by Larry Eder
BLOM Beirut Marathon, photo by BLOM Beirut Marathon
Beirut, May 23 – The 2019 edition of the BLOM BANK Beirut Marathon is set to be the strongest yet with the announcement that this year’s race will form part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors Wanda Age Group World Championships.
All participants in eligible categories will earn points according to their age, time and gender which will contribute to their AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Ranking aligned with the following age groups for men and women: 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80+.
With the AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Championships set to take place in 2021, the qualification period will begin on October 13, 2019 and run until October 11, 2020, with the top two qualifying times earning participants ranking points.
It means age-group participants in this year’s BLOM BANK Beirut Marathon now have more reason than ever to post a fast time at the event, which is an IAAF Silver Label Road Race.
Tim Hadzima, Executive Director of Abbott World Marathon Majors, said: “We are very excited about the response to the AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Rankings from marathons around the world. Our system gives runners a chance to run all over the world and all across the calendar on a truly global stage. We want to give them a chance to gain recognition like never before.”
This year’s BLOM BANK Beirut Marathon will take place on Sunday, November 10, 2019 and it’s sure to be a hotly-contested edition. Last year’s elite men’s race was won by Mohamed Reda El Aaraby of Morocco in 2:10:41 with the women’s title going to Ethiopia’s Medina Deme Armino in 2:29:31.
All races will again start at the picturesque Beirut Waterfront on General Wissam El Hassan Avenue and wind their way around a scenic 42.195 KM course alongside the city’s Mediterranean coast before participants cross two parallel finish lines at the historic Martyrs’ Square in downtown Beirut.
“We, at Beirut Marathon Association, always strive for international standards, high levels of proficiency and accommodating our runners in any way we can,” said Race Director Wissam Terro.
“Being part of the AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Ranking Qualifying Events within the BLOM BANK Beirut Marathon is a great added value to the event, where our Lebanese athletes can benefit from such opportunity and compete alongside international runners within the same age group. This will create new and amazing opportunities for our champions and put our race on the international map.”
ENDS
