Inaugural World Marathon Majors Series Continues with Chicago Marathon Sunday
Posted Tuesday, 17 October, 2006
CHICAGO (October 17, 2006) -- Three down, two to go. The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, taking place on Sunday, Oct. 22, will be the fourth of five world class events that constitute the World Marathon Majors series. With the Boston and Flora London races having taken place in the spring and the real,-BERLIN MARATHON having been run on Sept. 24, the World Marathon Majors series is now at the stage where things get truly interesting.
The World Marathon Majors constitutes a collaboration between the world’s five leading marathons - ING New York City, on Nov. 5, being the fifth - with a $1,000,000 prize purse divided between the man and woman accumulating the most series points over a two-year span. 2006 being the inaugural year of the series, winners will be decided at the end of the 2007 season. Thereafter, the series cycles proceed as follows: 2007/2008, 2008/2009, 2009/2010, etc., meaning that the World Marathon Majors champions will be crowned at the conclusion of each year.
With just two races left in the 2006 season, there is still everything to race for and points aplenty to be secured. At the present time, Robert Cheruiyot (KEN, 1st - Boston), Felix Limo (KEN, 1st - Flora London) and Haile Gebrselassie (ETH, 1st - real,- BERLIN) are tied at the head of the men’s leader board with 25 points each, while Rita Jeptoo (KEN, 1st - Boston), Deena Kastor (USA, 1st - Flora London) and Gete Wami (ETH, 1st - real,- BERLIN) each have 25 points atop the women’s standings. Leading they may be, but each of these world class competitors knows that leading and winning are very different, and there is still a long way to go before the inaugural World Marathon Majors title is secured.
Much will be revealed this weekend in Chicago, a race that has gained a heightened element of intrigue with the unfortunate withdrawal due to a back injury of defending men’s champion, Flora London winner and World Marathon Majors co-leader, Limo. Unquestionably, this is a great disappointment to the Chicago race. Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski commented, “Felix is a great champion and I am confident that he will recover and be back stronger than ever. He is always welcome here and we will make every effort to bring him back to Chicago in 2007.”
Limo’s withdrawal does, however, boost the intensity of the clash between those who will toe the line, among them 2006 Boston winner and co-World Marathon Majors points leader, Cheruiyot; Chicago’s 2005 runner-up, Benjamin Maiyo (KEN); and Daniel Njenga (KEN). Should a Cheruiyot/Maiyo showdown evolve, it would constitute a re-match of the battle that took place on the streets of Boston in April. The appearance of Njenga poses an equally interesting prospect, he having placed second, third, second and third in his four Chicago appearances. This could be the year that he claims the victory and stakes his claim for the World Marathon Majors prize money.
As intense as the men’s race in Chicago will be, the women are not about to allow themselves to be overlooked. The 2005 edition, with ConstantinaTomescu-Dita (ROM) closing rapidly on ultimate winner, Kastor, along thehome stretch, was an edge-of-theseat thriller. Kastor has signed up for the ING New York event this fall, but Tomescu Dita has shown that she is coming to Chicago with all guns loaded, intent on retaining the crown she first won in 2004. At the IAAF World Road Racing Championships in Debrecen, Hungary on Oct. 8, the Romanian placed second over the 20K distance, but dipped under the world record, recording a stunning 1:03:23. Such a performance indicates that she may be knocking on the door of a sub-2:20 clocking on Sunday.
No matter how fast she runs, however, Tomescu-Dita is assured of company. Packing the field are stars such as Berhane Adere (ETH), Galina Bogomolova (RUS), Benita Johnson (AUS), Lidia Simon (ROM), Nuta Olaru (ROM) and the ever-green Colleen De Reuck (USA).
“Our philosophy is to get the best athletes we can, let them prepare, bring them in and turn them loose,” asserted Pinkowski.
At the present time, the World Marathon Majors leader board looks as follows:
Men
Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (KEN) Boston (1st,
2:07:14) 25 points
Felix Limo (KEN) Flora London (1st, 2:06:39) 25 points
Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) real,- BERLIN (1st, 2:05:56) 25 points
Benjamin Maiyo (KEN) Boston (2nd, 2:08:21) 15 points
Martin Lel (KEN) Flora London (2nd, 2:06:41) 15 points
Gudisa Shentema (ETH) real,- BERLIN (2nd, 2:10:43) 15 points
Meb Keflezighi (USA) Boston (3rd, 2:09:56) 10 points
Hendrick Ramaala (RSA) Flora London (3rd, 2:06:55) 10 points
Kurao Umeki (JPN) real,- BERLIN (3rd, 2:13:43) 10 points
Brian Sell (USA) Boston (4th, 2:10:55) 5 points
Khalid Khannouchi (USA) Flora London (4th, 2:07:04) 5 points
Terefe Yae (ETH) real,- BERLIN (4th, 2:15:05) 5 points
Alan Culpepper (USA) Boston (5th, 2:11:02) 1 point
Stefano Baldini (ITA) Flora London (5th, 2:07:22) 1 point
Ahmed Ezzobayry (FRA) real,- BERLIN (5th, 2:15:29) 1 point
Women
Rita Jeptoo (KEN) Boston (1st, 2:23:38) 25 points
Deena Kastor (USA) Flora London (1st, 2:19:36) 25 points
Gete Wami (ETH) real,- BERLIN (1st, 2:21:34) 25 points
Jelena Prokopchuka (LAT) Boston (2nd, 2:23:48) 15 points
Ludmila Petrova (RUS) Flora London (2nd, 2:21:29) 15 points
Salina Kosgei (KEN) real,- BERLIN (2nd, 2:23:22) 15 points
Reiko Tosa (JPN) Boston (3rd, 2:24:11) 10 points
Susan Chepkemei (KEN) Flora London (3rd, 2:21:46) 10 points
Monica Drybulska (POL) real,- BERLIN (3rd, 2:30:12) 10 points
Bruna Genovese (ITA) Boston (4th, 2:25:28) 5 points
Berhane Adere (ETH) Flora London (4th, 2:21:52) 5 points
Asha Gigi (ETH) real,- BERLIN (4th, 2:32:32) 5 points
Kiyoko Shimahara (JPN) Boston (5th, 2:26:52) 1 point
Galina Bogomolova (RUS) Flora London (5th, 2:21:58) 1 point
Marcia Narlock (BRA) real,- BERLIN (5th, 2:35:28) 1 point
The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon takes place this Sunday, Oct. 22. The remaining race in the 2006 World Marathon Majors series is the ING New York City Marathon which will take place on Sunday, Nov. 5.
Competitors in the World Marathon Majors series accumulate points in each of the five marathons in which they participate over a two year period. They may contest as many races as they wish, but only their four best performances count towards the standings. Although the series functions on a two-year rotation, the cycles overlap. Hence, the World Marathon Majors cycles proceed as follows: 2006/2007; 2007/2008; 2008/2009, etc. The prize money for the first cycle will be award at the end of 2007, with $1,000,000 divided equally between the first placed man and woman. Thereafter, prize money will be awarded annually. In the years in which they occur, the IAAF World Championships and Olympic Games marathons are also part of the series.
Complete standings, breaking news and further information about the World Marathon Majors may be found at worldmarathonmajors.com.
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