FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Volha Mazuronak breaks course record in Düsseldorf,
Gilbert Yegon wins men's title after detour
Volha Mazuronak produced the top performance at the METRO Marathon
Düsseldorf as the Belorussian athlete ran a women's course record of
2:25:25. Mazuronak, the top European finisher in fifth place in the 2016
Olympic Marathon in Rio, dominated the race. The German runner Fabienne
Amrhein was a surprise second placer, improving her best to 2:32:35. Her
personal best was inside the team qualifying time for the European
Championships in Berlin this summer. The Kenyan Rose Maru finished third in
2:33:55 with last year's women's champion Doroteia Peixoto Alves of
Portugal fourth in 2:35:15.
Mazuronak, who has been trained by Wolfgang Heinig since December and from
time to time runs with the German steeplechase record holder Gesa Krause,
ran the first half in 73:02. At this point she was just outside the course
record of the Kenyan Agnes Jeruto, who ran 2:25:47 in 2012. The
Belorussian, whose best is 2:23:54, then ran a negative split for the
second half. "I'm very happy and delighted to have broken the course record
with a faster second half," said Mazuronak. She wants to run the 10,000m at
the European Championships and a marathon in the autumn.
"I'm delighted to have won my first German title," said Fabienne Amrhein,
who had double cause for celebration in also setting a personal best. The
expected duel between her and Franziska Reng only lasted till 18 km.
Franziska Reng then dropped out after she went off way too fast.
Gilbert Yegon won the second METRO Marathon Düsseldorf title of his career,
following his victory in 2014. The Kenyan ran 2:13:55 but had the
misfortune to be among the leading group which was sent off course after
about eight kilometres, leaving them to run about one kilometre extra.
Richard Mutai continued the Kenyan dominance in second place with 2:14:08
and he also was among those who made an unintended detour. "I did not
realise at first that we had been sent off course," said Gilbert Yegon. He
now plans to prepare for an autumn marathon would like to run in Frankfurt.
Tom Gröschel was an unexpected winner of the German men's title on his
marathon debut. He finished third overall in 2:15:20, overhauling Sebastian
Reinwand with 1.5 k remaining. Reinwand was fourth in 2:15:27, Marcus
Schöfisch fifth in 2:15:19, both setting personal bests. The day proved
highly successful for the German men with Philipp Baar running 2:16:17 and
Karsten Meier 2:16:26 on their debuts in sixth and seventh places
respectively. This also ensured they finished inside the qualifying time
for the European Championship Marathon team. A maximum of six per team can
be selected for the European Championships in Berlin In August.
The 16th edition of the METRO Marathon Düsseldorf had a total of 16,000
runners registered for all its events with 3,700 on the start line for the
Marathon.
Results, Men:
1. Gilbert Yegon KEN 2:13:55
2. Richard Mutai KEN 2:14:08
3. Tom Gröschel GER 2:15:20
4. Sebastian Reinwand GER 2:15:27
5. Marcus Schöfisch GER 2:15:59
Women:
1. Volha Mazuronak BLR 2:25:25
2. Fabienne Amrhein GER 2:32:35
3. Rose Maru KEN 2:33:55
4. Doroteia Peixoto Alves POR 2:35:15
5. Fadime Suna Celik TUR 2:36:21
Further information can be found online at: www.metro-marathon.de
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