. Another Kenyan, Linus Maiyo, 31, took Bronze last year in the
Barcelona Marathon in a personal best of 2:11:34 so should also be in
contention in the lead pack. That pack should also feature Ebisa Merga from
Ethiopia who is the reigning champion of the Bournemouth Marathon
(2:16:41), as well as Sufa Chala from Ethiopia who recorded an impressive
finish time of 2:12:44 at the Dubai Marathon earlier this year.
Race Director Neil Kilgour added that "The Edinburgh Marathon Festival
delivery team see every entrant and runner as an 'elite' given the massive
training commitment and personal sacrifice that everyone of the 30,0000
participants have given in the build up to their big race". This ethos is
typified by the ultra fast International elite runners being accompanied by
fellow Kenyan athlete Japhet Koech, star of the international best selling
running book 'Running with the Kenyans' by Adharanand Finn. His
participation in Edinburgh has been in part paid for by crowd funding from
within the running community and the Edinburgh Marathon delivery team.
The women's contest is equally as strong with some of the brightest female
marathon stars. Risper Kimaiyo, from Kenya is back to defend her 2013
Edinburgh marathon female champion win of 2:35:57; reigning Casablanca
marathon champion Gulilat Serkalem from Ethiopia whose personal best of
2:31:50 is about a minute and a half under the current female course record
of 2:33:36 set by Zinaida Semenova of Russia in 2005; Fabiola Perez Igari
from Mexico (PB 2:43:46); Ukrainian Kateryna Stetsenko who has a strong
personal best of 2:27:51 set in Dublin 2010 and French athlete Adeline
Roche with a personal best of 2:38:31.
The ever young Scottish running star Hayley Haining takes part in the half
Marathon as part of her preparation for the Marathon at the Commonwealth
Games in Glasgow.
Commenting on her place in the race Hayley said: "The Edinburgh Half
Marathon is an ideal race for my build up to the Glasgow 2014 Marathon. It
has a fast international field and is an ideal opportunity to race on home
soil before the Marathon in Glasgow."
Fellow Scottish runner, Derek Hawkins, who is also selected for the Glasgow
2014 Marathon, takes part in the EMF 10K race on Saturday 24th May as part
of his preparation for Glasgow.
Also lining up on the marathon start line will be Britain's elite runners
including, Salford Harrier runners, Ian McBride and Tarus Elly alongside
Scots Kerry Liam Wilson, Cambuslang clubrunner. And Kelly Crickmore,
Chester TC, will fly the female British flag with a personal best time of
2:45:14 set last year in La Rochelle.
Second only to London in terms of size in the UK, The Edinburgh Marathon
Festival, which in 2014 will be in its 12th year, takes place in Scotland's
capital city Edinburgh and continues through East Lothian. There are seven
races on offer, guaranteeing there is something for everyone from the
seasoned runner to the charity fundraiser and beginners. The fun kicks off
on Saturday 24th May at Holyrood Park with a 10k, 5K and two junior races.
On Sunday 25th May, the Edinburgh marathon, half marathon and team relay
starts from the heart of Edinburgh and continues through East Lothian
offering stunning views and an unforgettable running experience.
Neil Kilgour, Edinburgh Marathon Festival race director, said: "Scotland is
preparing to welcome the world and we look forward to delivering another
outstanding Edinburgh Marathon Festival that the nation will be proud of.
The Edinburgh Marathon Festival is an ideal way to showcase the capital at
its very best and complement Scotland's £3 million programme of
"Homecoming" events that tourism bosses believe will help create the
industry's biggest ever year in 2014."
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