WMM Points at Stake in Daegu

World Marathon Majors Points at Stake in Daegu

As the top track and field athletes from around the world arrive in Daegu, Korea for the IAAF World Championships, marathon runners will compete for World Marathon Majors points in addition to gold, silver and bronze medals. The women’s and men’s marathons, scheduled for August 27 and September 4, respectively, will factor heavily into the current 2010-2011 series standings with a number of WMM point-scorers representing their national teams.
In the men’s race, Ethiopia’s Gebre Gebremariam, the 2010 ING New York City Marathon champion and third place 2011 Boston Marathon finisher, currently tied for fourth on the leader board with 35 points, would propel himself into the series lead with a World Championship victory. Emmanuel Mutai of Kenya is the current leader with 55 points. Gebremariam’s countrymen Feyisa Lilesa and Bazu Worku, with 10 points apiece, are also poised to climb the series standings with top five finishes in Daegu.
The Kenyan national team features defending world champion Abel Kirui and fellow WMM point-scorer Vincent Kipruto.

The women’s race features a number of athletes on the WMM leader board, namely, 2010 ING New York City Marathon champion and third place 2011 Virgin London Marathon finisher Edna Kiplagat of Kenya, currently tied for second with 35 points. A gold medal performance would propel her into sole possession of second place, five points behind top-ranked Liliya Shobukhova of Russia. Kiplagat will be joined on the start line by her Kenyan teammates Sharon Cherop and Caroline Rotich, the third and fourth place 2011 Boston Marathon finishers.

The Ethiopian squad will be led by Bezunesh Bekele and Aberu Kebede, tied for fourth on the leader board with 25 points apiece. Additionally, Ethiopia’s Aselefech Mergia, the 2009 World Championship bronze medalist, and Atsede Baysa could vastly improve their WMM rankings with top finishes at the World Championships.

The 2010-2011 WMM series will conclude with the fall series races-the BMW Berlin Marathon on September 25, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 9, and the ING New York City Marathon November 6.

2010-2011 Series Standings – Top 5 Men

1. Emmanuel Mutai (KEN) 55 pts.
1st        2011 London                 2:04:40
2nd       2010 New York              2:09:18
2nd       2010 London                 2:06:23

2. Tsegaye Kebede (ETH) 41 pts.
5th        2011 London                 2:07:48
2nd       2010 Chicago                2:06:43
1st        2010 London                 2:05:18

3. Geoffrey Mutai (KEN) 40 pts.
1st        2011 Boston                 2:03:02
2nd       2010 Berlin                   2:05:10

4. Patrick Makau (KEN) 35 pts.
3rd       2011 London                  2:05:45
1st        2010 Berlin                   2:05:08

4. Gebre Gebremariam (ETH) 35 pts.
3rd       2011 Boston                 2:04:53
1st        2010 New York            2:08:13

2010-2011 Series Standings – Top 5 Women

1. Liliya Shobukhova (RUS) 65 pts.
2nd       2011 London                 2:20:15
1st        2010 Chicago                2:20:25
1st        2010 London                 2:22:00

2. Edna Kiplagat (KEN) 35 pts.
3rd       2011 London                 2:20:46
1st        2010 New York             2:27:20

2. Mary Keitany (KEN) 35 pts.
1st        2011 London                 2:19:19
3rd       2010 New York               2:29:01

4. Aberu Kebede (ETH) 25 pts.
1st        2010 Berlin                    2:23:58

4. Teyba Erkesso (ETH) 25 pts.
1st        2010 Boston                 2:26:11

4. Bezunesh Bekele (ETH) 25 pts.
4th        2011 London                 2:23:40
2nd       2010 Berlin                    2:24:58
4th        2010 London                 2:23:16

4. Caroline Kilel (KEN) 25 pts.
1st        2011 Boston                 2:22:36