FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wanjiru, Mikitenko Claim Titles Of
2008-2009 World Marathon Majors Series
NEW YORK, November 2, 2009 - Samuel Wanjiru, of Kenya, and Irina Mikitenko,
of Germany, are the winners of the 2008-'09 World Marathon Majors series,
and both were presented with $500,000 USD for their respective
accomplishment at an award ceremony today in New York. Wanjiru collected
90 points over the two-year series, winning at the 2008 Olympics, as well
as at London and Chicago in 2009. He was also runner-up at London in 2008.
Similarly, Mikitenko won three major marathons and finished second place in
another during the last two years; she won at London in both 2008 and 2009,
was victorious at Berlin in 2008, and was runner-up at Chicago last month.
Mikitenko also won the 2007-'08 WMM series.
In the series, the world's top runners score points for winning and top
placings at the five events which comprise the World Marathon Majors:
Virgin London Marathon, Boston Marathon, real,-Berlin Marathon, Bank of
America Chicago Marathon, and ING New York City Marathon. (In years in
which the Olympic Games and IAAF World Championships are contested, those
marathons also count in the point totals.)
WMM series points are collected for top five finishes with 25 points for
first place, 15 for second, 10 for third, 5 for fourth and 1 for fifth.
Winners of the World Marathon Majors series:
WMM series Men Women
2006-2007 Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, KEN Gete Wami, ETH
2007-2008 Martin Lel, KEN Irina Mikitenko, GER
2008-2009 Samuel Wanjiru, KEN Irina Mikitenko, GER
2008-2009 Men's Final Leader Board
1. Samuel Wanjiru (KEN) 90 pts.
2. Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) 50 pts.
3. Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (KEN) 41 pts.
4. Abderrahim Goumri (MAR) 40 pts.
5. Tsegaye Kebede (ETH) 35 pts.
5. Jaouad Gharib (MAR) 35 pts.
2008-2009 Women's Final Leader Board
1. Irina Mikitenko (GER) 90 pts.
2. Dire Tune (ETH) 40 pts.
3. Liliya Shobukhova (RUS) 35 pts.
3. Lidiya Grigoryeva (RUS) 35 pts.
5. Ludmila Petrova (RUS) 31 pts.
5. Salina Kosgei (KEN) 31 pts.
To view biographies of Wanjiru, Mikitenko and the world's other top
marathoners, as well as leader boards for the 2008-2009 series and the
2009-2010 series, which is now halfway to completion, go to
www.worldmarathonmajors.com
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