Press Release - Marathon Hamburg - 2/18/20

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


                     Haspa Marathon Hamburg on 19 April:
					 
    Defending Champions Tadu Abate and Dibabe Kuma return to Hamburg
 
Defending champions Tadu Abate and Dibabe Kuma will return to the Haspa 
Marathon Hamburg. Fellow-Ethiopians Ayele Abshero, who was runner-up last 
year, and Meseret Belete will be among their rivals on 19 April. This was 
announced by the organisers of Germany's biggest and fastest spring 
marathon during a press conference. So far 12,000 entries have been 
registered for the Haspa Marathon Hamburg, which is a World Athletics Gold 
Label Road Race.  
 
"It is always a good sign when athletes like to come back to challenge and 
to possibly produce thrilling races once again. We are proud that both 
winners from 2019 will return," said chief organiser Frank Thaleiser. With 
regard to the entry figures he said: "Compared to the same time last year 
we have 400 more entries for the marathon, which shows the trust the 
runners have in our event."
 
At the age of 22 Tadu Abate is still a youngster in marathon running. After 
his biggest career victory in Hamburg a year ago, when he clocked 2:08:25 
in wet and cold conditions, the Ethiopian improved his personal best to 
2:06:13 last autumn in Amsterdam. On 19 April he will renew his rivalry 
with Ayele Abshero. The two Ethiopians produced a thrilling finish last 
year, when Abate was just one second ahead of Abshero. Back in 2018 Abate 
had left his experienced rival behind him as well, when the pair finished 
second and third in Hamburg behind fellow-Ethiopian Solomon Deksisa. 29 
year-old Abshero, who features a world-class personal best of 2:04:23, will 
be eager to be quicker than his younger rival this time. 
 
The women's field will be headed by defending champion Dibabe Kuma. The 23 
year-old Ethiopian caused a surprise last year, when she produced a great 
solo run in the poor conditions, winning in 2:24:42. "This is a very good 
course," said Kuma afterwards, indicating that in more suitable weather she 
could have improved her personal best of 2:23:34. Fellow-Ethiopian Meseret 
Belete will be one of her main challengers on 19 April. Just 20 years old 
Belete was sixth in the World Half Marathon Championships in 2018 and holds 
a marathon PB of 2:24:54.
 
Breaking the Olympic qualifying times on Hamburg's fast course will be the 
major goal for the German elite runners. Philipp Pflieger, who has a 
personal record of 2:12:50, intends to go for the 2:11:30 Olympic standard. 
He showed fine form just two days ago when he improved his PB in the half 
marathon to 62:50 in Barcelona. Two other Germans who recorded personal 
bests in the Spanish half marathon two days ago also have Olympic 
ambitions: Twin sisters Deborah and Rabea Schöneborn will run a marathon 
together for the first time. While Deborah won the Cologne  Marathon last 
autumn - though without proper competition - in 2:31:18 in her debut, Rabea 
will run her debut in Hamburg. Preparing for the marathon it looks that the 
25 year-old twins are currently at the same level. Deborah clocked a PB of 
71:37 in Barcelona on Sunday while Rabea crossed the line immediately 
behind her in ninth place with 71:40, a PB as well. It seems that both can 
achieve the Olympic qualifying time of 2:29:30 in Hamburg.
 
More information about the Haspa Marathon Hamburg and online entry is 
available at: www.haspa-marathon-hamburg.de 
 
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