Where Your Dreams Become
Reality
Where Your Dreams Become
Reality
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LRC: Preview Of Women's 2008 real,- BERLIN MARATHON It is rather
interesting that Mikitenko pulled out of the Olympic marathon citing
back injuries, which apparently limited her speed training. But was
only a few weeks later when she ran 30:57 in a German road 10k to make
her not only the 2008 world road leader, but also the 8th fastest woman
of all-time on the roads. It seems like she must have been in pretty
good fitness in mid-August given her 10k performance, and perhaps the
money was more enticing than an Olympic medal, for which she would have
certainly contended.
Mikitenko has shot quickly to the top of world marathoning. In her marathon debut in 2007, she was second at Berlin in 2:24:51. Her time was the fastest-ever debut for a German, and her London time is the German national record, since Uta Pippig's 2:21 in Boston was on a point-to-point and net downhill course and therefore not record-worthy. Mikitenko is now 36, but she is relatively new to the marathon. She began her career in the mid-1990s, running 1,500m and 5,000m races, then progressing to 10,000m later. She had 2 children, the second born in 2005, and then set her focus to
the roads and marathoning. Anyone who saw her run in London got a taste of what a tough runner she is. It looks like she'll be hard to beat, especially given the huge payout she would set herself up for if she wins her second World Marathon Major in 2008. Mikitenko could face solid competition from 3 other highly-qualified women. The most superlative on paper is Ethiopian Askale Tafa Magarsa.
A top young marathoner, the 24-year-old was 5th in Boston in April,
clocking 2:29. But her best performance to date has to be a 2:23:23 in
Dubai this January, where she placed second. Over the last four years,
she has improved from 2:28 to 2:23 in a steady fashion. She should be
one to watch not only in Berlin but in any major marathon going
forward. Rose Cheruiyot also set her personal best in Dubai
this January, finishing 4th in 2:25:48. In 2006, she won the Amsterdam
marathon and she also has experienced success in Berlin at 25km and the
half marathon distance, winning those two events previously. Finally, Helena Kiprop
posted a 2:26:27 last year in Berlin to place 3rd. Kiprop has performed
solidly at several marathons to date, but has not shown the ability to
win against top competition.
The remainder of the elite field is unremarkable, with one minor exception: Ayumi Nakayama
of Japan. Only 23, Nakayama has nonetheless run 2:28:50 this year in
Osaka, knocking 5 minutes off her debut time from Nagoya the year
before. Russian Gulnara Vygovskaya (2:28:22, Paris '07), Kenyan Mary Ptikany (2:29:45, Frankfurt '05), Ethiopian Tsege Worku (2:33:25, Frankfurt, '07), and Poland's Edyta Lewandowska (2:34:18, Berlin '04) round out the elite field.
LRC Predictions: 1) Irina Mikitenko (Germany) 2) Askale Tafa Magarsa (Ethiopia) 3) Ayumi Nakayama (Japan) More information:
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Runner's World &
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