Wanjiru, Mikitenko Claim '08-'09 World Marathon Major Titles
Press Release
November 2, 2009
NEW
YORK, November 2, 2009 - Samuel Wanjiru, of Kenya, and Irina Mikitenko,
of Germany, are the winners of the 2008-'09 World Marathon Majors
series, and both were presented with $500,000 USD for their respective
accomplishment at an award ceremony today in New York. Wanjiru
collected 90 points over the two-year series, winning at the 2008
Olympics, as well as at London and Chicago in 2009. He was also
runner-up at London in 2008. Similarly, Mikitenko won three major
marathons and finished second place in another during the last two
years; she won at London in both 2008 and 2009, was victorious at
Berlin in 2008, and was runner-up at Chicago last month. Mikitenko
also won the 2007-'08 WMM series.
In the series, the world's top runners
score points for winning and top placings at the five events which
comprise the World Marathon Majors: Virgin London Marathon, Boston
Marathon, real,-Berlin Marathon, Bank of America Chicago Marathon, and
ING New York City Marathon. (In years in which the Olympic Games and
IAAF World Championships are contested, those marathons also count in
the point totals.)
WMM series points are
collected for top five finishes with 25 points for first place, 15 for
second, 10 for third, 5 for fourth and 1 for fifth.
Winners of the World Marathon Majors series:
WMM series Men Women 2006-2007 Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, KEN Gete Wami, ETH
2007-2008 Martin Lel, KEN Irina Mikitenko, GER 2008-2009 Samuel Wanjiru, KEN Irina Mikitenko, GER
