Gebrselassie and Habtamu Triumph at real,-BERLIN MARATHON

The Ethiopian duo of Haile Gebrselassie and Atsede Habtamu  earned maximum points in the World Marathon Majors (WMM) rankings with their double success in the real,- BERLIN MARATHON. While Gebrselassie achieved his fourth victory in a WMM race, Habtamu completed a dream debut: on her very first appearance in a WMM event she collected 25 points.

The points earned by Gebrselassie and Habtamu will not have a significant impact on who will be the overall champions for the current season 2008 – 2009. Sammy Wanjiru (Kenya) and Irina Mikitenko (Germany) have built up too big a lead in the rankings. But it’s a different matter as far as the standings for 2009 – 2010 are concerned.

The real,-BERLIN-MARATHON once again lived up to its reputation for top-class results. Haile Gebrselassie won in 2:06:08 to move up to second in 2008 – 2009 rankings. The Kenyan Francis Kiprop collected 15 points for second place after a world-class run of 2:07:04. Here in detail is what the leading results from the real,-BERLIN-MARATHON mean in terms of WMM points:

MEN
1. Haile Gebrselassie  ETH  25 Points 2:06:08
2. Francis Kiprop  KEN  15   2:07:04
3. Negari Terfa   ETH  10   2:07:41
4. Dereje Debele Tulu  ETH    5   2:09:41
5. Alfred Kering   KEN     1   2:09:52

WOMEN
1. Atsede Habtamu  ETH  25 Points 2:24: 47
2. Silvia Skvortsova  RUS  15   2:26: 24
3. Mamitu Daska  ETH  10   2:26:38
4. Rosaria Console  ITA  5     2:26:45
5. Genet Getaneh  ETH  1     2:27:09

Two races remain in the WMM Series for 2008 – 2009 following the real,- BERLIN-MARATHON: the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 11 and the ING New York City Marathon on November 1.

The Boston Marathon and the Virgin London Marathon complete the World Marathon Majors schedule and take place in April.

The Olympic champion Sammy Wanjiru (Kenya) leads the men’s rankings for the 2008 – 2009 Series with 65 points from Haile Gebrselassie (50). Irina Mikitenko (Germany) has already achieved the maximum total of 75 points from three races and has a clear lead over Dire Tune (Ethiopia/40) in the women’s competition. Mikitenko is on course to become the first woman athlete to win a WMM Series twice in succession, having already won the 2007 – 2008 edition.

WMM Standings for 2008 – 2009 to date:

MEN
1. Samuel Wanjiru      KEN     65 Points
2. Haile Gebrselassie   ETH   50
3. Tsegaye Kebede      ETH   35
4. Deribe Merga          ETH    30
5. Emmanuel Mutai     KEN       26
    Martin Lel                KEN       26
    Robert K. Cheruiyot     KEN       26

WOMEN
1. Irina Mikitenko   GER    75 Points
2. Dire Tune             ETH      40
3. Salina Kosgei        KEN        30
   Alvetina Biktimirova  RUS   30
  Constantina Dita     ROM   30
6.  Xue Bai    CHI    25
    Lidiya Grigoryeva   RUS   25
    Paula Radcliffe   GBR  25
   Atsede Besuye   ETH   25