MARATHON WEEKEND

PARIS (FRA): Elite fields are announced for the 35th Paris Marathon on
Sunday. In total 40 000 runners are registered. Last year Ethiopian Atsede
Bayisa achieved new women course record 2:22:04, the best male time is 2:05:47
by Vincent Kipruto from 2009.
In total 19 runners are having sub 2:10 best and six of
them are coming from sub 2:08 region. Heading the list is Ethiopian Eshetu
Wondimu with 2:06:46 from Dubai 2010 (3rd), Kenyan Bernard Kipyego who is
former World CC medalist has 2:07:01, his team-mates Alfred Kering 2:07:11,
Benjamin Kiptoo 2:07:17 and Jackson Kipkoech 2:07:30. Last is Ethiopian Wodajo
Terefe 2:07:45. French Simon Munyutu is the top European with 2:09:24 best,
also to note Russian Grigory Andreyev (2:11:00). Interesting debuting runners
will be French half-marathon champion Abdellatif Meftah, Kenyan Erick Kibet and
Ethiopian Fikadu Habtamu. Agnes Kiprop (2:24:07, winner in the past in Torino
and Frankurt) and Priscah Jeptoo (2:27:02, last year Torino
winner) are the top Kenyan women but they will have it tough against a strong
Ethiopian group. Mamitu Daska has 2:24:18 and is winner in Dubai 2010 and
Houston 2011. Koren Yal 2:24:33 and Ashu Kasim 2:25:49 are the other members of
the group. Eastern Europe will be represented
by Ukrainian Kateryna Stetsenko and Russian Margarita Plaksina, both with sub
2:30 bests. Ethiopian Mestewet Tufa is the most important debuting runner, her
half best is impressive 1:08:48.

ROTTERDAM (NED): The 31st edition of the ABN AMRO
Marathon of Rotterdam expects fast times. Talk about world record attempt is
serious. The organizers made an insurance on the world record (worth of 225 000
EUR). Former Paris
winner Vincent Kipruto with 2:05:13 has big ambitions. Another Kenyan Eliud
Kiptanui with 2:05:39 in Prague
last year is another favorite. Strong Ethiopian duo will be Getu Feleke and
Feyisa Lelisa, both with 2:05 bests. Wilson Chebet, Gilbert Kirwa and Chala
Dechase have sub 2:07 bests. Michael Kipyego has announced to make his marathon
debut, he is former 8:08 steeple runner. Sammy Kitwara has been added to the
field as a high quality pacemaker. Dutch Koen Raymaekers wants to attack the
2:10 barrier. Kenyan Rita Jeptoo leads the women field with a personal best of
2:23:38 but will face tough opposition from Dutch Hilda Kibet and Ethiopian Atsede
Habtamu. Debuting in the race is Kenyan Fyles Ongori (1:07.38 for the half
marathon). Russian Olga Glok and Spain´s Alessandra Aguilar are other top
European names. Organizers confirm many athletes have chosen the Rotterdam marathon as a
qualifying race for the Daegu world championships. The ABN AMRO Rotterdam
marathon has closed its entries and will welcome over 22.000 runners in
different distances. 12.647 athletes will take part in the marathon. The
fastest times of 2009 (2:04:27) and 2010 (2:04:48) were achieved in Rotterdam.

MILANO (ITA): The 11th Milano City Marathon expects more than 10 000
participants. Italian hopes by Ruggero Pertile, fourth in Barcelona
and winner last November in Torino. It is only
for second time held in spring, nine editions were held in fall. Course records
are 2:07:53 by Duncan Kibet in 2008 and Margaret Okayo achieved 2:24:59 in
2002. International fields have not been released yet.

THESSALONIKI (GRE): The 6th Alexander The Great Marathon is
expecting nice weather for Sunday 8.30 am local start with temperatures around
10 degrees. Course records 2:11:37 and 2:28:22 could be in danger. Among 4500
participants the top names are Ethiopian Teshome Gelana with 2:07:37 last year Houston win. Kenyan
Benson Cheruiyot and Ukrainian Oleksandr Kuzin with 2:07:33 are other top
names. In women category Ethiopian talent Mare Dibaba is the headliner with
2:25:27 best. But she was running Los
Angeles three weeks ago in 2:30:25, so her entry
should be re-confirmed. Desta Girma Tadesse of Ethiopia
improved this year in Xiamen
at the beginning of the year to 2:32:10. Belarus Alena Vinnitskaya at age of 37
is still a name to count along with her country colleague Svetlana Kouhan
(2:32:18). Namibian Helaria Yohannes has also solid 2:32:30 best to her credit.

BRIGHTON (GBR): Athletics Weekly informs that former Commonwealth bronze
medallist Dan Robinson and the much-improved Alyson Dixon will take to the
roads alongside Brighton’s sea front in the
hope of breaking their PBs and scooping winning time bonuses. Following the
race’s successful inauguration in 2010 when it attracted 12,000 entries,
organisers have boosted the elite field in an attempt to ensure that quality
matches quantity. Robinson’s biggest challenge could come from Ambesa Tolosa. The
33-year-old who has represented Ethiopia
at four World Championships and at the 2004 Olympics recently returned to
action after a three-year break. He finished 15th in Dubai with 2:18:38, but has a lifetime best
of 2:08:56. Joining him will be Kenyan duo Philemon Boit, who ran 2:10:55 two
years ago, and Richard Rotich, a 2:14:58 man at his best. Rounding out the best
of the British entrants are Toby Lambert and Richard Gardner, who will be
aiming to better their 2:18 PBs.

DEBNO (POL): The oldest Polish marathon in Debno will have its 38th
edition and again it will be also the site of Polish Championships. It is also
the fastest marathon in Poland.
In 2008 record number of nearly 800 runners was registered. The number was
improved last year in non traditional autumn date with 1021 runners. The usual
April date was cancelled after the Polish tragedy in Russia. Course record comes from
1986 when Antoni Niemczak clocked 2:10:34. Best female time was registered in
2003 by Grazyna Syrek with 2:32:09. Last two editions were won in men
categories by Kenyans.

LINZ (AUT): The 10th edition of OMV Linz Donau
Marathon will be held on April 10th what is a symbolic date for the organizers.
In all races 15 000 runners are expected. Kenyan Nixon Machichim with 2:08:22
is the top favorite. Raymond Kandie has 2:09:23 as sixth last year in Barcelona
Marathon. Interesting to see the marathon debut of one of the top Austrian
runners Martin Proll. Croatian record holder Lisa Stublic clocked last year in Berlin the national mark
2:33:42 and is the top women name.