FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2013-2014 World Marathon Majors Champions To Be Crowned on November 2
The 2013-2014 World Marathon Majors series will come to an exciting
conclusion in New York City on Sunday, November 2, with the awarding of $1
million USD to the champions. Kenya's Wilson Kipsang, who is making his TCS
New York City Marathon debut, knows that only a win will enable him to
overhaul world record holder and compatriot Dennis Kimetto and be crowned
the world's No. 1 male marathon runner. Either Kipsang or Kimetto will
receive the winner-take-all cheque of $500,000. Fellow Kenyan Rita Jeptoo
has already secured the women's World Marathon Majors title by scoring a
maximum 100 points.
In the men's series, the gauntlet was thrown down at the BMW
BERLIN-MARATHON on September 28, as Dennis Kimetto earned his third victory
of the 2013-2014 WMM series in world record fashion, timing 2:02:57. With
the win, Kimetto scored 25 points to go with his 50 earned by winning the
2013 Tokyo Marathon and 2013 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, springing
him to the top of the World Marathon Majors leaderboard. With a cumulative
total of 75 points, Kimetto overtook Tsegaye Kebede (ETH) and Kipsang atop
the standings and ensured an exciting finish to the 2013-2014 WMM series in
New York City.
Kipsang, winner of the 2013 BMW BERLIN-MARATHON and 2014 Virgin Money
London Marathon, knows if he finishes any lower than first in New York
City, the title and $500,000 prize will belong to Kimetto. Kipsang will
face tough competition in New York City, including the 2011-2012 WMM
champion Geoffrey Mutai (KEN). Mutai is the defending TCS New York City
Marathon champion and set a course record of 2:05:06 in 2011. Lelisa Desisa
(ETH), currently fifth on the 2013-2014 WMM leaderboard and the 2013 Boston
Marathon and World Championships silver medalist, is also running.
In a Kenyan sweep of the WMM titles, first place on the women's side was
secured in October at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon by Rita Jeptoo
(KEN). Jeptoo earned wins at each and every marathon she entered over the
past two years, taking home top honours at the 2013 and 2014 Boston
Marathon (principal sponsor: John Hancock Financial), as well as the 2013
and 2014 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Jeptoo is the first athlete in
World Marathon Majors history to earn a maximum 100 points, establishing
herself as the world's most dominant female marathoner of the last two
years.
Both champions will receive their awards at the TCS New York City Marathon
Race-day Media Center at Tavern on the Green on Sunday, November 2,
following the post race press conferences.
Points are awarded based on the finish placing of athletes. First place
earns 25 points, while second earns 15 points and third 10 points.
Finishing fourth and fifth place earns 5 and 1 point, respectively. An
athlete's four best finishes at World Marathon Majors events are added
together over the two-year scoring period.
About World Marathon Majors (WMM)
Established in 2006, World Marathon Majors (WMM) is a race series comprised
of the Tokyo, Boston, Virgin Money London, BMW Berlin, Bank of America
Chicago, and TCS New York City Marathons. In the years in which they are
run, WMM also includes the IAAF World Championships and Olympic marathons.
At the conclusion of each two-year cycle, WMM offers a $1 million prize
purse to be divided equally between the top male and female marathoners in
the world. The inaugural 2006-2007 Series was launched at the 110th Boston
Marathon on April 17, 2006, and concluded at the New York City Marathon on
November 4, 2007. The 2013-2014 series, the WMM's eighth two-year series,
began with the Tokyo Marathon on February 24, 2013 and will conclude at the
TCS New York City Marathon on November 2, 2014.
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