FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kenyans Albert Korir and Nancy Kiprop win thrilling duels
Kenyans Albert Korir and Nancy Kiprop took the Vienna City Marathon after
thrilling duels. Korir edged ahead in the final 150 metres, beating Ishmael
Bushendich by two seconds. Korir clocked 2:08:40 in windy conditions,
Bushendich followed in 2:08:42. Ezekiel Omullo completed an all Kenyan
podium, taking third in 2:09:10.
Despite the unfavourable weather conditions with strong winds Nancy Kiprop
clocked the second fastest time ever in the history of the Vienna City
Marathon. She won with 2:24:20 after battling with fellow-Kenyan Rebecca
Chesir. With around 400 metres to go Kiprop moved ahead. Chesir was second
in 2:24:25 and Ethiopia's Roza Dereje took third with 2:25:17. Defending
champion Shuko Genemo of Ethiopia finished fourth in 2:26:06.
A record number of 42,766 runners from 125 nations entered the various
events of the 34th Vienna City Marathon, which is Austria's biggest
sporting event and an IAAF Gold Label Road Race. It is the fifth time in a
row that the events of the Vienna City Marathon registered more than 40,000
athletes. Almost 9,000 athletes entered the marathon race.
With high winds it soon became obvious that this would not be the day for
record attempts. But instead two very competitive races developed. In fact
never before has the Vienna City Marathon seen two such thrilling finishes
in one race.
A group of 15 runners passed the half way mark in 64:13 minutes. There were
still three pacemakers in front of the group, trying to protect the other
athletes from the wind. With winds projected to reach up to 60 kilometres
per hour any result below 2:10 should have been regarded as an
extraordinary achievement.
But somehow the wind calmed down when the men ran the last 12 k. While
there was still a group of twelve runners plus one pacemaker at 30 k
(1:31:38) the picture changed rapidly very soon after passing that point.
Suddenly only seven runners were left in the first group, then three broke
away around the 35 k mark: Ishmael Bushendich, Albert Korir and Suleiman
Simotwo made the race for victory an all-Kenyan affair. Deribe Robi of
Ethiopia, one of the pre-race favourites, had lost contact while Kenya's
Eliud Kiptanui, who was the fastest on the start list with 2:05:21, dropped
out at this late stage of the race.
At 36 k Simotwo could not hold on. He dropped back, later finishing fifth
with 2:10:36. Bushendich and Korir ran shoulder to shoulder until they
could see the finish line. In a thrilling sprint finish Korir was ahead,
improving his personal best from 2:10:08 to 2:08:40. "It was cold and
windy, but it was a great day for me," said 23 year-old Korir, who
celebrated his biggest career win in Vienna.
The women's leading group contained six runners when they reached half way
in 1:12:36. Ethiopians Shuko Genemo, Meseret Mengistu and Roza Dereje faced
three Kenyans: Debutant Angela Tanui, Nancy Kiprop and Rebecca Chesir. It
was then Mengistu, who was the fastest runner on the start list with
2:23:26, who fell off the pace. Having suffered of a foot problem during
her training for Vienna she later dropped out. Genemo and Tanui also
struggled. At 30 k (1:42:23) Dereje, Chesir and Kiprop were left in the
lead. But it was not an Ethiopian day for the women in Vienna as well.
Dereje hold on until 39 k, but then had to settle for third. Kiprop and
Chesir produced a great fight for victory. 37 year-old Kiprop secured her
biggest career win. "It was very windy and it was getting really close at
the end. This was my greatest victory," said Nancy Kiprop.
Andreas Vojta and Andrea Mayr take Vienna's new 10 k race
A new 10 k event on the eve of the Vienna City Marathon saw Austrian
champions crowned at this distance: Andreas Vojta and Andrea Mayr took the
honours on the city centre course with times of 29:54 and 34:57
respectively. Estonia's triplets Lily, Leila and Liina Luik participated in
the race as the only invited international runners. Leila was the fastest
of the trio with a time of 36:19 while her sisters followed shortly behind.
Around 1,500 runners took part and ran into the same finish where the
marathon will conclude on Sunday. Organizers plan to further develop this
10 k race in the future.
Results, Men:
1. Albert Korir KEN 2:08:40
2. Ishmael Bushendich KEN 2:08:42
3. Ezekiel Omullo KEN 2:09:10
4. Alfonce Kigen KEN 2:10:24
5. Suleiman Simotwo KEN 2:10:36
6. Regasa Mindaye ETH 2:10:51
7. Deribe Robi ETH 2:10:55
8. Vincent Torotich KEN 2:12:39
Women:
1. Nancy Kiprop KEN 2:24:20
2. Rebecca Chesir KEN 2:24:25
3. Roza Dereje ETH 2:25:17
4. Shuko Genemo ETH 2:26:06
5. Angela Tanui KEN 2:26:31
6. Helalia Johannes NAM 2:29:25
For more information please visit: www.vienna-marathon.com.
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