Six athletes - including defending champions - remain in contention for $1 million prize
With the Beijing Olympic Games having come to a close and the Fall / Autumn marathon season about to begin, the 2007-08 World Marathon Majors Series men's and women's titles remain very much up in the air. Last year, both titles were decided in the final two races of the Series. With six athletes still in contention in 2007-08 - two men and four women - the Series is headed for another exciting conclusion. Athletes will have three chances to score points before the champions are crowned on November 3 in New York City:
September 28, real,-Berlin-Marathon
October 12, Bank of America Chicago Marathon
November 2, ING New York City Marathon
The men's race is down to two contenders: defending champion Robert K. Cheruiyot and his training partner Martin Lel, both from Kenya. Lel holds a substantial 21-point lead, but has already scored in four events (the maximum number allowed in a two-year scoring period). Should he choose to race again, Lel could still improve his score by improving upon his 5th place finish in the Olympic Games. For Cheruiyot to defend his WMM Series title, he will first have to recover from the injury which forced him to withdraw from the Olympics. Then, only a victory - coupled with Lel failing to add to his lead - would give Cheruiyot the crown.
The women's race is a bit more complicated. Defending champion Gete Wami of Ethiopia holds a 15-point advantage, but like Lel, she has already scored in four events. Wami would have to place first or second in a Fall race to improve her 65-point total. Should she fail to do so, the door will be opened for three women to challenge for the WMM Series championship.
Olympic bronze medalist Zhou Chunxiu of China (50 pts.) sits in second place, and holds a tie-break advantage versus Wami by virtue of their head-to-head record, so a victory or runner-up placing this Fall could give Zhou the win. Meanwhile, Olympic silver medalist Catherine Ndereba of Kenya (41 pts.) would surpass Wami by a slim 1-point margin with a win. Irina Mikitenko of Germany also still has an outside chance. Injury prevented her from competing in the Olympic Games, but a win at Berlin on September 28 would vault her into a tie for first with Wami.
If there is a tie atop the leaderboard following the last race in the Series, New York City on November 2, the tie would be broken by head-to-head record. If the athletes remain tied, the WMM race directors would decide the champion by a vote.
The 2007-08 World Marathon Majors Series champions will be honored and presented with their $500,000 checks at a special luncheon in New York City on Monday, November 3, the day after the 2008 ING New York City Marathon.
Complete WMM Series leaderboards and more can be found at: WorldMarathonMajors.com.
Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director
(805) 696-6232; Fax = (805) 659-0016
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.RunningUSA.org.
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