Swedish athletes primed for a big show in Doha PAGE 14 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 Kenya’s Ruth could rule the roost in Doha Worlds’ first midnight marathon T will be the women WOMEN’S MARATHON marathon runners who are first to experience WCH all-times top-performers: unique circumstances for 2:20:57 Paula Radcliffe (GBR) Helsinki 2005 Gold Ia championship race in Doha. 2:22:01 Catherine Ndereba (KEN) Helsinki 2005 Silver At midnight on day one, a 2:23:19 Constantina Tomescu-Dita (ROU) Helsinki 2005 Bronze field of about 70 runners will SLOWEST WINNING TIME: set off under floodlighting on a looped course along the 2:30:37 Catherine Ndereba (KEN) Osaka 2007 waterfront of Doha’s famous BIGGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY: Corniche connecting Doha 7MINS and 21secs Rosa Mota (POR) versus Zoya Ivanova (URS) 1987 Bay and Doha City Centre, set against the capital city’s tow- SMALLEST MARGIN OF VICTORY: ering skyline. 1SEC Mare Dibaba (ETH) versus Helah Kiprop (KEN) 2015 The temperature by that time is expected to have MULTIPLE WINNERS: dropped from the predicted CATHERINE Ndereba (KEN) 2003, 2007 daytime range of 35C and EDNA Kiplagat (KEN) 2011, 2013 above. MOST MEDALS BY COUNTRIES: Many of the runners will JAPAN (2g-5s-4b) 11 be used to running in hot con- KENYA (4g-4s-1b) 09 ditions, but none will have run FIGURES AND FACTS a championship marathon at ROMANIA (1g-1s-3b) 05 such a time, finishing in the early hours of the morning. Mentally, physically, physio- logically it is going to be a new test for all. What can be predicted with some reasoning, how- ever, is that, similarly to the men’s race, the women’s con- test at the IAAF World Ath- letics Championships Doha 2019 is most likely to be won by an African or Asian runner in a time that will not be near the top of the year’s world list. Tactics, not times, are the key on these occasions. In the past decade, the fastest time in which a wom- en’s world marathon title has been won is 2:25:15, re- corded by China’s Bai Xue in Berlin 10 years ago. Kenya’s Edna Kipla- gat approached that A view of the Corniche, over looking the sea, where the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 marathon events will be run with the women’s event starting on Friday at 23:59 hours. speed in taking the 2013 title in Mos- ago in 2:27:11. of 2:24:27. corded by Kenya’s Mary Kei- and Roza Dereje, who has run title on Gold Coast last year in cow in 2:25:44, Chelimo is Desi Mokonin has a best tany in winning the 2017 Lon- 2:20:51 this year and has a 27C heat. having won the back to defend of 2:23:39, and perhaps sig- don Marathon. best of 2:19:17. Japan and China should previous ver- her title, and nificantly has run 2:23:44 this Her teammates can also And the third Ethiopian never be ruled out of any sion in Daegu looks one of season. shift. Visiline Jepkesho has selected, Shure Demise, has women’s championship mara- in 2:28:43. the favour- Shitaye Eshete has run That said, two familiar run 2:21:37, and 2:22.58, run 2:21:05 this season. thon race. Japan’s selected The last two ites, although 2:22:39 this year, and Eunice groups head up this year’s while Kiplagat, who has a Namibia’s Helalia Jo- runners have all run personal winning times in it will be Chumba’s best of 2:24:27 is world list – the Kenyans, and best of 2:19:50, is back to hannes is also one to watch. bests this season – Madoka this race have been worth watch- only marginally slower than the Ethiopians. seek a third world title at the She has set road PBs this year Nakano has clocked 2:27:39, only marginally ing all three the defending champion’s. Kenya’s 25-year-old Ruth age of 39. of 30:59 for 10km, 1:10:30 for Ayano Ikemitsu 2:26:07 and swifter – Ethiopia’s of her teammates, Given their greater experi- Chepngetich won this year’s Ethiopia is represented by the half marathon and 2:22:25 Mizuko Tanimoto 2:25:28. Mare Dibaba ran two of whom have ence of weather conditions in Dubai Marathon in 2:17:08 the runners who stand third for the marathon. More im- China’s trio of Ciren Cuomo, 2:27.35 in Beijing run faster than the region, you have to say that – the third fastest time and fourth on the entry list portantly, though, she has Li Dan and Ma Yugui also pro- and Bahrain’s Rose her personal best Bahrain’s runners have very ever recorded behind Paula behind Chepngetich – Ruti experience of running a cham- duced their best ever times Chelimo won in strong credentials for making Radcliffe’s world record of Aga, who has run 2:20:40 this pionship race in searing heat: this year. (IAAF) London two years Ruth Chepngetich the podium. 