FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Victory At Flora London Marathon
Places Felix Limo And Deena Kastor Atop Leaderboard
Along With Boston Champions Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot and Rito Jeptoo
Attention now turns to the Fall events:
real,- Berlin Marathon in September; LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon in
October; and ING New York City Marathon in November.
LONDON, England; Sunday, April 23rd - The second event in the World
Marathon Majors series took place in the English capital this morning with
the running of the 26th annual Flora London Marathon. Announced in January
of this year and instigated with the running of the Boston Marathon on
Monday, April 17th, the World Marathon Majors is a unique alliance between
the world's five leading marathons - Boston, Flora London, real,-Berlin,
LaSalle Bank Chicago and ING New York City - with a $1,000,000 prize
divided amongst the overall male and female winners.
Race organizers billed the 2006 Flora London Marathon men's and women's
fields as among the greatest of all time. Despite the withdrawal of men's
and women's world record holders Paul Tergat and Paula Radcliffe due to
injury, it would be difficult to disagree. On the starting line in the
women's field were former New York, London and Boston winner Margaret Okayo
(KEN, PB 2:20:43), 2004 Chicago winner Constantina Tomescu-Dita (ROM, PB
2:21:30), 2000 New York City Lyudmila Petrova (RUS, PB 2:22:33), three time
New York second placer Susan Chepkemei (KEN, PB 2:23:12) and Olympic bronze
medalist Deena Kastor (USA, PB 2:21:16). Among the men were 2005 London
winner Martin Lel (KEN, PB 2:07:26), former world record holder Khalid
Khannouchi (USA, PB 2:05:38), multi-world record holder Haile Gebreselassie
(ETH, PB 2:06:20), world champion Jaoud Gharib (MAR, PB 2:07:02), Olympic
champion Stefano Baldini (ITA, PB 2:07:29), 2004 New York winner Hendrick
Ramaala (RSA, PB 2:08:32) and past Chicago and London winner Evans Rutto
(KEN, PB 2:05:50). If ever a stellar field toed a starting line, this was
it.
As had transpired in Boston the previous weekend, one race in London
produced a display of dominant front-running with the other evolving into a
thrilling, hard-fought race to the line. Unlike Boston, however, it was the
female winner, Kastor, who proved dominant in the cool, drizzly conditions
and who enjoyed a run to the finish in splendid isolation. The American
powered away from second placed Chepkemei soon after the 25K mark and,
thereafter, was never threatened. Embellishing her win was a new US record
of 2:19:36, a prize purse of $105,000 ($55,000 for the win, plus $50,000
for sub-2:22) and 25 points in the World Marathon Majors standings.
Felix Limo secured the same reward on the men's side ($50,000 for winning,
plus $50,000 for sub-2:07), although he was not assured of the victory
until a scant 20 meters from the finish line adjacent to Buckingham Palace.
The pack remained tightly bunched through 30K, when Rutto surged to the
front. That upped the ante, but did not significantly reduce the
contenders. That came at 38K when Lel, the defending champion, hit the
front with a move that reduced the leading pack from seven down to just he
and Limo. Over the final four kilometers, these two engaged in a shoulder
to shoulder battle that was not resolved until the latter's kick decided it
with the finish line in sight. Limo's winning time was 2:06:39, two seconds
up on Lel, and represented his third win in one of the "big five" marathons
(Berlin and Chicago being the occasions of his others).
With two events in the World Marathon Majors Series completed, the overall
standings are as follows:
Men
Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (KEN) Boston (2:07:14) 25 points
Felix Limo (KEN) London (2:06:39) 25 points
Benjamin Maiyo (KEN) Boston (2:08:21) 15 points
Martin Lel (KEN) London (2:06:41) 15 points
Mebrahtom Keflezhigi (USA) Boston (2:09:56) 10 points
Hendrick Ramaala (RSA) London (2:06:55) 10 points
Brian Sell (USA) Boston (2:10:55) 5 points
Khalid Khannouchi (USA) London (2:07:04) 5 points
Alan Culpepper (USA) Boston (2:11:02) 1 point
Stefano Baldini (ITA) London (2:07:22) 1 point
Women
Rita Jeptoo (KEN) Boston (2:23:38) 25 points
Deena Kastor (USA) London (2:19:36) 25 points
Jelena Prokopchuka (LAT) Boston (2:23:48) 15 points
Lyudmila Petrova (RUS) London (2:21:29) 15 points
Reiko Tosa (JPN) Boston (2:24:11) 10 points
Susan Chepkemei (KEN) London (2:21:46) 10 points
Bruna Genovese (ITA) Boston (2:25:28) 5 points
Berhane Adere (ETH) London (2:21:52) 5 points
Kiyoko Shimahara (JPN) Boston (2:26:52) 1 point
Galina Bogomolova (RUS) London (2:21:58) 1 point
Competitors in the World Marathon Majors series accumulate points in each
of the five marathons in which they participate over a two year period.
They may contest as many races as they wish, but only their four best count
towards the standings. Although the series functions on a two year
rotation, the cycles overlap. Hence, the World Marathon Majors cycles
proceed as follows: 2006/2007; 2007/2008; 2008/2009, etc. The prize money
for the first cycle will be award at the end of 2007, with $1,000,000
divided equally between the first placed man and woman. Thereafter, prize
money will be awarded annually. Note: in the years in which they occur, the
World Championships and Olympic Games marathons are also part of the
series.
With two races now completed, it is to real,-Berlin on Sunday, September
24th that competitors will turn their attention. Significantly, Berlin will
be the first race in the World Marathon Majors series providing runners
from Boston and London the opportunity to accumulate further points. It was
in Berlin in 2003 that Paul Tergat set the current world record figures of
2:04:55.
Following real,-Berlin, the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon will take place
on Sunday, October 22nd. The ING New York City Marathon is scheduled for
Sunday, November 5th.
Standings, breaking news and further information about the World Marathon
Majors, can be found at www.worldmarathonmajors.com
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