1. sports
2. running and jogging

VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
02 35 YEARS OF THE LONDON MARATHON
The 2015 London Marathon is the 35th edition of the
event. Some 20,000 people wanted to run the first
race on 29 March 1981; 7,747 were accepted. There
were 6,255 finishers, led home by the American Dick
Beardsley and Norwegian Inge Simonsen who staged
a spectacular and fitting dead-heat at the rain-swept
finish on Constitution Hill in 2:11:48. Joyce Smith, 43
years old and a mother of two, broke the British record
to win the women’s race in 2:29:57, then the third
fastest time ever by a woman.
However, fewer than five per cent of all the runners in
1981 were women, while there were no wheelchair
athletes at all, no fancy dress runners, no Mini London
Marathon races, little significant fundraising for
charities, and the race was broadcast by the BBC only
to viewers in the UK.
How things have changed:
• These days, more than 36,000 runners are
expected to cross the finish line in The Mall every
year, and in 2015 the total number of London
Marathon finishers will reach around 960,000.
A record 36,705 crossed the line in 2012 after
37,227 had started, the largest field so far.
• The London Marathon course records now stand
at 2:04:29 for the men’s race and 2:15:25 for
the women’s, improvements of more than seven
and 14 minutes respectively. There have been six
world records set in London, one in the men’s
race and five in the women’s, the last of which by
Paula Radcliffe in 2003 still stands, while the event
has witnessed six IPC world records by paraathletes.
• More than three-quarters of all runners at the
London Marathon now raise money for charity,
and more than £50 million is raised every year. The
event itself holds a Guinness World Record for
one-day charity fundraising, a record it has broken
each year for the last eight years. The 2014 record
total was £53.2 million while the total raised over
the last 34 years stands at some £716 million.
• In 2015, the wheelchair fields will be 70-strong,
while some 30 world class para-athletes will
compete in six other events – all of them racing
for medals as part of the IPC Athletics Marathon
World Championships.
• The Mini London Marathon – which has uncovered
talents such as Mo Farah, the Brownlee
brothers, David Weir and Shelly Woods – will
celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2015 with more
than 2,000 young people from all over the UK
competing in official British Athletics Road Race
Championships.
• Hundreds of runners will wear fancy dress
costumes, covering every conceivable possibility
from animals to superheroes to tall buildings,
while more than 100 will attempt to break official
Guinnness World Records for their chosen outfit.
Thirty runners set records in 2014, while a record
35 did so in 2011.
• BBC coverage of the 2014 race was shown in
196 countries worldwide, while each year, around
750,000 people line the route to cheer on the
runners.
• In the 35 years since it was founded, The London
Marathon Charitable Trust has used profits from
the race and other London Marathon events to
make grants totalling more than £56 million to
more than 1,000 organisations, and saved nine
major playing fields and sporting facilities from
developers.
• Research in 2010 found that the London
Marathon generated £110.1 million of economic
activity in the UK while spending in the capital
by marathon runners, spectators, organisers
and visitors was worth £31.7m, a 60 per cent
increase in the event’s economic importance to
the UK economy since it was measured 10 years
previously.
• The proportion of women runners has
gradually increased over the years and in 2015
approximately 37 per cent of runners will be
women.
Media Guide 2015 13
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
A Brief History of the London Marathon in 35 Steps
Some wonderful (and weird) facts, figures and incidents from the first 35 years of the London Marathon:
• The London Marathon was first dreamed up in
1978 in the Dysart Arms when Chris Brasher and
John Disley heard Raneleigh Harriers clubmates
chatting about the the New York City Marathon.
They checked it out and less than three years later
had organised the first London Marathon.
would have won every 20th century edition of the
men’s race, plus those in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006
and 2007, but the quality of the 2008 race meant
he could only finish sixth.
• In 2011, a football freestyler called John Farnworth
completed the marathon while keeping a ball up
in the air between his right and left foot with every
step. He finished in 12 hours 15 minutes and did
not drop the ball once. Now there is a time limit of
eight hours for runners to complete the race.
•
Chris Brasher & John Disley
• A record 36,705 people completed the race in
2012. The 30,000 barrier was first broken in 1999
and it has remained above that figure ever since.
• The hottest marathon day was on 22 April 2007
when the temperature at 12 noon was 21.7°C.
Thirteen years previously, on 17 April 1994,
runners had to cope with a record low of 7.6°C at
midday.
• The first London Marathon finished on Constitution
Hill, between Wellington Arch and Buckingham
Palace. From 1982 until 1993, it finished on
Westmister Bridge and since 1994 the finish has
been on The Mall.
• Less than 5% of finishers in 1981 were women,
while in 2014 nearly 37% were women.
• Joyce Smith, was the oldest winner of the London
Marathon when she triumphed for a second time
in 1982, aged 44. The oldest men’s winner was
Britain’s Allister Hutton, who won in 1990 aged 35
and 278 days.
Since 2007 Guinness World Records has officially
ratified records broken at the London Marathon. 2011
was the most successful year yet when 35 were set.
• Former 10,000m world record holder and future
London Marathon race director Dave Bedford ran
the first race for a £250 bet he accepted
sometime after midnight the morning of the race
while merrily downing beers in the Mad Hatter
club in Luton, which he owned. Four piña coladas,
a phone call to race co-founder Chris Brasher, a
king prawn curry and another pint of lager later,
Bedford finally got to bed at 4.45am. Just 75
minutes later he was woken by a friend heading
for the start. Despite vomiting into a drain on BBC
TV, Bedford completed the race before falling
asleep in a pub. He never received his money.
• Ingrid Kristiansen is the only runner to have
tasted London Marathon victory four times. The
Norwegian triumphed in 1984, 1985, 1987 and
1988, setting a world record of 2:21:06 with
her second victory. However, British Paralympic
legends Tanni Grey-Thompson and David Weir
have both eclipsed that feat with six wins apiece
in their respective wheelchair races. Weir is aiming
for his seventh win this year.
• 924,741 people have finished the first 34 editions
of the London Marathon. The 500,000 mark was
passed in 2002 and the one millionth finisher is
likely to cross the line in the 2017 edition.
• The slowest ever London Marathon was five days
and eight hours in 2002 by Lloyd Scott, wearing a
110lb deep-sea diving suit.
• The youngest men’s champion was Kenyan
Sammy Wanjiru, who conquered the capital in
2009 aged 22. Tragically, he was found dead only
two years later after falling from a balcony. The
youngest women’s champion was Małgorzata
Sobanska. The Pole was 25 when she won in
1995.
• In 2008 Deriba Merga finished in 2:06:38, less
than a minute and a half behind winner Martin
Lel’s then course record of 2:05:15. Merga’s time
Paula Radcliffe & Lloyd Scott
14 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
• Since the London Marathon started in 1981,
its runners have raised £716 million for charity
– making it officially the largest single annual
fund-raising event in the world. For eight years in
a row it has broken the Guinness World Record
for fundraising at a one-day event, with £53.2m
raised in 2014.
• The London Marathon has had six headline
sponsors starting with Gillette which helped fund
the first three races before Mars took over in 1984.
ADT was race sponsor from 1982 until 1993 when
NutraSweet started its three-year spell. Flora
backed the event for 14 years from 1996 while
Virgin Money took over in 2010.
• Reverend Steve Chalke MBE holds the record
for most money raised for charity at the London
Marathon – indeed at any marathon worldwide.
The Londoner, now 59, raised a jaw-dropping
£2,330,159.38 in 2011.
• The most popular occupation for participants who
entered the 2014 Virgin Money London Marathon
was teaching/working in education. 1,408 people
came from that profession, with accountants
(1,357) and administrators (1,108) close behind.
• The build-up to the 2010 race was badly affected
by ash clouds from the erupting Icelandic
volcano Eyjafjallajökull which meant air space
over northern Europe was closed for six days,
disrupting many runners’ travel plans. The
organisers used £150,000 from the event’s
contingency fund to charter a private plane
for elite athletes, but Britain’s Mara Yamauchi
made her own way, taking six days to get to
London from New Mexico using train, boat, taxi
and plane, travelling via Colorado, New Jersey,
Lisbon, Madrid and Paris.
• Following the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and
tsunami, the Nagoya International Women’s
Marathon, the final selection race for
Japan’s women’s team for that year’s World
Championships, had to be cancelled. The London
Marathon stepped in to help, giving nine Japanese
athletes a place in the London elite field. Azusa
Nojiri and Yukiko Akaba both earned their place
on the world stage in Daegu.
• Fauja Singh, from Essex, is thought to be the
oldest person ever to complete the London
Marathon. He was 93 when he took an impressive
6 hours 7 minutes in 2004. Singh carried on
running until he was 101, while his appearance,
aged 100, at the 2011 Toronto Marathon made
him the oldest ever marathon runner. Jenny
Wood-Allen is believed to be the oldest woman
to finish in London. She was 90 when she took
11 hours 34 minutes in 2002, despite injuring her
head in a fall during training.
Steve Chalke MBE
Fauja Singh
• The London Marathon’s first wheelchair races
took place in 1983 when Gordon Perry won
the men’s race in 3:20:07 while his fellow Briton
Denise Smith won the women’s in 4:29:03.
Standards have improved vastly in the intervening
decades, with Australia’s Kurt Fearnley setting a
phenomenal men’s course record of 1:28:56 in
2009 and USA’s Tatyana McFadden winning the
2014 women’s race in a record 1:45:12.
• Hugh Jones, the 1982 London Marathon winner,
is now the course measurer. Jones has assisted
with the London Marathon’s ‘blue line’ painting
operation since 1985, and has measured the
London and Berlin courses annually since 1994,
as well as many Olympic and World Championship
courses. Jones uses a special bicycle to measure
courses – much more reliable than GPS tools, he
says.
Media Guide 2015 15
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
• 56 past or present MPs have run the London
Marathon. The fastest was Matthew Parris,
then Conservative MP for Derbyshire West, who
finished in 2:32:57 in 1985. Doug Henderson,
Labour representative for Newcastle upon Tyne
North, is the only other MP to dip under three
hours. He finished in 2:52:24 in 1989.
• Chris Newton is the quickest ever celebrity runner
to finish. The world champion cyclist clocked
2:45:10 in 2014. Model Nell McAndrew is the
fastest female celebrity, running 2:54:39 in 2012 at
the age of 38.
