32nd Vienna City Marathon 12th April 2015 run vienna – enjoy classics Vienna, 18th March 2015 Caroline Chepkwony returns to Vienna for another duel with Anna Hahner All set for a thrilling contest in the women’s race. Tokyo winner Higuchi, Turin winner Chemtai, strong Swiss Neuenschwander and two-time Vienna Champion Fate Tola join the elite field. Caroline Chepkwony hopes to take revenge when she returns to the Vienna City Marathon to compete against defending champion Anna Hahner. The Kenyan was sensationally beaten by Germany’s rising marathon star a year ago when she faded badly in the final stages. Organisers hope for a similarly thrilling women’s contest on 12th April. A total of seven women with personal bests between 2:25 and 2:30 are on the start list. Defending champion Getu Feleke is the favourite in the men’s race. The Vienna City Marathon is an IAAF Gold Label Road Race. Dramatic finish for Chepkwony in 2014 Last April Caroline Chepkwony looked certain to take a second marathon victory in a row. The 2013 Lubljana champion, who clocked her personal best of 2:27:27 in that race, was almost two and a half minutes ahead at the 35 k point. However the picture changed dramatically in the final few miles. The Kenyan suffered of stomach problems and could barely jog. With 300 metres to go Anna Hahner passed her and stormed to a totally unexpected victory in this Gold Label Road Race. The German clocked 2:28:59 with Chepkwony 19 seconds behind in second place. Later in the year Anna Hahner confirmed her performance when she improved to 2:26:44 in the Berlin Marathon. But it will not only be Hahner against Chepkwony in Vienna on 12th April. Esther Chemtai is another Kenyan with a chance of winning Austria’s biggest running event. She took last year’s Torino Marathon with a PB of 2:28:41. Two-time champion Fate Tola returns The fastest runner in the field comes from Ethiopia: Fate Tola, who hopes to receive German citizenship soon, will return after maternity leave. The 27 year-old has great memories of the Vienna City Marathon. She won the event two times in a row, in 2011 and 2012. Fate Tola, who has a personal best of 2:25:14, is not expected to be in top form yet. But she recently won a half marathon race in Frankfurt with 1:13:41. Strong challengers from Japan, Switzerland and South Africa Another runner who has won a major marathon in the past is Japan’s Noriko Higuchi. She took Tokyo’s race in 2011 with 2:28:49. South Africa’s Rene Kalmer, who has run 2:29:27, and Maja Neuenschwander, whose personal record is 2:29:42, are the other two women with sub 2:30 times. Switzerland’s Neuenschwander showed fine form recently when she took The Hague half marathon in 1:11:08. “I was able to improve a little bit year by year. If weather conditions are fine I hope to run a 2:28 or 2:27 time,” said Maja Neuenschwander. With so many women having won major races already this could become one of the best women’s races in the history of the Vienna City Marathon. 32nd Vienna City Marathon 12th April 2015 run vienna – enjoy classics 32nd Vienna City Marathon Saturday, 11 April 2015 Coca-Cola 4.2 | for young runners from 10-18 Coca-Cola 2.0 | for young runners from 6-10 Sunday, 12 April 2015 Vienna City Marathon | 42.195 km OMV Half Marathon | 21.0975 km Stadion Center Relay Marathon | 4 runners share the marathon distance www.vienna-marathon.com The Vienna City Marathon 2015 runs with the Motto of “We are Europe” Running as an expression of peaceful co-existence and personal freedom, independent of nation, religion and skin colour: the Vienna City Marathon puts this experience at the forefront with its new theme for the year, “We are Europe.” “The marathon with its origins in ancient Greek legend, is a European idea. We want to emphasise how running can bring people together internationally with our theme for the coming year. The Vienna City Marathon is not only about getting people on the move in a sporting sense but also emotionally and with their stories,” explained the VCM race director Wolfgang Konrad. Breathtaking video of the Vienna City Marathon A Flashmob at the VCM Friendship Party, the Music for “Ode to Joy” from Beethoven’s 9th Symphony and thrilling highlights from the Vienna City Marathon combine to a unique running video. Marathon, Emotion, Culture and the way sport can bring people together – everything is there. The video is a perfect symbol for the event’s motto: “run vienna – enjoy classics.” And how many runners have said: „Perfect video, 2015 I’m going to be there!“ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75CNY9TxTI0 Media Contact Mr. Andreas Maier [email protected] .