Press Release - Marathon Hamburg - 3/14/18

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                       Haspa Marathon Hamburg On 29 April

 Olympic Champion Stephen Kiprotich renews his quest for victory in Hamburg

Stephen Kiprotich is a determined man, as would be expected of the 2012 
Olympic gold medallist and the World Marathon champion the following year. 
That is why he will return to the Haspa Marathon Hamburg on April 29 in 
search of the victory which eluded the Ugandan record holder last year.

Kiprotich finished second in the 2017 edition, beaten in a sprint finish by 
the Ethiopian Tsegaye Mekonnen. Among his rivals for the latest edition of 
Germany's biggest spring marathon will be the Kenyan Sammy Kitwara, whose 
best of 2:04:28 when taking second place in Chicago in 2014 will also make 
him a strong contender.

In contrast to the actual weather conditions, the Haspa Marathon Hamburg's 
33rd edition is experiencing a period of "high pressure." "We have 14,250 
runners entered which is about at the same level as last year. In 
conjunction with the Haspa relay and Haspa Half Marathon which are both 
fully booked and with the 'One-Tenth Race' (4.2195km) likely to be full 
very shortly, these are all very good signs. What we need now would be 
ideal weather conditions as we had them last back in 2013," explained the 
chief organiser Frank Thaleiser at a press conference in the Radisson Blu 
Hotel in Hamburg.

28 year-old Stephen Kiprotich has good memories of his race in Hamburg last 
year, despite the conditions: "Last year the weather conditions with hail 
storms and the cold were dreadful but, on the other hand, the service 
provided for us athletes and the enthusiasm of the spectators was 
absolutely first class and very welcoming. That's why I'm very happy to be 
returning and want to improve on what I did last year." His second place in 
2:07:31 was only five seconds behind the winner. Kiprotich's personal best 
stands at 2:06:33. 

This will be only the third occasion that a men's Olympic champion has 
competed in the elite field of a German city marathon. Stephen Kiprotich 
was the man who began the sequence with his run in Hamburg a year ago, then 
the 2016 Olympic gold medallist Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya ran in Berlin in 
September. There is also a link between Kipchoge and Hamburg since he 
remains the course record holder, having run 2:05:31 in his debut at the 
distance in 2013.

The organisers are hoping for a fast race if conditions are suitable on 
April 29. "After five years the time is ripe for "another Eliud Kipchoge" 
to follow the blue line," said Frank Thaleiser. If another runner plans to 
emulate the Kenyan Olympic star, it could be Sammy Kitwara who will be 
running in Hamburg for the first time: "If the conditions are good, I'll 
try to beat my personal best," promised the Kenyan, whose 2:04:28 in 
Chicago has stood for four years. Last November he won the Valencia title 
with 2:05:15, the second fastest time in a career which includes five 
performances under 2:06.

More information about the Haspa Marathon Hamburg and online entry is 
available at: www.haspa-marathon-hamburg.de 

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