Press Release - Hannover Marathon - 4/7/17

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 Course record holder Lusapho April and German record holder Arne Gabius 
                              duel in Hannover

Kenya's sub 2:07 runners Philip Sanga and Nicholas Kamakya head the start 
list of the HAJ Hannover Marathon. However South Africa's defending 
champion Lusapho April and Germany's marathon record holder Arne Gabius are 
very much in the focus before Sunday's race. In contrast to the men's elite 
field there is a clear favourite in the women's race: Former Ethiopian Fate 
Tola, who gained German citizenship last summer, intends to attack the 
course record of 2:27:07. "We already have an entry record. Adding the 
running events at shorter distances entry figures currently point to a 
final total of more than 22,000 athletes. We would be absolutely delighted 
if we could achieve this mark," said Race Director Stefanie Eichel. The HAJ 
Hannover Marathon is an IAAF Silver Label Road Race.

Elite race coordinator Christoph Kopp plans a more conservative approach 
for the men's race. "We will instruct pacemakers to go through half way in 
65 minutes. I think despite the two Kenyans with personal bests of sub 2:07 
we have a well balanced field. So it could get very interesting in the 
second half," said Kopp. 

Lusapho April's course record of 2:08:32 from 2013, which is also his 
personal best, is not a primary goal for the organisers. However the South 
African thinks different: "The weather forecast looks good and if the 
pacemakers are doing well then I want to attack the record. It is some time 
ago that I ran that fast and it is time now to do it again," said Lusapho 
April, who intends to run the World Championships' marathon in London this 
August. "I feel fine and my training has gone well. I am in better shape 
than last year," said 34 year-old April, who is the record winner of the 
HAJ Hannover Marathon with three victories. "It is great to be back in 
Hannover. This is like second home for me." 

Arne Gabius' German record is just one second slower than April's course 
record. It was in October 2015 when the 36 year-old clocked 2:08:33 in 
Frankfurt and took the 27 year-old national record from Jörg Peter. However 
after that race Gabius did not finish a marathon again. He dropped out of 
London a year ago and was then forced to cancel his start at the Olympics 
due to an injury. It was not before Christmas that he could start running 
again. "I am happy that I am back after almost a year. I feel fine, but I 
can not make a projection regarding my time. However it is my goal to 
finish on the podium," said Arne Gabius. 

It is likely that April's and Gabius' main rivals will be Kenyans Philip 
Sanga, Nicholas Kamakya and may be Allan Kiprono. Sanga clocked his 
personal best of 2:06:07 back in 2011 in Frankfurt while Kamakya ran his PB 
of 2:06:34 in the same year in Amsterdam. Kiprono ran 2:09:38 in Frankfurt 
in 2014. Sondre Moen might be in for a surprise. The Norwegian has a PB of 
2:12:54 and was 19th in the Olympic marathon last year. 

With no other sub 2:30 runner on the start list Fate Tola is the big 
favourite in the women's race. After missing out on the Olympic marathon 
because she received German citizenship some two weeks after the Rio entry 
deadline Tola bounced back in Frankfurt last autumn. The two-time Vienna 
City Marathon champion was second with 2:25:42 and clocked her second 
fastest time ever. After training in Ethiopia she hopes for a similar or 
even faster time on Sunday. "My aim is to run the first half in 73 
minutes," said Fate Tola, who looks certain to secure nomination for the 
World Championships in London. The 29 year-old could well smash the course 
record. Back in 2013 Ukraine's Olena Burkovska ran 2:27:07 on Hannover's 
very flat course. 

Selected elite runners with personal bests

Men:
Philip Sanga KEN 2:06:07
Nicholas Kamakya KEN 2:06:34
Lusapho April RSA 2:08:32
Arne Gabius GER 2:08:33
Allan Kiprono KEN 2:09:38
Sondre Moen NOR 2:12:54
Boaz Kipyego KEN 2:12:59 
Daniel da Silva BRA Debut
Hideyuki Ikegami JPN Debut

Women:
Fate Tola GER 2:25:14
Nataliya Lehonkova UKR 2:30:40
Tetyana Vernygor UKR 2:31:34
Mulunesh Asefa ETH 2:34:10
Banuelia Katesigwa TAN 2:34:54
Maryanne Wanjiru KEN Debüt
Eunice Kioko KEN Debüt

More information about the HAJ Marathon Hannover is available at: 
www.marathon-hannover.de 

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