2:15:25 and the 2:17:01 re- year and has a best of 2:18:34, she won the Commonwealth Qatar determined to delight all German spirit Heat, humidity ‘no obstruction’ at 2019 Doha Worlds: Dahlan DPA riss Gonschinska on Thursday. pared. The athletes are well DOHA Absentees include previous set up,” he added, even if he VINAY NAYUDU in Doha will be broadcast to continental or world medallists did not want to predict a final DOHA 167 territories with a viewer- THE German athletics federa- such as multi-eventers Carolin medal tally. ship of over one billion. tion (DLV) is optimistic ahead Schaefer, Artur Abele and Rico A total of 71 German athletes IN a few hours from now, Qa- Dahlan al Hamad said, of the Friday start of the world Freimuth, and former shot put will compete in either the air- tar will mark the start of one “We don’t stop anyone at championships in Doha de- world champion David Storl. conditioned Khalifa Stadium or of the largest athletics cham- our door steps. We don’t mix spite several athletes missing Heat and high humidity in the marathon and race walk- pionships ever – the IAAF sports with politics. out with injury. in Qatar are a challenge but ing events. Germany returned World Athletics Champion- “For us, the champion- “We’re sorry for the ath- no obstruction to success, ac- home from the 2017 worlds in ships Doha 2019. Given the ships won’t just last for ten letes who are not here but I’m cording to Gonschinska. “The London with five medals. huge congregation of athletes days, but for a lifetime. It will convinced: those who are at conditions are the same for “It is always harder to be from 208 countries, the cham- leave a legacy which will in- the start line will perform,” everyone,” he said. successful,” said DLV presi- pionships will be the one of the spire the next generation of said DLV general director Id- “We are mentally pre- dent Juergen Kessing. biggest and the Local Organiz- sport, both in our country, re- ing Committee (LOC) is all set gion and the world. to deliver a memorable event “Qatar is determined to over the next ten days. give and take, and we are de- Gold unlikely but sprinter Lueckenkemper sees no limits Doha Worlds will begin lighted that you are here and with preliminary events in you shall leave with a smile DPA The bubbly German the world.” Lueckenkemper’s some disciplines including as big as you may have seen DOHA achieved her personal best in season-best 11.14 is far from the men’s 100m at the Khal- throughout Qatar,” he told the the heats of the London 2017 her potential, and her last race ifa International Stadium on world media. GINA Lueckenkemper is un- worlds and said “the race was 11.45, but she says she is Friday before moving on to Coe echoed the view, say- likely to give Germany a first wasn’t perfect. I know that I now much fresher in training the spectacular promenade of ing, “We have all teams here, women’s 100 metres world title can go faster.” which gives her confidence. Corniche for the Opening Cer- which is a good indication of since Katrin Krabbe in 1991 on Lueckenkemper named However, a medal appears emony and the much awaited how sports can reach out.” Sunday but she believes she is 10.80 a realistic target and within reach in the 4x100m women’s marathon, starting The Doha skyline depicted at one of the spectators’ stands at the On weather worries of some yet to reach her full potential. possibly a 10.70 with a perfect relay where a German quartet just a minute ahead of mid- Khalifa International Stadium. for the marathoners, Dahlan al Lueckenkemper, 22, has a race. Such times would make got silver at the 2009 worlds night at 23:59hrs. Hamad said, “We are doing our personal best of 10.95 seconds her a medal contender, with and Lueckenkemper helped Among all, the most deco- would be looking add more in 4x400m relay,” said Coe. best to provide the best of con- and is a silver medallist from the 2019 world best standing them to bronze at the last two rated athlete in the history of to her incredible collection of “This also an unusual occa- ditions for athletes to excel in.