Tag Archives: Frank Thaleiser

Athletics

Cybrian Kotut to defend his title in Hamburg

After breaking the World Marathon record holder, Eliud Kipchoge’s course record last year, Cybrian Kotut will be making his return to defend his title at the 37th edition of the Haspa Marathon that will be held in April 23, in the capital city of Germany

The 30 year-old crushed Kipchoge’s record of 2:05.30 that he had set nine years ago when he trounced Uganda’s Stephen Kissa with a powerful kick, setting a new course record of 2:04.47 which is his life time best with the latter setting National Record of 2:04.48.

Kotut who is a younger brother of former multiple London- and New York Marathon winner Martin Kiptolo Lel, will have to get past Ethiopia’s Mule Wasihun who comes to this race with the fastest time on paper of 2:03.16 that he got at the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon where he took the bronze medal.

“A year after Cyprian’s superb course record we can again hope for a fascinating race and possibly more very fast times. A number of world-class athletes have opted to run their spring marathon in Hamburg which shows the recognition our race receives as a major international marathon, “said chief organiser Frank Thaleiser.

Another title contender is the 2017 World Marathon champion, Geoffrey Kirui who will be making his debut in the City as he carries a life time best of 2:06.27 that he got in 2016 at the Amsterdam Marathon where he finished in seventh place.

Double World 5000m champion, Muktar Edris will be making his marathon debut in Hamburg as he comes with a life time best of 58:40 that he got two years ago at Valencia Half Marathon.

Germany will put their hopes on reigning European Marathon Champion, Richard Ringer, who holds a life time best of 2:08.49 that he got two years ago at Xiamen Marathon.

Athletics

Prisca Jeptoo targets the podium in Germany

The 2012 Olympic games silver medallist, Prisca Jeptoo will lead seven women who have gone under the sub 2:27 at 36th edition of the Haspa Marathon that will be held on Sunday (24) in Hamburg, Germany.

The 37 year-old comes to this race with the fastest time on paper of 2:20.14 that she got at the 2012 London Marathon, where she took the bronze medal, has set her eyes on top honors with the aim of taking the title.

The 2011 World silver medallist will battle for glory with the 2009 World 10,000m silver medallist, Meselech Melkamu from Ethiopia, who is the current course record holder with a time of 2:21.54. The 37 year-old is also the five time World Cross Country Bronze medallist, and she comes to this race carrying a lifetime best of 2:21.01 that she got at the 2012 Frankfurt Marathon, where she took the top honor.

The two will battle for honors with the defending champion, Gadise Mulu who won this race with a personal best of 2:26.20.

Dibabe Kuma is also another title contender who also won this race in 2019, but she also comes with the second fastest on paper of 2:23.24 which is also her lifetime best, that she got at the 2018 Ljubljana Marathon, where she took the bronze medal.

While the elite women often have their individual pacemakers Jurrie van der Velden hopes that a group of athletes will run together for at least the first half of the race. “The pace for this group will likely be between 70:30 and 71:00, “he said.

Germany will be represented by their top athletes, Deborah Schöneborn and Kristina Hendel. Schöneborn, who achieved a strong 18th place in the Olympic marathon, last year, comes to this race with a personal best of 2:26.55. Hendel the Croatian born athlete who has received her German citizenship and hopes to be eligible to compete for Germany at the European Championships. She holds a personal best of 2:27.31

Another title contender is Alice Cherono from Kenya who comes with a personal best of 2:26.51 that she got at the 2019 Barcelona Marathon where she won the bronze medal.

The race surprise inclusion is the World 10k record holder, Yalemzerf Yehualaw who will be making her marathon debut and she is expected to run good time.

“We are happy to be back in the spring with a large race and with a very strong elite field. I am really looking forward to some very good performances. We hope to see a women’s course record on Sunday, “said chief organiser Frank Thaleiser.

LEADING RESULTS

42KM WOMEN

  1. Priscah Jeptoo            (KEN) 2:20.14
  2. Dibabe Kuma              (ETH) 2:23.24
  3. Carla Rocha                (POR) 2:24.47
  4. Tseginesh Mekonnen  (ETH) 2:24.50
  5. Gadise Mulu                (ETH) 2:26.20
  6. Alice Cherono             (KEN) 2:26.51
  7. Deborah Schöneborn  (GER) 2:26.55
  8. Kristina Hendel            (CRO) 2:27.31
  9. Rosa Chacha                 (ECU) 2:28.17
  10. Andreia Hessel             (BRA) 2:34.55
  11. Maria Sagnes Wagan   (NOR) 2:35.34
  12. Camilla Elofsson          (SWE) 2:35.37
  13. Yalemzerf Yehualaw    (ETH) Debut
  14. Alia Mohamed               (UAE) Debut
Athletics

Martin Musau wins the Haspa Marathon

Uganda’s Martin Musau won the 35th edition of the Haspa Marathon that was held on Sunday (12) Haspa, Germany.

The 22-year-old who finished in 12th place in 5000m at the 2016 World Junior Championships battled for honors in the last 5km with two Ethiopians, Bisetegn Masresha and Belay Bezabh but managed to hold to hold them to cut the tape in 2:10.14.

Masresha was forced to settle in second place with 2:10.54 with Bezabh closing the first three finishes in 2:14.00.

Musau who also competes in the 5000 and 10000m races was elated after his victory. “A marathon premiere is always something special, so you should be modest at first. I was aiming for a time under 2:10 hours, but I got muscular problems in the final section. The fact that it was still enough to win makes the success all the greater and makes me very happy.” Said Musau

Another Ugandan Bernard Cheptoch and Derseh Kassie from Ethiopia finished in fourth and fifth place in 2:17.10 and 2:17.36.

Ethiopia’s Gadise Demissie took the women pole position in 2:26.19 and she was followed by a distant later Camilla Elofsson from Sweden in 2:43.22 with Norwegian Marianne Donnem cloding the podium three finish in 2:55.10

Chief organiser Frank Thaleiser was also satisfied with the event saying they had achieved what was possible under the current COVID-19 conditions.