Gunther Weidlinger and Natalya Volgina at the Metro Group Marathon Düsseldorf pre-race press conference (© Victah Sailer)
A strong field of west Africans, European hopes plus a much anticipated debut by Germany’s Jan Fitschen – Sunday’s (8) METRO Group Marathon Duesseldorf, an IAAF Bronze Label Road Race, will have plenty of promise on offer.
While the west African contingent will chase both course records Weidlinger of Austria and Russia’s defending champion Natalya Volgina hope to be among the leading finishers. Meanwhile Fitschen will go for a sub-2:15 debut.
Three runners feature sub-2:10 personal bests: Stephen Kiogora (Kenya/2:08:24), Chala Lemi (Ethiopia/2:08:49) and Jonathan Yego (Kenya/2:09:57). After sustaining an injury in January Kiogora was looking for a Marathon in May rather than earlier.
“I have trained well and hope for a good result. I will try to break the course record and the 64 minutes that are planned for the first half would be fine for me”, said Kiogora, who was second in New York in 2006. While elite race coordinator Christoph Kopp tips Chala Lemi to shine there are seven more runners with personal bests of sub-2:12 in the race. The course record established by Iaroslav Musinschi (Moldavia) in 2010 stands at 2:08:32.
Usually Christoph Kopp hands bib number 7 to someone who he thinks could cause a surprise. This year Weidlinger was given the number.
“Looking at my training I should be able to improve my personal best. But we will have to wait and see how warm it gets,” said the Austrian record holder, who ran 2:10:47 in Frankfurt in 2009. If conditions are suitable the 33-year-old intends to go for a first half between 1:05:20 and 1:05:30. The minimum Weidlinger wants to get on Sunday is Olympic qualification for London 2012. In contrast to Germany the Austrian federation has allowed their marathoners to already use this year’s spring races as a qualifier. “I will have to run 2:14:00, which should be no problem,” said Weidlinger.
Fitschen looked ahead to his debut with confidence. “Preparations were fine, actually even better than I expected,” said the 34-year-old, who had sensationally taken the 10,000m gold medal at the European Championships in 2006. But after that big win a series of injuries had stopped him. During the final phase of his career Fitschen will now concentrate on the Marathon. Four weeks ago he had a successful test, when he took the BIG 25 Herne, clocking 1:16:56 for the 25Km distance. “Everything went well there. For Sunday I plan to run the first half in 1:07:30. Maybe this is a little bit too slow, but hopefully I can then run faster during the second half."
There are three women entered with personal bests of sub-2:30 with Merima Mohammed as the big favourite. Still only 18, the Ethiopian clocked 2:23:06 in Toronto in 2010, where she finished third. Mohammed will have a go at the six-year-old course record held by Germany’s Luminita Zaituc (2:26:44). Among her strongest rivals will be Leah Malot (Kenya/personal best: 2:29:17) and defending champion Natalya Volgina (2:27:32). "My aim is to reach a personal best and finish inside the top three," said Volgina.
“We have a perfect mixture in our elite field and expect an interesting race. I just hope it does not get too warm,” said Race Director Jan Winschermann. Combining all events, around 14,000 runners will be taking part.
Jörg Wenig (Organisers) for the IAAF
While the west African contingent will chase both course records Weidlinger of Austria and Russia’s defending champion Natalya Volgina hope to be among the leading finishers. Meanwhile Fitschen will go for a sub-2:15 debut.
Three runners feature sub-2:10 personal bests: Stephen Kiogora (Kenya/2:08:24), Chala Lemi (Ethiopia/2:08:49) and Jonathan Yego (Kenya/2:09:57). After sustaining an injury in January Kiogora was looking for a Marathon in May rather than earlier.
“I have trained well and hope for a good result. I will try to break the course record and the 64 minutes that are planned for the first half would be fine for me”, said Kiogora, who was second in New York in 2006. While elite race coordinator Christoph Kopp tips Chala Lemi to shine there are seven more runners with personal bests of sub-2:12 in the race. The course record established by Iaroslav Musinschi (Moldavia) in 2010 stands at 2:08:32.
Usually Christoph Kopp hands bib number 7 to someone who he thinks could cause a surprise. This year Weidlinger was given the number.
“Looking at my training I should be able to improve my personal best. But we will have to wait and see how warm it gets,” said the Austrian record holder, who ran 2:10:47 in Frankfurt in 2009. If conditions are suitable the 33-year-old intends to go for a first half between 1:05:20 and 1:05:30. The minimum Weidlinger wants to get on Sunday is Olympic qualification for London 2012. In contrast to Germany the Austrian federation has allowed their marathoners to already use this year’s spring races as a qualifier. “I will have to run 2:14:00, which should be no problem,” said Weidlinger.
Fitschen looked ahead to his debut with confidence. “Preparations were fine, actually even better than I expected,” said the 34-year-old, who had sensationally taken the 10,000m gold medal at the European Championships in 2006. But after that big win a series of injuries had stopped him. During the final phase of his career Fitschen will now concentrate on the Marathon. Four weeks ago he had a successful test, when he took the BIG 25 Herne, clocking 1:16:56 for the 25Km distance. “Everything went well there. For Sunday I plan to run the first half in 1:07:30. Maybe this is a little bit too slow, but hopefully I can then run faster during the second half."
There are three women entered with personal bests of sub-2:30 with Merima Mohammed as the big favourite. Still only 18, the Ethiopian clocked 2:23:06 in Toronto in 2010, where she finished third. Mohammed will have a go at the six-year-old course record held by Germany’s Luminita Zaituc (2:26:44). Among her strongest rivals will be Leah Malot (Kenya/personal best: 2:29:17) and defending champion Natalya Volgina (2:27:32). "My aim is to reach a personal best and finish inside the top three," said Volgina.
“We have a perfect mixture in our elite field and expect an interesting race. I just hope it does not get too warm,” said Race Director Jan Winschermann. Combining all events, around 14,000 runners will be taking part.
Jörg Wenig (Organisers) for the IAAF
