Start of 2003 Monaco Marathon outside IAAF HQ (© c)
MonteCarloThe tenth edition of the Monaco Marathon takes place Sunday 12 November, presenting its annually well matched elite fields composed mainly of East Africans and East Europeans who will fight it out on the notoriously tough Mediterranean course.
Last year’s second place finisher Kenyan John Ngeny (PB 2:15:09 – 2004) and Swedish record holder Lena Gavelin (PB 2:30:39 - 2003), who was a top-20 finisher in the 2003 World Championships, respectively are the quickest of the entrants in the men’s and women’s races.
Though neither of the reigning Monaco champions will run this year (Kenyan John Kirui, 2:19:08, and Alina Tecuta Gherasim of Romania, 2:43:44), the 2006 contest will benefit from both sets of second and third place finishers. In the men’s race, Ngeny will be joined by Russia’s Andrey Bryzgalov (PB 2:17:43 - 2004), while his compatriots Yelena Kozhevnikova (2:39:54 – 2004) and Ludmilla Afoniouchkina (PB 2:44:00 – 2004), who occupied the minor places on the women’s podium in 2005, also return.
Another Russian Maria Fedosseva (PB 2:37:24 – 2002) who won the Monaco women’s race in 2002 and 2004, is obviously another name to watch in the battle for the women’s title.
The marathon route as the race’s full name signals - ‘Marathon de Monaco et des Riviera’ - encompasses more than just the territory of this tiny Mediterranean Principality. In the presence of the sovereign, HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, and IAAF President Lamine Diack, the race from its starting point outside the IAAF’s HQ in the Boulevard des Moulins, to the finish of the 42.195km distance at the Stade Louis II in the district of Fontvieille, traverses the borders of three countries. The French communities of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin and Menton, and the Italian border town of Ventimiglia are as inextricably linked to this annual sporting festival as is Monaco.
Runners from 40 countries make this a truly international affair, with approximately 1800 marathoners starting their ordeal on the arduous course at 09.30hrs, with another 1200 participants, registered for the 4th edition of the Monte-Carlo 10km, departing 45 minutes later.
The all-time best times for the Monaco Marathon are held by Kenneth Cheruiyot of Kenya (1999 - 2:11:26) and Italy’s Maura Viceconte (1997 - 2:28:16), and there is a 3600 euro first prize for both men and women, with a bonus of 3000 should either mark be bettered.
Chris Turner for the IAAF
