FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Records Expected at SEB Tallinn Marathon
The SEB Tallinn Marathon, which has been named one of the best marathons in
the world by the Association of International Marathons and Long Distance
Races (AIMS), will be held this Sunday, 11 September. A record number of
participants have signed up for the biggest sports party in the Baltic
States, which this year forms part of the programme of Tallinn 2011 –
European Capital of Culture.
The runners who will be attempting to break the track record (2:18:16)
include Mesfin Admasu Abebe (PB 2:09:32) and Abebe Negewo Degefa (PB
2:09:52) from Ethiopia, Julius Muriuki (PB 2:10:11), Pharis Kimani (PB
2:12:04) and Isaack Kosgei (PB 2:14:44) from Kenya and Hassane Ahouchar (PB
2:13:20) from Morocco. The half-marathon champion, Viljar Vallimäe, for
whom the SEB Tallinn Marathon will be his first full marathon, will be
looking to win the title of Estonian champion on the 42.195 km track.
The favourites among the women are Letay Nagash Hadish (PB 2:31:13) and
Almaz Alemu Balcha (PB 2:33:20) from Ethiopia and Irene Chepkirui (PB 21.1
km 1:14:04) from Kenya. Both Liina Luik (PB 21.1 km 1:20:27) and her sister
Leila Luik (PB 21.1 km 1:20:28) will be aiming to become Estonian
champions.
The most far-flung countries represented in the race include Japan,
Singapore and Taiwan. Belgian Stefaan Engels, who ran 365 marathons in
2010, and 76-year-old German Horst Preisler (starting under number 1111),
who has run more than 1740 marathons in his life, are also among the
competitors.
More than 1400 runners registered for the marathon and over 1300 people
will run the half-marathon. All runners who finish the full marathon will
receive a bronze medal, while a silver medal designed by Estonia's Priit
Verlin and made in Hong Kong will be awarded to those who finish the
half-marathon. The event's official partner, Tallink, will also be
rewarding every runner with a cruise to Helsinki or Stockholm.
The 42.195 km SEB Tallinn Marathon starts at 9.00 am this Sunday, 11
September. The 21.2 km half-marathon starts at 11.30 am. The 10 km run,
Nordic walking and walking races start at 1.30 pm, with the finish line
closing at 4.00 pm. The awards ceremony will be held at 2.30 on Vabaduse
väljak /Freedom Square/.
The track will once again be lined with unique 'live kilometres' or
cheering-on points of Tallinn 2011 – European Capital of Culture, where DJs
will be playing different styles of music (house, drum'n'bass and r'n'b)
and various bands and music groups will be making music according to
programmes created as part of BändCämp. Marathon runners will pass 36
musical points on their 42.195 km journey, while half-marathon runners will
pass 18 points. 10 km runners, Nordic walkers and walkers will pass eight
such points.
Everyone will also be able to enjoy a sports and entertainment programme
the day before the marathon, on Saturday 10 September. The competition
expo, which consists of displays provided by the event's partners, will be
open to visitors on Vabaduse väljak from 10.00 am to 7.00 pm. Estonia's
Getter Jaani will perform on the square at 1.00 pm, followed by Haribo
children's races at 2.00 pm. The opening ceremony of the SEB Tallinn
Marathon will be held at 6.00 pm. A distance running conference will be
held at the Radisson Blu Hotel Olympia at 12.30 pm in addition to the
programme on Vabaduse väljak.
The largest sports party in the Baltic States, which is held in Tallinn
with the support of Enterprise Estonia and the Tallinn 2011 foundation, has
attracted a lot of interest around the world. Participants from 31
countries have registered for the marathon and the SEB Tallinn Autumn Fun
Run. Kenya, Ethiopia, Spain, the USA and Portugal – all countries that have
given the world great runners – are represented at the event. There will
also be a lot of participants from neighbouring countries Latvia, Finland
and Russia.
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