• The first couple to get married during the London
Marathon were Mick Gambrill and Barbara Cole
in 1999. The Croydon pair got engaged during
the Disney Marathon two years previously. They
stopped at Charlton House near Greenwich to be
married by a registrar.
• Fourteen men have completed every single
London Marathon to date. Chris Finill has
recorded the fastest PB of the ever-presents – an
impressive 2:28:27 in 1985.
Chris Finill
• Olympic champion Tiki Gelana was embroiled
in drama in 2013 when she cut sharply across
the road to reach her drink, unaware of the
men’s wheelchair racers approaching on her
inside. Canadian Josh Cassidy collided with
the Ethiopian, effectively ending either’s chance
of victory. Luckily, neither was seriously hurt,
although Cassidy suffered damage to his chair.
• With 10 and eight victories respecitvely, Kenya
is the most successful nation in the men’s and
women’s races, although there was only one
Kenyan victor in the men’s race before 2004, and
none in the women’s between 2001 and 2010.
Kenyans have now won nine out of the last 11
men’s races and the last four women’s contests.
Britain is the next most prolific nation with 13
wins, the last of which was Paula Radcliffe’s 2005
triumph. Runners from 16 nations have tasted
triumph, while athletes from 23 countries have
won wheelchair events. South America is the only
continent yet to produce a London winner.
• Sports Aid Foundation (now SportsAid) was the
first official charity in 1984. The charity helps
young British athletes meet the costs of their
careers, and was a major source of support for
the likes of Steve Redgrave, Daley Thompson,
Jonathan Edwards and Linford Christie. This year’s
official charity is Cancer Research UK.
• Runners passing the now closed City Pride pub at
mile 18 often see runners on the other side of the
building three miles behind them on the course.
A new skyscraper – set to be the second tallest
residential tower in the country – is planned for the
site, and will also be called ‘City Pride’.
• Mo Farah won the Mini London Marathon three
years in a row between 1998 and 2000. The event
for young runners aged 11 to 17 is held over
the last three miles of the course. Other famous
winners include 2013 world triathlon champion
Non Stanford and wheelchair stars David Weir,
Hannah Cockroft and Shelly Woods.
• A suspected gas leak at the Old Rose Pub on
the Highway briefly threatened to disrupt the
elite women’s race in 2008. The leading nine
women were swiftly directed to the far side of
the carriageway for a few hundred metres while
engineers investigated. They found no leak and
Irina Mikitenko went on to win.
• Current race director Hugh Brasher has run
the marathon a number of times, but his first
experience of the event was in 1981, aged 16,
when dad Chris, the race co-founder, persuaded
him to sell train tickets to runners at 50p a journey
from Charing Cross to the start. These days race
day travel is free for runners.
16 Media Guide 2015
• The biggest alteration to the London Marathon
course took place in 2005 after Evans Rutto and
Sammy Korir both slipped on the wet carpeted
cobbles near the Tower of London in 2004.
Rutto eventually won in 2:06:18 but the offending
section was replaced by a fast stretch of road
along the Highway and Tower Hill. The fact that
Radcliffe set her world record on the old route
makes her achievement even more impressive.
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Celebrating the 35th Anniversary
“What does it matter who wins anyway? As far as I’m
concerned anyone who finishes this thing is a winner.”
Those were the words of Dick Beardsley on the day of
the first ever London Marathon in 1981. The American
had just been crowned joint winner of the inaugural
race after crossing the line hand-in-hand with
Norway’s Inge Simonsen and his quip summed up the
spirit of the event which has survived ever since.
Here are a few more thoughts on the London
Marathon from some of the key figures who have been
part of its history:
John Disley, the 1952 Olympic steeplechase bronze
medallist, who founded the event with Chris Brasher:
“We put the thing on with the help of our friends and
people we knew, and it was a great success. That
encouraged other people to come and help us and
we did very well from there.”
Hugh Brasher, son of Chris and current race director,
on the first event (he was 16):
“The first realisation of what had been achieved was
probably the following day where the front page of the
Daily Mail had the famous picture of Simonsen and
Beardsley crossing the line hand-in-hand. You had a
unique situation where two runners had raced against
each other for 26 miles then decided at the very end
that really this was about unity and enjoyment and it
was more fitting to cross the line together.
“There hadn’t been a history of mass marathon
running. Looking back now it was still only 7,000
runners, a fifth of what it is today, but it was an
incredible experience because there’d never been
anything like it before. To be part of that was
wonderful. Now it really is a national institution.”
Roy Webber of the 23rd Camberwell Scouts, who
is the only person to have volunteered at every single
race:
“I remember putting the last sign up at the beginning
of Westminster Bridge [in 1981], just as the gun went
off to start the race. Then we had to return to the
beginning to start taking them all down again. It had
taken us nearly half the night. We started at 11 o’clock
on the Saturday and finished at nine on the Sunday
morning.”
David Bedford, former race director and current elite
athlete coordinator:
“What makes it a great event is that there’s something
for everyone. There’s an elite field at the front stronger
than the Olympics or World Championships and a
street party behind it that has every person who is
running in the event feel that they have also won
the Olympic Games when they cross the finish line.
Add to that 700,000 people cheering them along
on the streets and you’ve got an amazing cocktail
of elements that make up the greatest event in the
world.”
Paula Radcliffe, women’s world record holder and
race winner in 2002, 2003 and 2005:
“It means so much to me. I’ve grown up with it,
watched for so many years in the ’80s. I remember
watching Joyce Smith, going to see my dad run,
seeing Ingrid Kristiansen setting a women’s world
record and thinking ‘Wow, I really want to do this one
day.’ To have the really special memories I’ve got from
2002, ’03 and ’05, and then to have not been able to
do it in later years because of injuries…
Brasher adds: “It was unchartered territory, no one
knew what it was going to be. Marathon running used
to be done by slightly mad people but now running’s
the second most popular recreation in Britain. In
the first marathon less than 5 per cent of finishers
were women, now we are close to 40 per cent. The
marathon really does inspire people.”
Mel Watman, athletics journalist, who ran in the first
London Marathon:
“The first London Marathon was a fantastic occasion.
You have to remember that before that, no marathon
in Britain really had more than a couple of hundred
runners. It was very much for the dedicated runner.
For all those reasons it’s really special and emotional.
I’m really grateful that the organisers have given me
this opportunity [to do it again]. It will be huge, I never
thought I’d be back here. I get emotional talking about
it.”
Joyce Smith, winner of the first two women’s races:
“Nobody knew if it was going to be a success, and
that was a bit of a worry but the crowds came out
and it was obviously a success. I was really expecting
to win it as I had won in Tokyo for the previous two
years.”
These quotes are all taken from interviews by James
Phillips for the London Marathon’s Marathon News
magazine. Some of the interviews will be available
on the London Marathon website:
www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com
Media Guide 2015 17
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Born to Run
Marian Shasanya and Mat Gilliard were completely
oblivious to the sporting achievements of Joyce Smith,
Dick Beardsley and Inge Simonsen, and 6,252 other
runners on the streets of London on 29 March 1981.
That’s because the pair were born on that very day. As
chance would have it, they are both running the 35th
London Marathon this year.
Marian is an ICT teacher at a school in north London,
and has lived in the capital her whole life. She told us:
“I’ve done lots of 10ks and one half marathon, but
never anything like this. I’ve been sticking to the plan
from the first magazine you sent and I want to do it in
under five hours.
Mat is a civil servant from Worcester who now lives
in Aberdare, South Wales. He first started running in
2007 after losing an incredible 10 and a half stone. He
started with a 5km race for a local charity and made
his full marathon debut at the Shakespeare Marathon
in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Mat Gilliard
Marian Shasanya
He said: “I’ve done a marathon every year since,
including London in 2013. It was different to any
others I’ve done as there were people everywhere. I’ve
never experienced crowd support on that scale. It’s
alive, they’re all cheering you on. I was overwhelmed
by it to be honest. It was brilliant.
“My personal best is 3:50 but this year I’m trying to
beat my London time of 4:12:39 from 2013. I want to
do well on that front. My next challenge will be an ultra
– the Brecon to Cardiff Ultra, it’s about 42 miles, and
takes place a month after London.”
2015 Race Starters
“I went last year to support my friend and the
atmosphere, it’s like ‘Oh my god!’ I just want to make
sure I finish it. I’ll make the decision after if I want to do
any more marathons. Never say never, but I’ll decide
after this one.”
She is running for the Sickle-cell Society. She lives with
her sister who suffers from the disease.
18 Media Guide 2015
The 1981 London Marathon winners, Dick Beardsley,
Inge Simonsen and Joyce Smith, will be the official
starters of the men’s race and mass race at the 2015
Virgin Money London Marathon. Smith will also start
the women’s race.
All three will attend a 35th anniversary press
conference at Tower Hotel on Wednesday 22 April.
See page 7 for details.
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
03 THE LONDON MARATHON CHARITABLE TRUST
What is The Trust?
Burgess Park BMX Track, funded in part by The Trust
The London Marathon Charitable Trust provides
funding to organisations and communities for capital
projects that inspire and enable more people to
take part in physical activites. In particular, The Trust
supports projects that encourage participation by
groups in which there are currently low rates of activity.
How is The Trust governed?
The Trust was created in 1981 to meet one of the six
objectives set by the race founders: “to raise money for
the provision of recreational facilities in London.”
(See page 12 for all the objectives.)
President
John Disley CBE
Since then, The Trust’s objectives have been widened
to enable grants to be made for projects in any area
where London Marathon Events Limited stages events.
Since 2013, the London Marathon’s role in the Prudential
RideLondon-Surrey cycling festival means that projects in
Surrey are now eligible for Trust grants.
The London Marathon Charitable Trust Board
Patron
HRH Prince Harry of Wales
Independent Trustees
John Bryant (Chairman)
Joyce Smith MBE
Sir John Spurling KCVO OBE
Sir Rodney Walker
Chairman of UK Athletics
Ed Warner
The Trust owns London Marathon Events Limited, the
company that organises mass participation sporting
events. All of the profits made by the company go to The
Trust and are distributed in grants to improve leisure and
recreational facilities in the areas where the company
organises events.
Nominee of Chairman Sport England
Charles Johnston
What projects are eligible for funding?
