Jan Fitschen after his dramatic 10,000m win in Gothenburg (© Getty Images)
Ulrike Maisch and Jan Fitschen, respectively Germany’s European champions at the women’s marathon and men’s 10,000m will be the featured stars of this year’s edition of Germany’s most prestigious ‘Silvesterlauf’ which takes place on New Year’s Eve in Trier, Germany.
Africa versus Europe
The men’s race over 8km which is run on a 1km lap loop course around this ancient German city will see defending champion Moses Kipsiro of Uganda take on Fitschen from Germany. Adding to the attraction of this 'head to head' battle is the fact that Kipsiro like his German counterpart won his continent’s 10,000m title this summer. While the German pulled off a surprise win in Gothenburg on the 8 August, just five days later Kipsiro won at the African title meet in Mauritius, having already finished with a bronze medal over 5000m behind Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele.
Germany had another surprise long distance running success in Gothenburg. In the women's marathon race on 12 August, the 29-year-old Ulrike Maisch from Rostock took the European title.
Maisch, who was third in the German championships over 5000m this year, will compete in the women's elite race over 5km.
Approximately 15,000 spectators will pack the old town of Trier on 31 December to see Maisch and Fitschen, the two most outstanding German runners of the year, with Samba bands traditionally lending a Brazilian atmosphere to the race which is dubbed "Germany’s São Paulo".
Trier LOC
