RRW: Eliud Kipchoge, Brigid Kosgei Win Abbott World Marathon Majors Series XII
By David Monti, @d9monti
(c) 2019 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved
(29-Sep) — Kenyans Eliud Kipchoge and Brigid Kosgei have won the Abbott World Marathon Majors Series XII, officials announced today. Each athlete scored 50 points representing two victories each in the rotating, annual, grand prix competition which began at the BMW Berlin Marathon last September, and concluded at the same race today. Each athlete will receive a cash prize of $250,000.
Kipchoge won the BMW Berlin Marathon in September, 2018, in his still-standing world record of 2:01:39. He followed up with a 2:02:37 course record at the Virgin Money London Marathon last April to clinch his fourth consecutive series title. Kosgei won the 2018 Bank of America Chicago Marathon last October in 2:18:35, then won again in London last April in 2:18:20. This is her first series title.
On the men’s side, Ethiopia’s Lelisa Desisa and Birhanu Legese each scored 41 points, and Desisa was awarded second place based on a vote by the events’ race directors. On the women’s side Ethiopia’s Ruti Aga was second with 41 points and Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiyot was third with 32 points.
In the wheelchair division (which uses a different scoring system because the athletes can compete more often), Daniel Romanchuk of the United States finished first with 124 points ahead of his traditional rival Marcel Hug of Switzerland (98 points). Switzerland’s Manuela Schär dominated the women’s competition with 124 points ahead of America’s Tatyana McFadden with 72 points. Both Romanchuk and Schär won $25,000.
“Series XII of the Abbott World Marathon Majors has been full of nail-biting finishes, world records and new emerging talent,” said Tim Hadzima, executive director of the Abbott World Marathon Majors through a statement. “Congratulations to all our champions.”
Series XIII of the Abbott World Marathon Majors begins next month at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 13. The series, which will include the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Marathon next August, will conclude in Chicago in October, 2020.