Vienna City Marathon 15. April 2012 run vienna – enjoy classics PRESSE-RELEASE VIENNA CITY MARATHON March 21, 2012 Vienna City Marathon set to become a true champions’ race Defending champions John Kiprotich and Fate Tola plus four more former winners to run in Vienna on April, 15. The course record will be the goal in the men’s race of the Vienna City Marathon on 15th April. Organisers of Austria’s biggest sporting event, who had recently signed superstars Haile Gebrselassie and Paula Radcliffe for a unique chase race in the half marathon, have now announced a first set of names for their main event, the Vienna City Marathon. Both the defending champions, John Kiprotich (Kenya) and Fate Tola (Ethiopia), will be returning to the Austrian capital as will four more former champions of the race. The Vienna City Marathon is an IAAF Gold Label Race. Surprise winner Kiprotich in good shape While the half marathon with Haile and Paula carries the title ,OMV Champions Race’ the competition over the full distance will turn out to be a true champions’ race as well. Defending champion John Kiprotich will not be the fastest in the field on 15th April, but the 23 year-old is determined to add another Vienna victory. In 2011 he had caused a major surprise by beating the experienced Patrick Ivuti (Kenya) and improving his personal best by more than seven minutes! Clocking 2:08:29 last year he is less than a minute away from the course record of 2:07:38, which was established by the current World Champion Abel Kirui in 2008. Kiprotich has improved his personal best to 2:07:08 in Amsterdam last autumn and has recently shown some promising form, when he was fourth in the Rome-Ostia Half Marathon in February with 60:02 minutes. Gilbert Kirwa the fastest in the field The fastest in the field so far is Gilbert Kirwa. Running his debut at the distance the Kenyan took the Vienna City Marathon in 2009 with 2:08:21. He then went on to improve to an impressive 2:06:14, when he won the Frankfurt Marathon in the same year. Originally Gilbert Kirwa had been signed by the Tokyo Marathon to run against Haile Gebrselassie in February. But the Kenyan was not fully fit in time for the race in Japan and then opted for Vienna. Luke Kibet is another major name in marathon running, who had originally been successful in Vienna and then went on to win big in the same year. It was in 2007 when the Kenyan took the race in Austria, clocking 2:10:07 in warm weather conditions. With this performance he earned a place in Kenya’s World Championships’ team. And in Osaka he then produced a sensation, when he ran away in the tremendously hot and humid conditions and won the gold medal. Another Kenyan, Henry Sugut, is the fourth runner in the men’s race, who has won the Vienna City Marathon in the past. He triumphed in 2010 with 2:08:40. A year ago Sugut improved to 2:08:22 in Paris. Event organiser: Enterprise Sport Promotion GmbH, Gußhausstrasse 21/19, 1040 Wien Press Contakt: Andreas Maier, Tel. +43 650 350 14 88, E-Mail: [email protected] Vienna City Marathon 15. April 2012 run vienna – enjoy classics Defending champion Fate Tola the big favourite In the women’s race the defending champion will most probably return as the big favourite. A year ago it was a surprise that Fate Tola took the honours, beating the likes of Ana Dulce Felix (Portugal) and Peninah Arusei (Kenya). This time no-one will underestimate the tiny Ethiopian, who lives in Germany. The 24 year-old could well attack her personal best of 2:26:21, which she had established in Vienna last year, once again. Currently Fate Tola trains together with German marathon star Irina Mikitenko in Albuquerque (USA). The Ethiopian will be up against a very experienced marathon runner and one of the most successful in the history of the Vienna event: Luminita Talpos (Romania) has won the race in 2007 and in 2008 again, when she clocked her personal best of 2:26:43. Additionally Talpos had taken fourth place two years ago in Vienna. 29th Vienna City Marathon, April 15, 2012 Vienna City Marathon (42.195 kilometer), start: Wagramer Straße / UN Building / Reichsbrücke, 9 a.m. OMV Half Marathon (21.097 kilometer), start: Wagramer Straße / UN Building / Reichsbrücke, 9 a.m. Krone Relay Marathon (4-person teams: 16.1 kilometer / 5.7 kilometer / 9.1 kilometer / 11.295 kilometer), start: Wagramer Straße / UN Building / Reichsbrücke, 9 a.m. Coca Cola Run 4.2 (4.2 kilometer - for children and young people between 10 and 18), start: Lassallestraße, 8.30 a.m. Coca Cola Run 1.0 (1 kilometer - for children between 6 and 10), start: Ringstraßengalerien, 8.30 a.m. All of the races finish at Heldenplatz. For more information and online registration, visit www.vienna-marathon.com Background Information Vienna City Marathon The Vienna City Marathon (VCM) was first held in 1984 and has since become Austria’s largest sporting event, involving more than 33,000 runners. Competitors from over 100 nations underline its international reputation. 300,000 spectators cheer on the runners along a route that takes them past numerous historical monuments. The event combines running with Vienna’s classical culture and music and offers a platform for social and charity projects. The VCM provides an important boost to the economy and each year generates domestic spending of EUR 18 million. The runners will put in over 3 million hours of training in preparation for the Vienna City Marathon, making the VCM Austria’s biggest exercise and health initiative. The IAAF has awarded the Vienna City Marathon the IAAF Road Race Gold Label, the world’s highest category of road race. Event organiser: Enterprise Sport Promotion GmbH, Gußhausstrasse 21/19, 1040 Wien Press Contakt: Andreas Maier, Tel. +43 650 350 14 88, E-Mail: [email protected] Vienna City Marathon 15. April 2012 run vienna – enjoy classics Events & Specials at the Vienna City Marathon 2012 World Class in Vienna Running legend Haile Gebrselassie, marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe and other elite runners in an „IAAF Gold Label“ Road Race. „A Kiss Moves The World“ An arts and charity project celebrating the 150th birthday of famous painter Gustav Klimt to support the charity organisation Menschen für Menschen in Ethiopia. Vienna Sports World Austria’s biggest sports fair on April 13 and 14, 2012, at the Messe Wien, Hall D. International Friendship Party Runners, friends and children enjoy traditional Austrian „Kaiserschmarrn“ ( a pancake) and quintessential Italian pasta in the ballroom of the Vienna City Hall on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Hospitality & Party The finish area at the Heldenplatz in the heart oft he city turns into a huge celebration zone on race day. Enjoy music, food, drinks and the excitement of the marathon. „Marathon Sound of Vienna“ Classic music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, waltz king Johann Strauß and others will accompany the runners on the impressive course covering the most important modern and classic sights of Vienna. Ready – Healthy – Go VCM Medical Centre and VCM Emergency System for the health and security of the runners. Clean Running The VCM Manifesto about fairness in sports was signed by more than 50,000 supporters already. VCM Friendship Runner Runners from 27 countries who live in Vienna and act as „ambassadors“ for their fellow runners who take part in the Vienna City Marathon. Event organiser: Enterprise Sport Promotion GmbH, Gußhausstrasse 21/19, 1040 Wien Press Contakt: Andreas Maier, Tel. +43 650 350 14 88, E-Mail: [email protected] .