Nominee of Mayor of London
Simon Cooper
The Trust only funds projects that are:
• capital projects
• located in:
- one or more of the 32 London boroughs
or the City of London
- the county of Surrey
- South Northamptonshire
- Vale of Aylesbury
• sustainable without additional funding from The Trust
once the capital project is completed.
Nominee of London Councils
John Austin
Councillor Ruth Dombey
Chairman of England Athletics
Peter King CBE
Chairman of England Federation of Disability
Sport
Charles Reed
Chief Grants Officer & Company Secretary
Sarah Ridley
The Trust is a registered charity, number 283813, and a
registered company number 1550741.
The London Marathon Events Ltd is a wholly owned
subsidiary of The Trust.
Media Guide 2015 19
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
What has The Trust done?
To the end of 2014, The Trust had awarded £56,454,069 to more than 1,000 projects in London and beyond,
and ‘saved’ nine major playing fields and sport facilties in the capital which now bear The Trust’s name.
Here are some major milestones in The Trust’s history so far:
1981
The London Marathon Charitable Trust is
created by London Marathon founders Chris
Brasher and John Disley “to raise money
for the provision of recreational facilities in
London”.
1991
The charity’s total awards to sports and
recreation projects reaches more than £1
million.
1998
The Trust establishes a fund to support
the purchase of public sports grounds and
facilities to preserve them from developers.
2001
The charity’s total funding of sports and
recreation projects reaches £10 million.
2011
Prince Harry becomes Patron of The London
Marathon Charitable Trust.
2012
The Trust trustees pledge to provide £6.9
million to support community legacy facilities
of the London 2012 Olympic Games,
including contributions to a community track,
the VeloPark and the Olympic Park’s North
Hub Playground.
2012
2012
The Trust donates £1 million to the Queen
Elizabeth II Fields Challenge which has
subsequently benefitted 105 fields in London
and Surrey.
The Trust sponsors the design of Poolpod,
a submersible and mobile platform to help
people with impaired mobility to enter
swimming pools.
2013
Projects in Surrey become eligible for Trust
grants for the first time thanks to the London
Marathon’s involvement in the Prudential
RideLondon-Surrey cycling festival.
2013
The world’s first compact athletics facility,
part-funded by The Trust with a £150,000
grant, is opened at Stoke Newington School
in Hackney by world 400m champion
Christine Ohuruogu.
20 Media Guide 2015
2013
The total value of grants made by The Trust
passes the £50 million mark, supporting more
than 1,000 projects.
2014
The Trust awards nearly £3.5 million in grants
to a record 70 organisations in London,
Surrey and South Northamptonshire, plus
£1,150,000 to Olympic legacy projects and
£200,000 to its playing fields and major
projects fund.
2015
The London Marathon Charitable Trust
celebrates its 35th anniversary.
A full list of the 70 organisations awarded grants
in December 2014 is available on request from the
London Marathon media office:
[email protected]
The Trust in numbers
£1,500: the amount awarded in 1981 to each of the
first seven projects supported by The Trust,
which included the creation of a trim trail,
purchase of gym equipment and provision of
5-a-side football equipment for people with
disabilities.
£56.5m: total value of grants awarded by end of
2014.
1,051:
total number of funding decisions made by
The Trust since 1981.
£4.8m: total value of awards made by The Trust in
2014.
33:
number of London boroughs that are eligible
for and have received grants, including the
City of London.
22:
number of Surrey projects awarded grants
in 2013 and 2014, the first years they were
eligible.
9:
number of recreation spaces ‘saved’ with
funding from The Trust and bearing the
London Marathon name.
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Project case study
Compact Athletics Facility
Stoke Newington School, Hackney
£150,000
In July 2013, the world’s first ever Compact Athletics Facility, funded in part with a £150,00 grant from The Trust,
was opened by world 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu at Stoke Newington School in Hackney.
The brainchild of England Athletics, and the first dedicated athletics facility in Hackney, this school and
community resource includes a sprint straight, long jump pit, high jump and throws areas, and a running trail. The
centre will enable 400 local people each week to access athletics facilities out of school hours, while the school’s
pupils will be able to run, jump and throw all year round.
Trust chairman John Bryant said: “The London Marathon Charitable Trust is delighted to welcome this
revolutionary athletics facility. Available space is hard to find in London but the Marathon’s backing ensures we
can provide sport for thousands of young people. They are the grassroots and from them will come a rich harvest
– of both elite and everyday athletes – which is the true legacy of the London Olympics.”
Media Guide 2015 21
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Project case study
Two Poolpods, The London Aquatic Centre,
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
£30,000
British Paralympic swimmer Dervis Konuralp, a Hackney native, hailed this new aid for disabled swimmers for
giving more people access to the freedom of the pool. The four-time Paralympian welcomed the new Poolpod
system for providing a safer and more dignified mode of entering the water for swimmers with restricted mobility.
The engineering innovation, funded by a grant from The Trust, has been designed to help swimmers with
restricted mobility make a smoother transition from poolside to water than the current methods, usually being
hoisted or swung into the pool.
The Poolpod is a submersible mobile platform allowing swimmers to remain standing as they enter the water,
while those in wheelchairs can transfer to the pod while still in the changing room.
The Trust awarded £30,000 to the London Legacy Development Corporation for two Poolpods at the London
Aquatic Centre, part of its commitment to support community legacy facilities in the London 2012 Olympic Park.
This follows £280,000 from The Trust in 2012 to the winning British design team who then created the prototype.
Karen West, Head of Sport and Health at the LLDC, welcomed the innovative design for creating greater access
for all in sport: “The Poolpod gives a fantastic opportunity for those in the community whose mobility may be
restricted for whatever reason.
“As one of our key legacies from the 2012 Games, we’d like as many people as possible to enjoy sport with no
need to fear the pool. The Poolpod means they can enter the water safely and with dignity.”
More case studies and more information about The London Marathon Charitable Trust, can be found on The
Trust’s new website: www.lmct.org.uk.
22 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
04 THE ELITE RACES
Elite Men
Entries
Bib no.
1
2
3
4
5
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
Name
Wilson Kipsang
Dennis Kimetto
Emmanuel Mutai
Eliud Kipchoge
Geoffrey Mutai
Sammy Kitwara
Tsegaye Mekonnen
Stanley Biwott
Tilahun Regassa
Samuel Tsegay
Serhiy Lebid Aleksey Reunkov
Ghebrezgiabhier Kibrom
Marcin Chabowski
Koen Raymaekers
Scott Overall
Michael Shelley
Javier Guerra
Bekir Karayel
Hermano Ferreira
Christian Kreienbühl
Anuradha Cooray
Mert Girmalegesse
Cesar Lizano
Stijn Fincioen
Matthew Hynes
Pedro Ribeiro
Guye Adola
Nation
KEN
KEN
KEN
KEN
KEN
KEN
ETH
KEN
ETH
ERI
UKR
RUS
ERI
POL
NED
GBR
AUS
ESP
TUR
POR
SUI
SRI
TUR
CRC
BEL
GBR
POR
ETH
PB
2:03:23
2:02:57
2:03:13
2:04:05
2:04:15
2:04:28
2:04:32
2:04:55
2:05:27
2:07:28
2:08:32
2:09:54
2:10:00
2:10:07
2:10:35
2:10:55
2:11:15
2:12:21
2:13:21
2:13:28
2:15:35
2:15:51
2:17:45
2:17:50
2:17:57
Debut
Debut
Debut
Bib name
KIPSANG
KIMETTO
E. MUTAI
KIPCHOGE
G. MUTAI
KITWARA
MEKONNEN
BIWOTT
REGASSA
TSEGAY
LEBID
REUNKOV
KIBROM
CHABOWSKI
RAYMAEKERS
OVERALL
SHELLEY
GUERRA
KARAYEL
FERREIRA
KREIENBUEHL
COORAY
GIRMALEGESSE
LIZANO
FINCIOEN
HYNES
RIBEIRO
ADOLA
Media Guide 2015 23
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Preview: A clash of the champions
Former world-record holder Wilson Kipsang will
defend his London Marathon title in a ‘clash of the
champions’ against against fellow Kenyan Dennis
Kimetto, the man who made history last year when he
broke Kipsang’s record to become the first athlete ever
to run 26.2 miles in less than two hours three minutes.
Kimetto, who clocked 2:02:57 in September’s Berlin
Marathon, will make his London Marathon debut, while
Kipsang takes on the iconic course for the fourth time
having won in 2012 and 2014. The two are training
partners in the Kenyan town of Iten but have never
faced each other over the marathon distance.
Kipsang set the former world record of 2:03:23 at
the Berlin Marathon in 2013 and broke the London
course record last year when he won in 2:04:29. Now
he is aiming to become only the fourth man in the
event’s 35-year history to claim a hat-trick of London
titles. The 33-year-old has won eight marathons in his
career, including his last three races, and was crowned
the 2013/14 World Marathon Majors champion
after winning the 2014 New York City Marathon last
November.
The 30-year-old Kimetto, a relative late-comer to
world-class distance running, was a London Marathon
pacemaker in 2013 soon after clocking the fastest
ever debut marathon when he finished second
in Berlin in 2012. He has since won three World
Marathon Majors races, taking victory at the 2013
Tokyo and Chicago Marathons before last year’s
triumph in the German capital.
The Kenyan pair are just two of the big hitters in an
elite field that includes the three quickest marathon
runners of all time (on legitimate courses); five of the
world’s all-time top 10; and eight men in total who
have run sub-2:05.
24 Media Guide 2015
Kipsang and Kimetto are joined by five other strong
Kenyans, including 2011 London champion Emmanuel
Mutai, who ran the second fastest time ever when
finishing runner-up to Kimetto in Berlin last year;
Eliud Kipchoge, the former world 5000m champion
who won the 2014 Chicago Marathon last October;
and Geoffrey Mutai, the former Boston, New York
and Berlin Marathon champion, who won the World
Marathon Majors series in 2012.
There’s also Sammy Kitwara, who was second in
Chicago and third in Tokyo last year, and last year’s
runner-up, Stanley Biwott, another sub-2:05 man, who
returns to the London Marathon seeking to go one
better in 2015.
