For the first time since the formation of the World Marathon Majors, an IAAF World Championships Marathon has been run. In hot and humid conditions on the streets of Osaka, Japan, five athletes earned their first career World Marathon Majors points.
Earning 25 points for his victory was Kenyan Luke Kibet, who was followed across the line by Mubarak Hassan Shami of Qatar (15 points), Victor Rothlin of Switzerland (10 points), Yared Asmerom of Eritrea (5 points), and Tsuyoshi Ogata of Japan (1 point).
The top five men and women finishers at the Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York, World Championships and Olympic Marathons will earn points in a $1 million two-year series to crown the World Marathon Majors champion at the end of 2007. The men's and women's champions will both win $500,000. The points breakdown is 1st-25; 2nd-15; 3rd-10; 4th-5 and 5th- 1.
With three races remaining in the inaugural World Marathon Majors Series, the men's standings are:
1. Robert K. Cheruiyot (KEN) 75 points
2. Martin Lel (KEN) 40 pts.
3. Felix Limo (KEN) 35 pts.
4. Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) 25 pts.
4. Marilson Gomes dos Santos (BRA) 25 pts.
4. Stephen Kiogora (KEN) 25 pts.
4. Luke Kibet (KEN) 25 pts.
Kenyan Luke Kibet, who was followed across the line by Mubarak Hassan Shami of Qatar (15 points), Victor Rothlin of Switzerland (10 points), Yared Asmerom of Eritrea (5 points), and Tsuyoshi Ogata of Japan (1 point).
IAAF World Championships
Men's Race August 25, 2007
Women's Race September 2, 2007
Men
1. Luke Kibet (KEN)
2. Mubarak Hassan Shami (QAT)
3. Victor Rothin (CHE)
4. Yared Asmerom (ERI)
5. Tsuyoshi Ogata (JPN)
