PRESS RELEASE , April 27th, 2008

Abel Kirui sets course record of 2:07:38

Luminita Talpos wins again in personal best at the jubilee edition

Kenya’s won the 25th edition of the Vienna City with a new course record. The 25 year‐old Kenyan clocked 2:07:38 and achieved the first sub 2:08 time in the history of the event. The men’s race produced the best ever results of the with three runners finishing inside 2:09.

Duncan Kibet was second with 2:08:33 while Paul Biwott (both ) ran 2:08:53. In warm weather conditions with temperatures over 20 degrees Celsius at the end of the race defending champion Luminita Talpos won again. The 35 year‐old Romanian clocked 2:26:43 which is the third fastest ever in the history of the Vienna City Marathon. Tomo Morimoto (Japan) was second with 2:29:01 while Beatrice Omwanza (Kenya) took third in 2:37:36.

Adding all running events a record number of 30,072 athletes from more than 100 nations had entered the jubilee edition of the race. The Vienna City Marathon became the biggest running event ever seen in Austria. Around 300,000 spectators – as many as never before – lined the course to watch the race.

First marathon victory for Kirui After some great pacemaking with split times of 63:44 minutes for the first half and 1:30:26 hours for 30 k four runners from Kenya were still in the contest for victory: Abel Kirui, debutant , Paul Biwott and William Rotich. It was Kirui and Kibet, the training partner of marathon greats Martin Lel and Robert Cheruiyot, who increased the pace and broke away. The kilometre splits were now run well under 3:00 minutes and when Kirui opened the decisive gap at 35 k (1:45:04) he seemed to be on the way for a time well under 2:07. “But running alone it was getting hard. I got tired and it got very warm as well,” said Abel Kirui and added: “Still I have achieved my main goal which was the course record. And I will come back next year to further improve.”

It was Abel Kirui’s first marathon victory. In Berlin he had placed second behind with a personal best of 2:06:51 in 2007. Now he clearly improved the Vienna course record which had been held by Lahoucine Mrikik (Marocco) since 2006 with 2:08:20.

Women’s Race: Talpos beats Morimoto for second win There was some upset for Tomo Morimoto. The Japanese had been regarded as the favourite in the women’s race. Having won the Vienna City Marathon two years ago with a personal best of 2:24:33 the 24 year‐old hoped to further improve in the Austrian capital. “But it felt hard right from the beginning and I got problems at around 17 k,” Tomo Morimoto said. Defending champion Luminita Talpos then took the lead and constantly increased it. “For me this was no surprise. I came here to win the race and to qualify for the Olympic team,” the Romanian said. After improving her five year‐old personal best by 49 seconds she expects to gain selection for .

Leading Results

Men: 1. Abel Kirui (KEN) 2:07:38 2. Duncan Kibet (KEN) 2:08:33 3. Paul Biwott (KEN) 2:08:53 4. Willliam Rotich (KEN) 2:12:18 5. Andrew Limo (KEN) 2:12:27 6. Samson Loywapet (KEN) 2:13:23

Women: 1. Luminita Talpos (ROM) 2:26:43 2. Tomo Morimoto (JPN) 2:29:01 3. Beatrice Omwanza (KEN) 2:37:36 4. Oksana Kuzmicheva (RUS) 2:39:54

Text: Jörg Wenig

More information about the 25th Vienna City Marathon is available at: www.vienna‐marathon.com

PRESS CONTACT: Mr. Andreas Maier phone +43 650 350 14 88 e‐mail: andreas.maier@vienna‐marathon.com