The Ethiopian challenge is led by the 19-year-old 2014
Dubai Marathon champion, Tsegaye Mekonnen, who
was fifth last year and holds the fastest ever marathon
time by a junior. Former Rotterdam Marathon
champion, Tilahun Regassa, is the second Ethiopian
in the field with a best of 2:05:27, while a pair of
Eritreans, Samuel Tsegay and Ghebre Kibrom, add to
the strength of the east African pack.
Ukraine’s cross country specialist Serhiy Lebid is the
leading European. The 39-year-old won nine European
cross country titles before moving up to the marathon.
Russia’s European bronze medallist Alexey Reunkov
is also in the line-up, as is Australia’s Glasgow
Commonwealth Games champion Michael Shelley.
Scott Overall and Matt Hynes are the two Britons on
the elite start line. Overall was fifth in the 2011 Berlin
Marathon, while Hynes finished 10th in the recent
Paris half marathon and is looking to improve a fiveyear-old marathon time in his first serious attempt at
the distance.
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
WILSON KIPSANG (KENYA)
Born: 15 March 1982 Keiyo District
Marathon best: 2:03:23 Berlin 2013
London Marathon record: 2012- 1st 2:04:44,
2013- 5th 2:07:47, 2014- 1st 2:04:29
Other World Marathon Majors
Berlin: 2013- 1st 2:03:23
New York: 2014- 1st 2:10:59
Other major city marathons
Frankfurt: 2010- 1st 2:04:57, 2011- 1st 2:03:42
Honolulu: 2012- 1st 2:12:31
Otsu: 2011- 1st 2:06:13
Paris: 2010- 3rd 2:07:13
Marathons in major championships
Olympics: 2012- 3rd 2:09:37
Career notes
Wilson Kipsang broke the course record to win his
second London Marathon title last year, outbattling
Stanley Biwott in the final mile and a half of the race to
beat Emmanuel Mutai’s mark by 26 seconds.
He’d arrived in the British capital as the world record
holder having broken Patrick Makau’s two-year-old
mark at the Berlin Marathon in September 2013.
He may have lost that accolade to Dennis Kimetto
last September, but he bounced back by adding a
first New York Marathon victory to his list of honours
in November and won half a million dollars as the
2013/14 Series VIII World Marathon Majors men’s
champion. The cold and windy conditions meant
his winning time was the slowest in New York since
1995 and the second slowest of Kipsang’s 11 career
marathons.
His aim in London this year is to become only the
fourth man to win the London Marathon three times,
and the first to retain the title since Martin Lel in 2008.
The 33-year-old has won eight out of 11 marathons
in his career so far, including his last three races, and
remains third on the world all-time list thanks to his
former world record of 2:03:23.
Principally a road runner, Kipsang’s main performance
of note before his marathon debut in 2010 was fourth
at the 2009 World Half Marathon Championships. He
was also second at the 2009 Ra’s Al-Khaymah half
marathon in 58:59, still his PB.
His first marathon came in Paris in 2010 when he was
third in 2:07:13, half a minute behind winner Tadesse
Tola. He won the Frankfurt Marathon that October
in a course record of 2:04:57, beating Tola by more
than a minute. He set another course record when he
won the 2011 Lake Biwa Marathon in Otsu in 2:06:13
ahead of Deriba Merga.
He returned to Frankfurt in 2011 and made a bold
attack on the world record. He put in a magnificent
effort over the last 5km but missed the target by four
seconds, settling instead for another course record
with 2:03:42, more than a minute quicker than 2010.
Kipsang’s London Marathon victory in 2012 was
similarly impressive. Competing for a place on Kenya’s
Olympic team, he stamped his authority on a highquality field with two bold surges and crossed the
line in 2:04:44, missing Mutai’s course record by four
seconds.
He returned to London that August to spearhead
Kenya’s 2012 Olympic bid. Despite establishing
an early lead he could not maintain the pace and
eventually finished third.
After his two appearances in London in 2012, he went
on to win the Great North Run in a quick time of 59:06
and concluded 2012 with another victory, winning the
Honolulu Marathon in 2:12:31.
He warmed up for the 2013 London Marathon with
victory at the New York half in 61:02, but he could
place no higher than fifth in London, his lowest finish
in 11 marathon starts. He skipped the Moscow
2013 World Championships, saving himself for his
world record assault in Berlin which he executed
to perfection, breaking free after 30km to take 15
seconds from Makau’s time.
Kipsang’s second London victory 12 months ago
confirmed his status as the world’s number one, a rank
since challenged by his training partner, Kimetto.
He won the Granollers half marathon on 1 February this
year in 62:39, repeating his victory from 2013.
Personal notes
Kipsang was working as a travelling salesman of
farm produce when inspired to take up running
by Paul Tergat’s 2003 marathon world record. He
began running for the Kenyan police force and was
discovered when he finished second in the Tegla
Loroupe Peace Race over 10km.
He is married to Doreen Jepkechei Chebii and they
have four children. He owns a 37-room hotel on the
road between Eldoret and Iten.
His full name is Wilson Kiprotich Kipsang.
Media Guide 2015 25
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
DENNIS KIMETTO (KENYA)
Born: 22 January 1984
Marathon best: 2:02:57 Berlin 2014
London Marathon record: None (2013- pace)
Other World Marathon Majors
Berlin: 2012- 2nd 2:04:16, 2014- 1st 2:02:57
Boston: 2014- dnf
Chicago: 2013- 1st 2:03:45
Tokyo: 2013- 1st 2:06:50
Other major city marathons: None
Marathons in major championships: None
Career notes
Dennis Kimetto became the first man in history to
break two hours three minutes when he ran a 2:02:57
world record at the 2014 Berlin Marathon. He did it in
only his fifth marathon by running the fastest second
half in history (excluding the downhill Boston course)
at 61 minutes 12 seconds.
Kimetto took 26 seconds from his training partner
Wilson Kipsang’s mark, set in the same race the
previous year, and also beat the unofficial world best
of 2:03:02 by Geoffrey Mutai, another training partner,
set in Boston in 2011.
Kimetto covered the first half in 61:45 and increased
his pace in the second, finally shaking off his last
challenger, Emmanuel Mutai, with less than 5km to
go. Mutai was also inside the previous record with
2:03:13.
A latecomer to world class distance running, Kimetto
ran his first international race in Nairobi in 2011, aged
27, when he won the half marathon in 61:30.
A recent recruit to Kipsang and Mutai’s training group,
he progressed rapidly, winning the 2012 Berlin half
marathon that April in 59:14 before, a month later,
breaking the world record for 25km at the BIG 25 race
in the German capital. He clocked 1:11:18.
He ran his first full marathon in Berlin too, in
September 2012, and finished second to Mutai in
2:04:16, the fastest debut ever.
He stepped up again in 2013 when he won two World
Marathon Majors events, starting with the Tokyo
Marathon in January, where he broke the course
record in 2:06:50, followed by the Chicago Marathon
that October, where he ran 2:03:45, just 22 seconds
outside Kipsang’s then world record.
It was both a course record and a North America
all-comers’ record. In the process, Kimetto became
the first man ever to cover each 5km segment of a
marathon in under 14:50.
The one blip in Kimetto’s meteoric rise came a year
ago at the Boston Marathon when he dropped out
after going through 30km in 1:32:31.
26 Media Guide 2015
By then, however, Kimetto already believed he had the
potential to break the 2:03 barrier and he lived up to
those predictions on 28 September last year when his
historic run prompted a flood of speculation about the
prospects of a sub-2 hour marathon, an achievement
he believes is just a matter of time.
Kimetto has never run in a major championships race,
but he has said he would like to run for Kenya at this
year’s World Championships in Beijing and at the Rio
2016 Olympic Games.
Personal notes
His full name is Dennis Kipruto Kimetto. He started
training in 2008 and did not develop into a world class
runner until his late 20s, spending the preceding years
as a farmer earning money for his family by selling
crops in Kenya’s Rift Valley.
“I would listen to the radio at home, and hear
commentary on athletics,” he explained. “That’s what
inspired me. It was the poverty that made me run; I
thought athletics was the way to escape the poverty.”
Kimetto started training alone on the trails around Iten,
and was soon spotted by Kipsang and Mutai, who
invited him to join their group. “It was really painful
at first because I couldn’t stay with them,” Kimetto
remembered. “But in time I became as good as them.”
He is married to Caroline Chepkemei and they have a
son Alphas Kibet, born 2012. He bought a new house
for his family in Eldoret with his prize money from
running.
He was presented with the World Record Award by the
Association of International Marathons and Distance
Races (AIMS) in Ra’s Al Kaymah this February.
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
EMMANUEL MUTAI (KENYA)
Born: 12 October 1984 Tulwet, Rift Valley
Marathon best: 2:03:13 Berlin 2014
London Marathon record: 2008- 4th 2:06:15,
2009- 4th 2:06:53, 2010- 2nd 2:06:23,
2011- 1st 2:04:40, 2012- 7th 2:08:01,
2013- 2nd 2:06:33, 2014- 7th 2:08:19
Other World Marathon Majors
Berlin: 2014- 2nd 2:03:13
Chicago: 2008- 5th 2:15:36, 2013- 2nd 2:03:52
New York: 2010- 2nd 2:09:18, 2011- 2nd 2:06:28
Other major city marathons
Amsterdam: 2007- 1st 2:06:29
Rotterdam: 2007- 7th 2:13:06
Marathons in major championships
Olympics: 2012- 17th 2:14:49
Worlds: 2009- 2nd 2:07:48
Career notes
Mutai broke a sequence of second places when he
ran away from the field over the last 10km of the
2011 London Marathon to break Sammy Wanjiru’s
course record. He covered the 5km from 30-35km
in 14:16 and won by the biggest margin since 1986.
His winning time of 2:04:40 made him then the 10th
fastest marathon runner in history.
He improved that position in Chicago in October 2013
when he was second to Dennis Kimetto in 2:03:52,
then the fastest non-winning time ever, making him
one of just five people to break 2:04 on a legitimate
course.
And he went quicker still in Berlin last September
when he again followed Kimetto home. As his
countryman made history by breaking the 2:03 barrier,
Mutai lowered his own best to 2:03:13 to rank world
No.2, a remarkable achievement in his 16th marathon.
Mutai’s marathon career began modestly in Rotterdam in April 2007, but he produced a sparkling
performance later that year in Amsterdam, winning
in an eye-catching 2:06:29.
