Press Release - Hannover Marathon - 4/8/18

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                      HAJ Hannover Marathon on Sunday

       Seboka Erre wins in Hannover, Michael Kunyaga crawls across 
                        finish line for second place

Seboka Negussa Erre of Ethiopia and Kenya's Agnes Kiprop won the top 
honours at the HAJ Hannover Marathon. In sunny conditions rising towards 
high temperatures by the end of the race, Seboka broke 2:10 for the second 
time in his career to win in 2:09:44. Second place went to the Kenyan 
Michael Kunyaga who finished in a manner rarely seen among elite runners: 
he collapsed a few metres from the finish but kept going by crawling over 
the line in 2:10:16, barely holding off his compatriot Duncan Koech in 
2:10:19. Kunyaga's determination was rewarded with a personal best as well 
as runner-up spot.

The men's elite field did not feature any German runners and home hopes 
were also dashed for Fate Tola in the women's race. Last year's women's 
champion dropped out at 17 kilometres, suffering from a heavy cold and 
cough. Victory went to the Kenyan Agnes Kiprop in 2:32:35 with Akmaral 
Meirman of Kazakhstan finishing a distant second in 2:55:58 and the German 
runner Aida Stahlhut third in 3:03:13. The women's elite field was 
seriously affected by withdrawals because of injury and visa problems in 
the days before the race which included a group of Ethiopian runners being 
unable to arrive in Hanover in time.

A record total of 25,714 runners took part in this year's HAJ Hannover 
Marathon, taking into account the various events held in conjunction with 
the main event. The HAJ Hannover Marathon is an IAAF Silver Label Road 
Race.

An eight-strong group reached halfway in the men's race in 64:12. The 
pacemakers had fulfilled their task to the letter, putting the field at 
this point on target to attack the course record of 2:08:32. At this time 
the favourite Gilbert Kirwa, whose 2:06:14 made him the fastest on the 
start list, was already a minute off the pace and dropped out soon after, 
having encountered early problems.

As temperatures rose the lead group slackened their pace and the prospect 
of attacking the course record slipped out of reach. Shortly after reaching 
30km in 1:31:53, four runners broke away from the lead group with Duncan 
Koech leading from Seboka Erre and Mengistu Gezahagan of Ethiopia and 
Michael Kunyaga of Kenya. With 35 kilometres completed Erre made what 
proved to be a decisive break.

"I'm so happy to have won my first marathon. The weather didn't give me any 
problems," said the 29-year-old Ethiopian and added: "The course is 
perfect, it's the best I've ever run. Next year I want to run in Hannover 
again and run faster!"

In a greatly reduced women's elite field the lead was initially shared by 
Agnes Kiprop and Fate Tola. They went through 10km in 35:05 but Kiprop 
broke away at 15km and Tola dropped out soon after. After going through 
halfway in a speedy 1:13:30 Agnes Kiprop ran unchallenged to victory but 
couldn't maintain her pace in the second half. "I'm happy to have won but 
had foot problems from 29 kilometres and was getting pains and cramps. My 
pacemaker said to me that I had to keep going," explained Kiprop.

Fate Tola was disappointed that she couldn't produce her best in front of 
her home fans and retain the title. "I went down with a cold and cough 
before the race and by 17 kilometres couldn't go on and had to drop out," 
said Tola and added: "I'll be back next year and try again."

Results, Men:
1. Seboka Negussa Erre ETH  2:09:44
2. Michael Kunyuga     KEN  2:10:16
3. Duncan Koech        KEN  2:10:19
4. Justus Kiprotich    KEN  2:11:11
5. Henryk Szost        POL  2:13:37
6. Mikhail Krassilov   KAZ  2:24:24

Women:
1. Agnes Kiprop        KEN  2:32:35
2. Akmaral Meirman     KAZ  2:55:58
3. Aida Stahlhut       GER  3:03:13

More information about the HAJ Marathon Hannover is available at: 
www.marathon-hannover.de  

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