FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BMW BERLIN-MARATHON on September 29:
BMW BERLIN-MARATHON with Women Power: Title Holder Gladys Cherono returns
A top-class duel is in prospect in the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON when Germany's
biggest marathon and an IAAF Gold Label race takes place on September 29
with the news that Gladys Cherono, both title and course record holder,
will face her fellow Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot. The duo are among an elite
group of world-class women runners who have improved their personal bests
to sub-2:19 in the past year in winning high quality races in the Abbott
World Marathon Majors (AWMM) series. But they will both have to beware of a
dangerous Ethiopian, Mare Dibaba, who has twice run under 2:20 and took the
bronze medal in the 2016 Olympic Marathon in Rio.
"We are naturally delighted that we'll be having the defending champion
Gladys Cherono on the start line," said Race Director Mark Milde and added:
"Compared to the men, the women in Berlin have some ground to make up. With
three very strong contenders in the line-up, the women's race on September
29 could be centre stage." In the past twelve years the men's race at the
BMW BERLIN-MARATHON has produced a string of world class times with six
world records into the bargain. The presence of Gladys Cherono and Vivian
Cheruiyot suggests that these two Kenyans could headline a show-stealing
performance from the elite women in general.
After victories in 2015 and 2017 Gladys Cherono achieved her third triumph
in the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON last year. The 36-year-old, who won the World
Half Marathon title in 2014, also broke the course record of the Japanese
Mizuki Noguchi of 2:19:12 which had stood for 13 years. Cherono's time of
2:18:11 was a big improvement on her lifetime best and helped her join the
exclusive company of women champions in Berlin with three wins apiece:
Renata Kokowska of Poland, the home town favourite Uta Pippig and
Ethiopia's Aberu Kebede. "My goal is now to win for the fourth time in
Berlin," announced Gladys Cherono soon after she had completed the
hat-trick last year. Her return is a clear bid to go for the unique honour
of a fourth title.
Gladys Cherono may well have to run another personal best to win title
number four. Among her rivals will be her compatriot Vivian Cheruiyot who
will be making her debut in the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. The 35-year-old
Olympic 5,000m champion in 2016 won last year's London Marathon, improving
her best to 2:18:31. This year in London she finished runner-up, beating
Gladys Cherono on both occasions. Both Kenyans are in the women's top ten
of all-time fastest marathon runners with Cherono at six and Cheruiyot at
number eight, setting up what should be a fascinating clash.
Another who will be making her BMW BERLIN-MARATHON debut will be Mare
Dibaba. The 29-year-old Ethiopian actually has more marathon experience
than either Gladys Cherono or Vivian Cheruiyot. She won the world title in
Beijing in 2015 and one year later took the bronze medal at the Rio
Olympics. She has a best of 2:19:52, achieving that time twice, in 2012 and
2015. Given Berlin's renowned fast course, Dibaba will be aiming to run
another very fast time and challenge the Kenyan duo.
The BMW BERLIN-MARATHON forms the Abbott World Marathon Majors (AWMM) along
with Tokyo, Boston, London, Chicago and New York. For the first time the
BMW BERLIN-MARATHON on September 29 will mark the final race in the current
series. While entries to Germany's most prestigious race have long since
sold out, there is still a limited number of places available from tour
agencies and charities. Further information can be obtained at the race
website: www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com
###
|