He made his London debut the following year, finishing
fourth in 2:06:15 followed by fifth place in Chicago that
October. In London 2009, he was out of the medals
for the second year in a row, but came close to his PB
with 2:06:53, fast enough to win a place on Kenya’s
World Championship team. At the Worlds in Berlin he
ran side-by-side with Abel Kirui for much of the race.
Kirui pulled away in the final stages but Mutai bagged
a silver medal.
He arrived in London the following spring seeking to
make the podium for the first time. He achieved his
goal by finishing second behind Tsegaye Kebede,
clocking his fourth sub-2:07 time. In November that
year he made his New York debut, and had to be
satisfied with second again, this time trailing Gebre
Gebremariam to the line.
After his big breakthrough in London in 2011, he
returned to New York that year to battle with Geoffrey
Mutai, eventually yielding victory to his namesake,
although he was ahead of Kebede so won the 2010/11
WMM Series V.
In January 2012 he was one of six athletes named
on Kenya’s provisional list for Olympic selection and
was later picked despite finishing seventh in London
that April. At the Olympics, he lost touch with his two
compatriots, Wilson Kipsang and Kirui, and struggled
home in 17th place.
After a disappointing 2012, he returned to London in
2013 and seemed to have his second victory sewn
up at 40km when he had a 28-second lead. But a hip
injury slowed him down and Kebede emerged in the
final mile to steal his glory. He hung on for second in
2:06:33.
He clocked his first sub-2:04 in Chicago that year and
returned to London last year with high hopes, only to
finish seventh again in his slowest time so far.
He ran 63:13 to finish eighth in this year’s Barcelona
half marathon on 15 February.
Personal notes
His full name is Emmanuel Mutai Kipchirchir and he is
based in Kaptagat, 40km east of Eldoret.
He is no relation to Geoffrey Mutai but he is related to
Richard Limo, the 2001 world 5000m champion, and is
coached by former steeplechaser, Patrick Sang.
He is married to Janet Jepkogei and they have two
sons, Tony and Allan.
Media Guide 2015 27
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
ELIUD KIPCHOGE (KENYA)
Born: 5 November 1984 Kapsisiywa, Nandi District
Marathon best: 2:04:05 Berlin 2013
London Marathon record: None
Other World Marathon Majors
Berlin: 2013- 2nd 2:04:05
Chicago: 2014- 1st 2:04:11
Other major city marathons
Rotterdam: 2014- 1st 2:05:00
Hamburg: 2013- 1st 2:05:30
Marathons in major championships: None
Career notes
Former world 5000m champion Eliud Kipchoge ran
the quickest non-winning time ever at the 2013 Berlin
Marathon when he clocked 2:04:05 to finish second
behind Wilson Kipsang’s world record-breaking run.
Both marks were surpassed at last year’s Berlin
Marathon, and that time remains Kipchoge’s personal
best, but the 30-year-old former track runner proved
himself a new star of the roads in 2014 with an
unbeaten record.
After winning the Barcelona half marathon last
February, he triumphed at the Rotterdam Marathon
in April in 2:05:00, then produced a magnificent late
surge to win last October’s Chicago Marathon in
2:04:11, beating a high-quality field that included
Emmanuel Mutai and Kenenisa Bekele.
Kipchoge first made the move up to the marathon
as recently as April 2013 when he won the Hamburg
Marathon in 2:05:30, beating the field by more than
two minutes and setting a new course record.
Before then, Kipchoge was best known for his exploits
on the track, not least his incredible upset victory at
the 2003 World Championships in Paris when, at the
age of 19, he won the 5000m gold medal defeating
two giants of the distance, Kenenisa Bekele and
Hicham El Guerrouj. Earlier that summer he’d broken
the world junior record at the Bislett Games in Oslo,
running 12:52.61.
Kipchoge had won the junior race the World Cross
Country Championships earlier that year, but his Paris
victory was to prove his last at a major championships
as in the following years he often came close but
never again reached the top of the podium.
At World Championships he won a 5000m silver in
2007, but otherwise finished fourth in 2005, fifth in
2009 and seventh in 2011, while he won an Olympic
bronze in 2004 and silver in 2008, beaten by Bekele
both times, and a Commonwealth Games silver in
2010 behind Uganda’s Moses Kipsiro.
Aside from occasional 5km and 10km races,
Kipchoge made his first move on to the roads in
2012 when he was sixth at the Kavarna World Half
Marathon Championships.
28 Media Guide 2015
He won the Barcelona half marathon in 2013 before
making his marathon debut in Hamburg, but his half
marathon PB stems from 2012 when he ran 59:25 in
Lille.
He finished sixth in this year’s Ra’s Al Khaymah
International half marathon in 60:50.
Personal notes
Eliud Kipchoge was born in Kapsisiywa in the Nandi
District in Kenya where his parents were farmers. He
still lives mainly in Kapsisiywa.
He trains at the Global Sports camp in Kaptagat but
is based in Nijmegen, Netherlands, during the track
season.
Kipchoge has a daughter Lynne Jebet, born in 2006.
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
GEOFFREY MUTAI (KENYA)
Born: 7 October 1981 Koibatek District, Rift Valley
Marathon best: 2:04:15 Berlin 2012
London Marathon record: 2013- dnf,
2014- 6th 2:08:18
Other World Marathon Majors
Berlin: 2010- 2nd 2:05:10, 2012- 1st 2:04:15
Boston: 2011- 1st 2:03:02, 2012- dnf
New York: 2011- 1st 2:05:06, 2013- 1st 2:08:24,
2014- 6th 2:13:44
Other major city marathons
Daegu: 2009- 8th 2:10:45
Eindhoven: 2008- 1st 2:07:50, 2009- 1st 2:07:01
Monaco: 2008- 1st 2:12:40
Rotterdam: 2010- 2nd 2:04:55
Seoul: 2009- dnf
Marathons in major championships: None
Career notes
The 2011/12 World Marathon Majors champion
produced one of the most astonishing performances
in marathon history when he won the 2011 Boston
Marathon in 2:03:02, then the quickest time ever
recorded for the distance.
It didn’t count as a world record because of the pointto-point and downhill profile of the Boston course, and
Mutai was aided by a strong tailwind, although it was
still a breath-taking run as he averaged four minutes
41.5 seconds per mile.
Mutai went on to set the course record in New
York City that autumn when he beat his namesake
Emmanuel Mutai in 2:05:06, slashing two minutes 37
from a record that had stood for 10 years. Together,
his times in Boston and New York that year set a
record for the fastest two-race total in a single year –
4:08:08.
Mutai returned to defend his Boston title in April 2012
but suffered badly in the extreme heat and dropped
out, ruining his chance of a place in Kenya’s Olympic
team. He came back to win the 2012 Berlin Marathon
in 2:04:15, his quickest ‘legitimate’ time, and clinched
the World Marathon Majors Series VI crown.
He made his London Marathon debut in 2013, but it
wasn’t a successful one as he dropped at 30km with a
hamstring problem. He retained his New York title that
November (the 2012 race was cancelled) after cutting
loose in the second half and building a large lead.
He ran the same two races in 2014, finishing sixth in
both London and New York, some way short of his
best at both events.
He has run five marathons of 2:05:10 or better, and
was one of the most consistent racers on the circuit for
two years until the end of 2013.
He was due to race the Tokyo Marathon this February
and then run as a pacemaker in London, but when
injury forced him to withdraw from Tokyo he decided to
race in London instead.
Mutai set a new half marathon best of 58:58 when
he was third at the Ra’s Al-Khaymah on 15 February
2013. He beat Mo Farah to win the New York half
marathon in March last year in 60:50.
He was the African Championships bronze medallist
over 10,000m in 2010, Kenyan champion at cross
country in 2011 and at 10,000m in 2013. He was fifth
at the 2011 World Cross Country Championships.
Personal notes
He is the eldest of nine children and is married to
Beatrice Chepkirui. They have two daughters, Michele
and Merica.
His full name is Geoffrey Kiprono Mutai. He is not
related to Emmanuel Mutai.
He is based in Kapngetuny in Uasin Gishu County (the
Rift Valley). His training group includes Wilson Kipsang
and Dennis Kimetto.
Mutai first ran the marathon at Eldoret, Kenya, in
December 2007. He finished second in 2:12:50. After
winning two autumn marathons in Eindhoven in 2008
and 2009, he stepped up for his first WMM race in
Berlin 2010 and came within two seconds of pulling
off an upset victory over Patrick Makau.
Media Guide 2015 29
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
SAMMY KITWARA (KENYA)
Born: 26 November 1986 Sagat, Marakwet District
Marathon best: 2:04:28 Chicago 2014
London Marathon record: None
Other World Marathon Majors
Chicago: 2012- 4th 2:05:54, 2013- 3rd 2:05:16,
2014- 2nd 2:04:28
Tokyo: 2014- 3rd 2:06:30
Other major city marathons
Rotterdam: 2012- dnf, 2013- 3rd 2:07:22
Marathons in major championships: None
Career notes
Sammy Kitwara chased Eliud Kipchoge home to
finish runner-up in the Chicago Marathon last year in
2:04:28, a time that would have won every race in the
event’s history until 2013.
It was Kitwara’s third appearance in the Windy City
since 2012 and in three years he has moved up from
fourth to third to second, improving his time on each
occasion.
He arrives for his London Marathon debut in 2015 after
clinching two World Marathon Majors podium places in
2014 – he was also third in Tokyo last February – and
currently sits equal seventh on the WMM leaderboard.
Kitwara began his marathon career as a pacemaker at
the 2011 Rotterdam Marathon, and made his debut
at the same race in 2012. He was in the lead pack at
half way (61:38), but dropped out after 30km. He was
in better form when he returned to Rotterdam in 2013,
placing third in 2:07:22.
His marathon record to date reads six starts, four
podium places but, as yet, no victory.
Before his marathon career took off, Kitwara was best
known as a half marathon runner. He is one of only 13
men to have broken 59 minutes which he has done
twice.
He placed 10th at the World Half Marathon
Championships in 2009, in Birmingham, having won
the Den Haag and Rotterdam halves in Holland earlier
that year, the former by beating Haile Gebrselassie, the
latter in a course record of 58:58.
He had also set a course record of 27:25.6 at the
World’s Best 10K in February that year. He won that
race again in 2011, one of only three men to win the
Puerto Rico race more than once. His 10km road best
is 27:11, set when second in Utrecht in 2010.
