Reuben Kosgei in action at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games (© Getty Images)
In an unprecedented move in the history of major international city Marathons, the organisers of the Vienna City Marathon have decided to only invite debut runners, both men and women, to their race on 19 April.
The Vienna City Marathon is an IAAF Silver Label Road Race.
“We already had the idea of staging a race with only debutants a year ago," said Race Director Wolfgang Konrad. "But then we saved it for this year, because the race on 19th April is much more suitable. This is because (Austrians) Günther Weidlinger and Andrea Mayr decided to compete here and run their first marathon, which causes a lot of media interest in Austria.”
Konrad, a former world class steepler, added, "We wanted the race to be a different story this time. All the elite runners will start the race with the same or very similar feelings, with quite some uncertainty – probably they will have very much the same feelings as thousands of fun runners, who will run their first marathon on that day as well."
"I believe that it will also be very interesting for the spectators to watch such a competition.”
Konrad also stressed that this is a one-time experiment, with the race returning to normal procedures next year, with Weidlinger already signed to race in 2010 as well.
Weidlinger, the Austrian record holder in the 3000m Steeplecase, will meet another former steeplechase star in Vienna in the guise of Kenyan Reuben Kosgei, the 2000 Olympic champion,
Weidlinger was also in that Olympic final in Sydney where he finished eighth, his best-ever major global championship finish."
"It is great to run in a race with Reuben Kosgei again nine years after Sydney," Weidlinger said. "However the Austrian record of 2:12:22, which I want to go for, will hardly be a target for him. But who knows: If he does not have his best day and I feel great I might be able to challenge him. It is great to be up against an Olympic Champion.”
While Weidlinger will face stronger opposition from Kenya, Mayr will perhaps have a better chance to reach a podium finish in front of a home crowd. The 29-year-old has a successful mountain running background, collecting both the 2006 and 2008 World Mountain Running Trophies. One of her strongest opponents will be Kenya’s Esther Muthuku, who has a Half Marathon best of 1:12:28.
Austria’s biggest and most prestigious road race is expected to attract well over 26,000 runners. Around 7000 of them will compete in the Marathon.
Organisers for the IAAF
