FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
World class wheelchair race at the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON on September 24
Some of the best wheelchair athletes in the world will compete at the 2017
BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. With Marcel Hug, Manuela Schär (both of Switzerland),
Hiroki Nishida and Kota Hokinoue (both of Japan), as well as Tatyana
McFadden (USA), some of the current top wheelchair athletes in the world
will be at the start of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON on September 24. Hug, who
rolled into the world's elite two years ago as a shooting star, lost
against his British competitor David Weir in a sprint at the Virgin Money
London Marathon in April; he hopes to gain back some points in Berlin. Last
year he won the marathon in the capital, and he is the man to beat in this
prestigious race. Kota Hokinue won in Berlin in 2014, and Hiroki Nishida
finished third last year.
Heinz Frei, a wheelchair legend with 20 victories in Berlin, is quasi a
constant at the event. At age 59, he is still one of the best in the world.
He won his first BERLIN-MARATHON in 1985.
Manuela Schär, who won in Berlin in 2016, collected her first 25 points in
the current Abbott World Marathon Majors Wheelchair Series 2017/18 at the
Virgin Money London Marathon in April and will be up against one of the top
wheelchair athletes, Tatyana McFadden of the USA. McFadden, who has been
competing primarily in the USA, will have to beat the Swiss woman if she
wants another overall victory at the prominent series, as her best chance
to distance herself from her competition is with a direct face-off (see
below).
The wheelchair race will get underway half an hour before the runners, at
8:45 am on Sunday, September 24.
The Abbott World Marathon Majors Wheelchair Race Series
The Abbott World Marathon Majors Wheelchair Race Series has the same format
as the runners' series. The athletes collect points according to their
rankings at the six Abbott World Marathon Majors races as well as at the
IPC Athletics World Championships and Paralympic Games, whichever takes
place in that year. The wheelchair series began in April 2016 at the Boston
Marathon and ended at that race in 2017. The winners of this first series
were Marcel Hug (Switzerland) and Tatyana McFadden (USA). The 2017/18
AbbottWMM Wheelchair Series began at the Virgin Money London Marathon and
will end there in April 2018.
Athletes collect points as follows:
1. Place: 25 Points
2. Place: 16
3. Place: 9
4. Place: 4
5. Place: 1
The male and female athletes with the most points at the end of the
one-year series is declared champion. However, each athlete can only
include points from five races, and to be in the running, must have
competed in at least five races in the series. If an athlete collected
points in more than five races, only the top five count. The top man and
woman champion of the Abbott World Marathon Majors Series each receives a
prize of $50,000.
The current rankings in the 2017/18 series after one race (London)
Men
1. David Weir (GBR/ 25 Points)
2. Marcel Hug (SUI/ 16)
3. Kurt Fearnley (AUS/ 9)
4. Ernst Van Dyk (RSA/ 4)
5. Rafael Botello Jimenez (ESP/ 1)
Women
1. Manuela Schär (SUI/ 25 Points)
2. Amanda McGrory (USA/ 16)
3. Susannah Scaroni (USA/ 9)
4. Margriet Van Den Broek (NED/ 4)
5. Jade Jones (GBR/ 1)
You can also view the current rankings at the AbbottWMM website:
www.worldmarathonmajors.com
Top wheelchair athletes at the 2017 BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 2017
Men
R1 Marcel Hug (SUI)
R2 Heinz Frei (SUI)
R3 Hiroki Nishida (JPN)
R4 Kota Hokonuie (JPN)
R5 Rafael Botello Jimenez (ESP)
R6 Ryota Yoshida (JPN)
R7 Simon Lawson (GBR)
R8 Patrick Monahan (IRL)
Women
RF1 Manuela Schär (SUI)
RF2 Amanda McGrory (USA)
RF3 Tatyana McFadden (USA)
RF4 Sandra Graf (SUI)
RF5 Jade Jones (GBR)
RF6 Mel Nicholls (GBR)
A few non-starters in the elite field of runners
A few of the elite runners have had to withdraw due to injury and visa
issues. Not starting in the men's race are Frankline Chepkwony (KEN) and
Deresa Geleta (ETH), and in the women's race, last year's champion Aberu
Kebede (ETH) and Anja Scherl (GER).
Late Online Media accreditation
Applying for late accreditation is possible until 22nd September. Please
note, that certain areas in the start and finish area have limited
capacities which is why belated application requests may be treated with
lower priority.
Appropriately credentialed media is allowed to attend all press conferences
and use the media center's facilities during operating hours. We provide a
comfortable, full-service indoor location including workspace, wifi and
power stations. It is fully staffed by SCC EVENTS media representatives.
Race-Day services include large-format direct feeds of the BMW
BERLIN-MARATHON broadcast, real-time race updates, split and finish times
printouts and the post-race press conference.
More information here.
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