He won a bronze medal at the 2010 World Half
Marathon Championships in Nanning and in 2011
moved to fifth on the half marathon all-time list when
he clocked 58:48 in Philadelphia, although he lost by
two seconds to Mathew Kisorio.
He also lost narrowly to Zersenay Tadese in that year’s
Lisbon half marathon when the Eritrean set a world
record of 58:23.
30 Media Guide 2015
He ran the fastest ever time for 12km when he
clocked 33:31 in the 2009 Bay to Breakers race in San
Francisco, an event he has won three times.
On the track, Kitwara won the 10,000m title at the
2009 Kenyan World Championship Trials, but was
subsequently removed from the team for Berlin by
Athletics Kenya for participating in road races after the
Trials.
He won the World’s Best 10km race in San Juan for
the fourth time on 1 March this year in 28:51.
Personal notes
Sammy Kirop Kitwara was born in Sagat village, in the
Marakwet District of the Rift Valley.
He went to Embomir Primary School and Kerio Valley
Secondary school, from which he graduated in 2004.
He took up running in 2007 because “I was not making
any progress in life and my family needed assistance.”
A policeman by occupation, he is coached by Moses
Kiptanui and has run for the Kenyan police team.
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
TSEGAYE MEKONNEN
(ETHIOPIA)
Born: 15 June 1995 North Shewa Zone
Marathon best: 2:04:32 Dubai 2014
London Marathon record: 2014- 5th 2:08:06
Other World Marathon Majors: None
Other major city marathons
Dubai: 2014- 1st 2:04:32
Marathons in major championships: None
Career notes
Tsegaye Mekonnen made a sensational marathon
debut in January last year when he won the 2014
Dubai Marathon in 2:04:32 at the age of 18, beating
the unofficial world junior record by one minute 19
seconds.
It was the third fastest debut in history by a man
known previously only for finishing fifth in the World
Junior 5000m final in 2012. His winning time made
Mekonnen the 11th fastest marathon runner of all
time, with the 14th quickest time – he’s now 12th on
the all-time list with the 19th best time.
He made his London Marathon debut 12 months ago,
finishing fifth, the third of a trio of Ethiopians following
the Kenyan one-two, but ahead of the two Mutais,
Geoffrey and Emmanuel.
Mekonnen had run as a pacemaker in Dubai in 2013
and was 14th in the Ra’s Al Khaymah half marathon in
February that year in 62:53. He was also 15th in the
Bangalore 10km in 29:33 last May, and has a 10km
road best of 28:36 from 2012.
He also ran a half marathon best of 62:41 in Porto in
September 2013.
These were hardly performances to herald his amazing
breakthrough on Dubai’s superfast course last January
when he broke away in the 36th kilometre and reeled
off km splits of 2:51, 2:52 and 2:54 to leave Markos
Geneti in second place.
He ran a personal best of 61:05 to finish seventh at
this year’s Ra’s Al Kaymah half marathon, just behind
Eliud Kipchoge.
Personal notes
His full name is Tsegaye Mekonnen Asefa. He is the
fourth of nine children (six boys, three girls).
He started training while still at school four years ago
after being encouraged to run by his grandfather,
Assefa Wake. He turned to the marathon after ‘only’
finishing fifth in the 5000m at the 2012 World Juniors.
He owns and rides a horse called Hodolcha which he
keeps at his home town in the North Shewa Zone.
Mekonnen trains in Addis Ababa.
His ambition is to break Haile Gebrselassie’s Ethiopian
record of 2:03:59.
Media Guide 2015 31
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
STANLEY BIWOTT (KENYA)
Born: 21 April 1986
Marathon best: 2:04:55 London 2014
London Marathon record: 2011- pace,
2013- 8th 2:08:39, 2014- 2nd 2:04:55
Other World Marathon Majors
New York: 2013- 5th 2:10:41
Other major city marathons
Carpi: 2006- 7th 2:14:25
Chunchon: 2011- 1st 2:07:03
Paris: 2012- 1st 2:05:12
Reims: 2010- 2nd 2:09:41
São Paulo: 2010- 1st 2:11:19
Shanghai: 2012- 3rd 2:09:05
Marathons in major championships: None
Career notes
Stanley Biwott was the surprise package of last year’s
race when he finished second in a personal best,
breaking the 2:05 barrier.
Despite starting as only the eighth quickest man in
the field, the 2012 Paris champion ran stride-for-stride
with world record holder Wilson Kipsang until the final
stages of the race and followed his countryman across
the line in 2:04:55 to ensure 2014 was the first year
in 34 London Marathons that two men have broken
2:05.
Biwott had taken nearly two minutes from his PB
to win the 2012 Paris Marathon, crossing the line in
2:05:12, a course record. It was a significant move
into world class for the Kenyan whose marathon
career began six years earlier in Carpi, where he was
seventh.
His good form continued in 2013 when he was second
at the Ra’s Al Khaymah half in a PB of 58:56, equal
11th on the world all-time list at the end of 2014.
He ran well on his London Marathon debut in April
2013 when he was leading the race with less than five
miles to go until Emmanuel Mutai swept past him. He
struggled on the run-in and eventually finished eighth
in 2:08:39.
He was among the leaders in the New York Marathon
that November too, eventually finishing fifth in 2:10:41.
He didn’t run a marathon again until 2010 when he
won the São Paulo Marathon in 2:11:19, the fastest
ever in South America.
He withdrew from the 2014 Ra’s Al-Khaymah half
marathon because of ‘leg pain’, but dipped under the
hour again at the New Delhi half last November when
he clocked 59:18 in fifth.
He dipped under 2:10 for the first time at the 2010
Reims to Toutes Jambes, where he was three
seconds behind winner Stephen Chebogut in 2:09:41.
He ran the fastest half marathon in the world so far this
year when he won the City Pier City race in Den Haag
in 59:20 on 8 March.
At the Chunchon Marathon in 2011 he outran his
training partner Jonathan Kosgei Kipkorir and took
another two and a half minutes from his PB with a
time of 2:07:03, a course record.
Personal notes
His full name is Stanley Kipleting Biwott. He is married
to Nancy Cherop Biwott and they have a son, Alan
Kipchumba.
Biwott began 2012 with another course record, this
time at the Paris half marathon which he won in
59:44. That was on 1 March, and just six weeks later
he returned to the French capital to repeat the feat
at the full distance. He took the lead at half way and
continued to pull away from the field over the second
half.
His brother Norris Biwott ran 2:11:29 in 2013.
He headed to USA later in the year and won both
the Beach to Beacon 10km, in a PB of 28:00, and
the Falmouth 7 miles road race. He was also a
comfortable winner at the Philadelphia half marathon,
finishing 40 seconds ahead of the field, and at the
Rock ‘n’ Roll half in San Antonio in November.
32 Media Guide 2015
He worked on his family’s dairy farm before becoming
a runner. He began working with Italian coach Claudio
Berardelli in 2006.
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
TILAHUN REGASSA (ETHIOPIA)
Born: 18 January 1990 Nazret
Marathon best: 2:05:27 Chicago 2012
London Marathon record: None
Other World Marathon Majors
Boston: 2014- dnf
Chicago: 2012- 3rd 2:05:27
Other major city marathons
Eindhoven: 2014- 1st 2:06:21
Rotterdam: 2013- 1st 2:05:38
Xiamen: 2015- 2nd 2:06:54
Marathons in major championships: None
Career notes
Tilahun Regassa made a spectacular marathon debut
when he finished third at the 2012 Chicago Marathon
in 2:05:27, then the third fastest debut on a standard
course. He kept Sammy Kitwara out of the medals
completing an Ethiopian clean sweep led by two-time
London Marathon winner Tsegaye Kebede.
Regassa was familiar with most of the Chicago course
as he had been a pacemaker the previous year, when
he passed 30km in 1:29:25 (at 2:06 marathon pace).
He followed his debut with two prestigious European
wins, first at the 2013 Rotterdam Marathon, when he
triumphed by more than a minute and finished just
11 seconds outside his PB, and then last October in
Eindhoven, having failed to finish the 2014 Boston
Marathon in April.
Regassa was once described by his manager as “one
of the most talented athletes in the world”, but also as
“a wild man, in every meaning of the word”.
On 3 January this year he was second in the Xiamen
Marathon behind Moses Mosop. His four completed
marathons have all been inside 2:07 and he has won a
place on the podium each time.
Regassa is also a sub-one hour half-marathon runner
with his best of 59:19 stemming from his victory in
the 2010 Zayed International in Abu Dhabi, worth
US$300,000. He ran for Ethiopia at the 2009 World
Half Marathon Championships in Birmingham,
finishing 11th in 62:08 and winning a team bronze.
He set four PBs in 2012 including 27:18.90 for
10,000m when he was sixth in Hengelo and 43:01 for
15km, his winning time in the Boilermaker road race in
New York State.
Personal notes
His full name is Tilahun Regassa Dabe.
Regassa’s parents divorced when he was three and
he was raised by his father until the age of 15, when
his father died. He worked for a stone company and
lived on the streets for three years, relying on food
handouts.
At 16, he entered the Great Ethiopian Run and came
fourth. A year later he was ninth. Local coaches told
Hussein Makke, an elite manager, of his potential, and
Makke took him into his stable of runners to train fulltime. He began competing in Europe in 2008.
Media Guide 2015 33
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
SAMUEL TSEGAY (ERITREA)
Born: 24 October 1988 Kudofelasi
Marathon best: 2:07:28 Amsterdam 2011
London Marathon record: 2012- 9th 2:08:06,
2014- 18th 2:19:10
Other World Marathon Majors: None
Other major city marathons
Amsterdam: 2011- 8th 2:07:28
Marathons in major championships
Olympics: 2012- dnf
Worlds: 2013- 16th 2:14:41
Career notes
Tsegay was ninth on his London Marathon debut two
years ago, clocking 2:08:06, but he dropped out of
the London Olympic race a few months later and was
16th at the 2013 World Championships.
He returned to the London Marathon last year full of
confidence after picking up a silver medal at the 2014
World Half Marathon Championships in Copenhagen
last March. Tsegay ran a personal best of 59:21 and
helped Eritrea to take the team gold for the first time.
