Press Release - Vienna City Marathon - 3/22/22

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
                    Vienna City Marathon on 24th April:

  Strong men's field for Vienna includes defending champion Leonard Langat

The two defending champions will both be returning to the Vienna City 
Marathon on 24th April: Kenyans Leonard Langat and Vibian Chepkirui. While 
some elite women's contenders were released earlier organisers now 
confirmed a number of male competitors. There will be unprecedented depth 
in Vienna's men's elite field with five athletes featuring personal bests 
of sub 2:06. This group is led by Ethiopia's Mekuant Ayenew who has a PB of 
2:04:46. Additionally the Vienna City Marathon will feature a rematch 
between Derara Hurisa of Ethiopia, who had crossed the line first last year 
but was then disqualified for inadvertently wearing an illegal racing shoe, 
and Leonard Langat. 

Well over 27,000 runners have so far registered for Austria's leading road 
race, including entries for shorter running events. Online entry for the 
39th Vienna City Marathon, which is a World Athletics Marathon Label Road 
Race, is still possible at: www.vienna-marathon.com

"Elite racing forms a thrilling part of our event. These runners bring high 
quality performances and often emotional stories to our race," said Race 
Director Wolfgang Konrad. "We are very happy to welcome back both winners 
from last year to Vienna. And we keep our fingers crossed for Derara 
Hurisa, who will also return."

In unusually warm conditions Derara Hurisa became the first athlete being 
disqualified for wearing an illegal shoe in a major city marathon last 
September in Vienna. The Ethiopian, who has a personal best of 2:08:09, 
crossed the line first in 2:09:22. However it appeared the he wore shoes 
that have a sole thickness of five centimeters while a maximum of four is 
allowed. Derara Hurisa had chosen the shoes for the race because he used 
them in training and thought they were within the rules. The athlete looked 
upset and distraught when he learnt about the disqualification and will be 
eager to take his second chance when he returns to Vienna. Though he was 
happy to become the winner it was not the ideal scenario for Leonard Langat 
as well. "Of course I would have preferred to have broken the tape," said 
the Kenyan, who improved his PB to 2:09:25 in Vienna last year.

Such is the strength of the elite field this time that both runners might 
have to improve their personal bests quite significantly if they want to be 
in contention for victory on 24th April. With a personal record of 2:04:46 
Mekuant Ayenew is the second fastest runner ever entered into a Vienna City 
Marathon behind former world record holder Dennis Kimetto (2:02:57). The 
Kenyan did not finish the 2018 race. Mekuant Ayenew, who won the Sevilla 
Marathon 2020 when he clocked his PB, heads the start list. 

The other four athletes with personal bests of sub 2:06 are Goitom Kifle of 
Eritrea (2:05:28), Bahrain's Marius Kimutai (2:05:47), Oqbe Kibrom from 
Eritrea (2:05:53) and Ethiopian Abdi Fufa (2:05:57). While Kimutai was the 
winner of the Rotterdam Marathon in 2017 Kifle achieved a notable 14th 
place in the Olympic marathon in Sapporo last summer. 

The group of leading runners look to be in a perfect position to target the 
course record of the Vienna City Marathon. Ethiopia's Getu Feleke 
established this mark when he won the race with 2:05:41 back in 2014.

For more information please visit: www.vienna-marathon.com
 
                                    ###