FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Gete Wami: After a half million, a half marathon!
Ras Al Khaimah January, 11, 2007: She's won four world titles and several
runner-up medals, an Olympic silver and two bronzes, as well as dozens of
world class races. She recently added the considerable bonus of half a
million dollars in winning the inaugural world marathon majors series. None
of which has blunted Gete Wami's ambition. The Ethiopian goes into the
second running of the big-money Ras Al Khaimah International Half Marathon
on February 8, intent on bringing her 21.1k time in line with her personal
best 2.21.34 for the marathon.
Last year's women's winner in RAK, as it is known locally in the United
Arab Emirates, was Wami's compatriot Berhane Adere, who ran an untroubled
70.58. But with Kenyans, Salina Kosgei and Rita Jeptoo in the field this
time, Wami will expect to be pushed to a faster time than her best of
70.22, which she ran en route to her Berlin 2006 marathon victory.
"That's one of the reasons why she's running," said her husband/coach,
Getaneh Tessema, by telephone from the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa last
night (Thursday). "She's never really been in a fast, competitive
half-marathon before. So, I would expect her to run much faster".
And he should know, because he was at last year's inaugural event, to see
young Sammy Wanjiru run a super fast time in the men's race. The Kenyan's
58min 53sec would have been a world record, - two seconds better than Haile
Gebrselassie's then record - but for the failure to administer an EPO test,
an issue the organisers will ensure does not repeat itself this year.
Styled as the richest half-marathon in the world, prize money in RAK has
been increased this year, to well over $200,000. And, looking to get a good
cut of that, Wami has buckled down to hard training again, after her month
off following her victory in the Berlin Marathon and second place in the
New York Marathon within five weeks in Autumn!
"She had a month off, then two weeks easy running, so she's been back
running hard for two weeks now, apart from Christmas Day off, to celebrate"
said Getaneh. To elucidate, Christmas Day was just last Monday (Jan 7), in
Ethiopia, which follows the Orthodox Christian calendar.
"She doesn't have any injuries, or physical problems. Another month's
training is more than sufficient for her to get in shape," says hubby, who
is still fit enough incidentally to train with his wife... on the easy
runs! But he's smart enough not to race against her, since he knows he'd
get blown away. As is likely to happen to her opponents next month.
For information about the RAK Half Marathon visit www.rakmarathon.org.
Registration closes on January 12, 2008. The RAK Half Marathon February 8th
2008 is the world's richest half marathon and is presented by Saqr Port and
supported by New Balance, Isostar, City 7 TV, Virgin Megastores,
ChampionChip UAE, Amana Contracting & Steel Buildings, Fugro MAPS & George
Mason University.
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