But he again struggled to find his best form in the
British capital, and slipped back over the second half
of the race to finish 18th in 2:19:10.
Tsegay claimed the Eritrean record from Yonas Kifle
when he made his marathon debut in Amsterdam
in October 2011, only to see it vanish a week later
when Yared Asmerom took a second from his time of
2:07:28.
Tsegay finished eighth in the Dutch city, an
encouraging step up for the then 23-year-old who had
twice finished fifth at previous World Half Marathon
Championships and was an experienced cross
country international at junior and senior levels.
He broke his national junior 10,000m record when he
was fourth at the 2006 World Junior Championships
and lowered it again when eighth at the 2007 AllAfrican Games. He also finished eighth in the junior
races at the 2006 and 2007 World Cross Country
Championships.
At senior level he was 16th at the World Cross in
2009 when the Eritrean team took bronze. He also
represented Eritrea over 5000m at the 2009 World
Championships in Berlin where he was eliminated in
the heats.
A fifth place at the 2010 World Cross gained him a
team silver but he was disqualified in 2011 after he
and Abera Kuma began fighting in the final stretch.
Tsegay accused the Ethiopian of deliberately elbowing
him and standing on his heels. He reacted by grabbing
Kuma’s leg and threw a punch before dashing to the
finish. The IAAF disqualified both athletes.
On the roads, Tsegay made an encouraging step up to
the half marathon when he was fifth at the 2009 World
Championships in Birmingham and he was fifth again
in Nanning the following year.
34 Media Guide 2015
He ran a personal best for 10 miles (44:38) in Zaandam
in September 2011 before making his marathon debut
in the same country a month later.
In 2013 he ran PBs for 10km and 15km and was sixth
in the Lisbon half marathon while last year he won the
Eritrean half marathon championships in 59:42 before
his medal-winning performance in Copenhagen.
Personal notes
His full name is Samuel Tsegay Tesfamriam.
He is coached by Jeronimo Bravo who also coaches
world half marathon record holder Zersenay Tadese.
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
SERHIY LEBID (UKRAINE)
Born: 15 July 1975 Dnipropetrovsk
Marathon best: 2:08:32 Seoul 2014
London Marathon record: None
Other World Marathon Majors: None
Other major city marathons
Lisbon: 2013- 2nd 2:11:24
Nagano: 2014- 1st 2:13:56
Seoul: 2014- 4th 2:08:32
Warsaw: 2013- dnf
Marathons in major championships: None
Career notes
The nine-times European cross country champion and
former world cross country silver medallist has moved
up to the marathon in the last couple of years.
He dropped out on his debut in Warsaw in April 2013,
but he was second in Lisbon later that year in 2:11:24
before winning the Nagano marathon last April.
He made a major improvement to his time in
November when he was fourth in at the Seoul
Marathon in 2:08:32, taking almost three minutes from
his PB to rank second in Europe behind Mo Farah.
Now 39, Lebid’s international career stretches back
to 1997 when he was European under 23 silver
medallist at 10,000m. He went on to win three World
University Games 5000m titles – in 1999, 2001 and
2003 – and represented Ukraine at that distance at
World Championships and Olympic Games from 1999
to 2012. His best finish at global level came in 2000
when he was seventh in the Sydney Games 5000m
final.
At European level, he won a 5000m bronze medal
at the 2002 championships in Munich. He was also
fourth at 5000m in 2010 and fifth at 10,000m in 2006.
His major successes have come at cross country as
he was the dominant European figure for a dozen
years and is arguably the continent’s greatest ever
cross country runner.
He won nine European golds between 1998 and
2010 plus one silver and three bronze medals in that
12-year period. Uniquely, he appeared in all of the
first 19 editions of the championships from 1994 to
2012. He also won a silver medal at the 2001 World
Cross Country Championships having finished eighth
in 2000.
In all, he has won 13 national titles in Ukraine and
broken national records at 3000m (indoors and out),
two miles indoors, and 5000m outdoors (13:10.78 in
2002), while he also set national records at 5km and
10km on the roads.
His half marathon best of 61:49 was set in 2003 when
he was third at the Great North Run.
Personal notes
He was coached by Renato Canova earlier in his
career, and was often based in Italy.
Media Guide 2015 35
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
ALEKSEY REUNKOV (RUSSIA)
Born: 28 January 1984
Marathon best: 2:09:54 Frankfurt 2011
London Marathon record: None
Other World Marathon Majors: None
Other major city marathons
Daegu: 2011- 10th 2:12:16
Frankfurt: 2011- 14th 2:09:54
Otsu: 2013- 13th 2:11:41
Seville: 2010- 9th 2:15:48
Vienna: 2014- 7th 2:11:08
Marathons in major championships
Olympics: 2012- 14th 2:13:49
Europeans: 2014- 3rd 2:12:15
Career notes
Aleksey Reunkov won the marathon bronze medal
at last summer’s European Championships in Zürich,
some 11 years after he won European silver and
bronze medals at a junior level on the track and at
cross country.
After running a sensible race on the punishing course,
Reunkov produced a strong finish to claim his medal
in Zürich just ahead of Spain’s Javier Guerra, after the
long-time leader Marcin Chabowski had cracked in
the heat. Reunkov missed the silver medal by just 15
seconds.
He began his marathon career four years earlier in
Seville where he finished ninth in 2:15:48. He took
three minutes from that time in Daegu the following
year when he was 10th and sliced another two-and-aquarter off his best in Frankfurt that October, clocking
2:09:54 in 14th place, a time which remains his best.
He ran the marathon for Russia at the London 2012
Olympics and finished 14th, the fifth European to
cross the finish line in The Mall.
He has since raced in Otsu in 2013, and last April
finished seventh in Vienna before representing Russia
again at the 2014 Europeans.
Reunkov’s first international success came in 2003
when he won a silver medal over 10,000m at the
European Junior Championships followed by a bronze
that December in the junior race at the European
Cross Country Championships .
More medals have eluded him since, though he’s
twice run for Russia at senior level at European Cross
Country Championships and competed on the track
over 10,000m at two European Cups. He was also
fourth in the 10,000m at the 2009 World University
Games.
His half marathon PB of 63:00 was set in Warsaw in
2008. He ran 63:41 to finish 12th in Ostia on 1 March
this year.
Personal notes
His twin brother, Sergey Reunkov, is also an
international runner.
36 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
GHEBRE KIBROM (ERITREA)
Born: 1 February 1987
Marathon best: 2:10:00 Hengshui 2014
London Marathon record: None
Other World Marathon Majors: None
Other major city marathons
Cologne: 2013- 8th 2:11:56
Hengshui: 2014- 5th 2:10:00
Milan: 2014- 3rd 2:11:12
Marathons in major championships: None
Career notes
Ghebre Kibrom has produced three top 10 finishes in
his three marathons so far, most successfully when
third in Milan last April behind Kenyans Francis Kiprop
and Stephen Tum.
His time of 2:11:12 improved his personal best from
his debut in Cologne the previous October and he
lowered it still further in his third outing. That was in
Hengshui, China, last September when he clocked
2:10:00 to finish fifth in a race won by Ethiopian
Markos Geneti.
Personal notes
His full name is Ghebrezgiabhier Weldemicael Kibrom,
sometimes written as Kibrom Ghebrezgiabhier.
Media Guide 2015 37
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
MARCIN CHABOWSKI
(POLAND)
Born: 28 May 1986
Marathon best: 2:10:07 Düsseldorf 2012
London Marathon record: None
Other World Marathon Majors: None
Other major city marathons
Düsseldorf: 2012- 4th 2:10:07
Eindhoven: 2014- 8th 2:15:04
Lódz: 2014- 5th 2:11:23
Warsaw: 2011- 6th 2:14:32
Marathons in major championships
Europeans: 2014- dnf
Career notes
Marcin Chabowski made a bold bid for glory on the
final day of the European Championships in Zürich last
summer when he struck out alone at the start of the
men’s marathon, throwing caution to the wind despite
the rising heat and brutal hilly course.
A former European junior steeplechase champion who
turned to the marathon in 2011, Chabowski led the
field by more than a minute at 25km before eventually
paying the price for his suicidal pace. He was caught
shortly after passing 30km and later dropped out
clutching his side less than 10km from the finish,
leaving Italy’s Daniele Meucci to take the gold.
It was a disappointing end for Chabowski who finished
sixth on his debut in Warsaw in 2:14:32, a time he
improved by nearly four and a half minutes when he
was fourth in Düsseldorf the following year.
He didn’t attempt another marathon until 2014 when
he was fifth in Lodz last April, winning his place on
Poland’s team for Zürich.
After his crash landing in Switzerland, Chabowski
returned to action swiftly, running the Eindhoven
Marathon in October where he finished eighth, but in
his slowest time so far.
Chabowski had his first taste of international
competition in 2003 when he was fifth in the 2000m
steeplechase at the World Youth Championships.
The following year he was a 3000m steeplechase
finalist at the World Juniors. In 2005 he won the
European junior title in Kaunas and broke Poland’s
national junior record for the distance with 8:30.40. His
all-time PB is 8:25.90 from 2008.
In 2007, he was fifth at the European Under 23
Championships, but in more recent years he has
moved up in distance, becoming Poland’s senior
10,000m champion in 2009 with a PB of 28:27.59,
and running 10,000m for his country at European
Cups in 2010 and 2011.
He has been Polish cross country champion four
times, 10,000m champion twice, 10km champion
twice, and half marathon champion.
38 Media Guide 2015
His half marathon best of 62:26 stems from 2011 while
he ran 63:24 to finish 15th at this year’s New York half
marathon on 16 March.
Personal notes
He is coached by former Russian record holder Leonid
Shvetsov.
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
KOEN RAYMAEKERS
(NETHERLANDS)
Born: 31 January 1980 Cothen
Marathon best: 2:10:35 Rotterdam 2012
London Marathon record: None
Other World Marathon Majors: None
Other major city marathons
Amsterdam: 2006- 16th 2:15:50, 2007- 14th 2:13:02,
2009- 13th 2:12:59, 2011- dnf, 2013- dnf
Eindhoven: 2012- 21st 2:19:17
Rotterdam: 2007- 14th 2:19:44, 2008- 14th 2:15:07,
2009- 15th 2:18:59, 2010- 9th 2:11:09,
2011- 8th 2:13:41, 2012- 6th 2:10:35,
2013- 8th 2:12:09, 2014- 11th 2:15:19
Utrecht: 2006- 5th 2:23:38
Marathons in major championships
Europeans: 2010- 17th 2:23:24, 2014- 31st 2:20:49
Career notes
Koen Raymaekers is a veteran of 17 career
marathons, and has run all but two of them in his
home country, the Netherlands. His record includes
four Amsterdam Marathons since 2006 and every
single Rotterdam Marathon since 2007.
