Press Release - London Marathon - 4/27/09

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



                     London Winners Target 2010

Just a day after their thrilling triumphs in the 2009 London Marathon, 
Irina MIkitenko and Sammy Wanjiru have already set their sights on victory 
in 2010.

Mikitenko, who won the women's race yesterday in 2:22:11, said she will 
return to London next year in a bid to become the first woman to win three 
London Marathons in a row since her fellow German Katrin Dorre secured a 
trio of victories between 1992 and 1994.

"I had my first marathon victory in London last year and now I have won a 
second here," she said. "I think London must be a lucky city for me. I 
really like it.

"I want to come back and go for the triple. We'll see what happens but you 
never know. I hope so."

Wanjiru also said he'd love to return in 12 months time. After finishing 
second in 2008, the Olympic champion was more than satisfied with his 
victory yesterday, although he felt he'd left a bit of unfinished business 
out on the course.

The 22-year-old was aiming for Haile Gebrselassie's seven-month old world 
record of 2:03:59 in Sunday's race but after the punishing early pace, he 
had to be satisfied with a course record of 2:05:10.

"Last time I was second and yesterday I was the winner," he said. "Now I 
have made a name for myself here in London, so maybe next time I can come 
back and get the record.

"In the last few miles yesterday I was trying really hard but by then my 
condition wasn't good. The London course is not as easy as other courses 
because the last 5km is very hard."

For the second year in a row Wanjiru had to push himself through a tough 
battle over the last three miles. In 2008 he lost out by nine seconds to 
his friend and training partner Martin Lel, and this year he was stretched 
to the limit by Ethiopia's Tsegaye Kebede who chased him all the way to the 
line, finishing just 10 seconds behind.

For Mikitenko it was a different story. The 36-year-old shrugged off the 
challenge of Britain's Mara Yamauchi in the 20th mile and had the London 
roads to herself from then on as she strode towards her second win in two 
years.

"This victory actually means more to me than my first one," she said. "I am 
happy that could win under pressure and there was quite a lot of pressure 
on me as the defending champion.

"I actually slept worse last night than the night before the race because I 
was still so excited about it."

Mikitenko believes her London win has left her in even better shape to win 
the IAAF World Championships title in August.

"The World Championships are in Berlin so it means something very special 
to me to be running in my home country," she said. "Of course, it means a 
lot of pressure for me too, but I have learned here that I can deal with 
pressure.

"I will now go back home to train hard because winning in Berlin is my 
biggest goal. It will come down to who prepares best and I know I will 
prepare well. Mara had home advantage here but I will have it in Berlin."

As for Wanjiru, he has not yet decided whether he will bid to add the world 
title to his Olympic crown. "I don't know whether I will run the World 
championships or go to the Berlin Marathon instead, or run in another 
place," he said. "I will decide in June."


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