But he won’t be running Rotterdam this April for the
35-year-old makes his World Marathon Majors debut
in London in the hope of dipping under 2:10 for the
first time.
A former Dutch junior record holder at 5000m and
10,000m, Raymaekers made his marathon debut in
Utrecht in 2006 when he was fifth, which remains his
highest ever finish.
He has completed at least one marathon every year
since and produced his best performance in 2012
when he was sixth in Rotterdam in 2:10:35, a race
which produced PBs for seven of the first 10 men,
including the top two, Ethiopians Yemane Adhane and
Getu Feleke, who both broke 2:05.
Raymaekers has been a Dutch international since
1997 when he finished 17th in the junior race at the
European Cross Country Championships.
In 1998 he ran 5000m at the World Junior
Championships, and the following year he was fourth
at 10,000m at the European juniors. In 2001 he won a
silver medal at the European Under 23 Championships
but he had to wait until he’d moved up to the
marathon before winning his first senior Dutch vest.
That was in 2010 when he was 17th at the Barcelona
European Championships. He was selected for the
2014 championships too, and finished 31st in Zürich.
He has been a prolific half marathon runner in Holland,
his PB of 62:09 coming at the 2011 Den Haag race.
He was 15th in Den Haag this year in 64:17 and 17th
at the Venloop half in 64:21.
Media Guide 2015 39
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
SCOTT OVERALL
(GREAT BRITAIN & NI)
Born: 9 February 1983 Hammersmith, London
Marathon best: 2:10:55 Berlin 2011
London Marathon record: 2012- pace, 2013- dnf,
2014- 19th 2:19:55
Other World Marathon Majors
Berlin: 2011- 5th 2:10:55, 2013- dnf,
2014- 14th 2:13:00
Other major city marathons
Fukuoka: 2012- 13th 2:14:15
Marathons in major championships
Olympics: 2012- 61st 2:22:37
Career notes
Scott Overall became the first British man to qualify for
the London 2012 Olympic athletics team when he ran
2:10:55 to finish fifth on his marathon debut in Berlin in
2011. It was the fastest time by a Briton since Tomas
Abyu was second in the Dublin Marathon in 2007.
Overall warmed up for the Olympics by winning the
Silverstone Half Marathon in March 2012, finishing
eighth at the New York City half marathon in a PB of
61:25, and pacemaking British runners at the 2012
London Marathon.
He then finished third at the Bupa London 10,000 at
the end of May, two places behind Mo Farah.
He was 61st in the Olympic race in 2:22:37 and ended
the year placing 13th at the Fukuoka Marathon in
2:14:15 to rank third in the UK for 2012.
He was seventh in the 2013 New Orleans half
marathon in 64:51, and won the Silverstone half again
in March 2013 in 65:43, looking in good shape for his
London Marathon debut that April. But it turned out to
be a race to forget as he dropped out around 25km
troubled by a knee injury.
He returned to the Berlin Marathon that September
but again struck bad luck when he tore his calf half
way into the race.
The 2014 London Marathon was also a frustrating
experience. Overall set off with high hopes of a quick
time after what he described as “near enough perfect”
training with Chris Thompson in Colorado Springs. But
he finished 19th, suffering “a slow death” over the last
seven to eight miles, and ended with a time only just
inside 2:20.
Things improved slightly when he placed 14th in Berlin
last September in 2:13:00, his second quickest time
and good enough to rank third in Britain for the year
behind Mo Farah and Thompson.
Overall was the national 5000m champion on the
track in 2009 and has represented Britain at European
indoor and cross country championships. He was
sixth in the 2005 European under 23 5000m and has
a best at the distance of 13:28.33 from 2008. He is
also a four-minute miler with an indoor best of 3:58.61.
40 Media Guide 2015
He broke his 10,000m track PB last September
when he ran 29:18.39, and he won the Reading half
marathon last March in 64:44.
He was 12th in the World’s Best 10km race in San
Juan on 1 March this year in 30:19.
Personal notes
Born in Hammersmith, London, Overall began running
during physical education lessons at school.
A member of Blackheath & Bromley Athletic Club, he
attended Leicester University then Butler University in
Indianapolis, USA, where he studied economics, before
joining Team Indiana Elite in Bloomington where he
hooked up with the coach, Robert Chapman.
He is now based in Sutton, Surrey, and is coached by
Alan Storey.
He used to train with Mo Farah and was an usher at
Farah’s wedding.
Overall worked for the Sweatshop specialist running
retail outlet, and occasionally at the London Marathon
head office, before deciding to train full-time for the
marathon.
His girlfriend is retired British international 800m runner
Vicky Griffiths.
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
MICHAEL SHELLEY (AUSTRALIA)
Born: 10 October 1983 Southport, Queensland
Marathon best: 2:11:15 Commonwealths 2014
London Marathon record: 2011- 10th 2:11:38
Other World Marathon Majors
Chicago: 2013- 12th 2:13:09
Other major city marathons
Amsterdam: 2011- 11th 2:11:23
Oita: 2013- 6th 2:13:12
Rotterdam: 2010- 12th 2:13:05
Marathons in major championships
Olympics: 2012- 16th 2:14:10
Commonwealths: 2010- 2nd 2:15:28,
2014- 1st 2:11:15
Career notes
Michael Shelley became the first non-African winner of
the Commonwealth Games men’s marathon title for
two decades when he triumphed in Glasgow’s pouring
rain last July.
The 30-year-old from Southport in Queensland
pulled clear of Kenya’s Stephen Chemlany two miles
from the finish to win by 43 seconds in 2:11:15
before being embraced by Steve Moneghetti, the
Australian marathon legend and 2014 chef de mission
who was the last man from outside Africa to strike
Commonwealth gold in 1994.
The victory was the climax of a remarkable five-year
turn-around for Shelley who almost quit the sport in
2009 after he suffered a stress fracture to his pelvis
and lost funding from the Australian Institute of Sport.
It would have been a sad end for the promising
distance runner who made his international debut
as a steeplechaser at the 2002 World Junior
Championships, represented Australia at four World
Cross Country Championships and finished 16th at
the 2008 World Half Marathon Championships.
With the encouragement of his coach, Dick Trelford,
Shelley persevered, and his step up to the marathon
in 2010 was an inspired move, bringing swift and
unexpected success. After running 2:13:05 on his
debut in Rotterdam that April, Shelley was selected for
the 2010 Commonwealth Games where his pre-race
aim was merely to complete the 42km in Delhi’s harsh
conditions.
Yet the relatively slow pace worked to his advantage.
After lying eighth at halfway, he finished strongly,
overhauling Kenyan Amos Tirop Matui in the last 3km
to take the silver medal 53 seconds behind John Kelai
in 2:15:28.
He improved that by 15 seconds in Amsterdam that
autumn, and then finished 16th at the London 2012
Olympics, one place ahead of Emmanuel Mutai.
He qualified for Glasgow by running 2:13:09 to place
12th at the 2013 Chicago Marathon, won by Dennis
Kimetto in 2:03:45. In Glasgow he timed his effort to
perfection, producing his best time when it mattered
most.
“I’ve got to pinch myself, it is very exciting,” he said
afterwards. “I was just hoping to come back and
defend the silver medal, so to come back and win is
indescribable.”
Shelley’s half marathon PB of 61:27 was set when
finishing 10th in the 2012 New York half marathon. He
has a 10km PB of 28:44, also from 2012.
On the track his 10,000m best is 27:59.77 and he’s run
13:38.30 for 5000m, both in 2009.
Personal notes
Coached by Dick Trelford, Shelley trains in hot and
humid conditions on the Gold Coast.
He was introduced to running at primary school sports
carnivals, then attended the Helensvale State High
School, which also produced Olympic sprint hurdles
gold medallist Sally Pearson and tennis player Sam
Stosur, a US Open winner. The school named its sports
house after Shelley in November last year.
“Being able to finish would have been an amazing
result – it’s my first Commonwealth Games and my
first multi-sport Games,” he said afterwards. “It was a
learning experience and we’ll see what happens.”
What happened next was Shelley received an
invitation to run the London Marathon in 2011 and
finished a creditable 10th in 2:11:38.
Media Guide 2015 41
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
JAVIER GUERRA (SPAIN)
Born: 10 November 1983
Marathon best: 2:12:21 La Coruña 2013
London Marathon record: None
Other World Marathon Majors: None
Other major city marathons
La Coruña: 2013- 1st 2:12:21
Marathons in major championships
Worlds: 2013- 15th 2:14:33
Europeans: 2014- 4th 2:12:32
Career notes
Javier Guerra missed a medal at the European
Championships in Zürich last summer by just 17
seconds. He was fourth in 2:12:32, 11 seconds
outside his best on a tough course.
He set his personal best on his marathon debut
in La Coruña to win a place at the 2013 World
Championships. He performed well in difficult
conditions in Moscow to place 15th in 2:14:33, the
first European finisher.
He ran for Spain again at the World Half Marathon
Championships in Copenhagen last March, setting a
PB of 62:27 in 38th. Guerra first pulled on a Spanish
vest as a junior in 2001 when he finished ninth at the
European Cross Country Championships. He also ran
5000m at the 2002 World Junior Championships. As
a senior he has represented Spain at seven European
Cross Country Championships, finishing fifth in 2011,
and at the 2010 World Cross.
On the track, he twice made the 5000m final at the
World University Games, finishing seventh in 2009 and
has PBs at 5000m of 13:46.12 (2007) and 10,000m of
28:53.03 (2009).
He was second in the Granollers half marathon in
February this year, just six seconds behind Wilson
Kipsang in 62:44, 15 seconds outside his PB. He was
also sixth in the Spanish cross country championships.
42 Media Guide 2015
BEKIR KARAYEL (TURKEY)
Born: 10 May 1982
Marathon best: 2:13:21 London 2012
London Marathon record: 2012- 16th 2:13:21
Other World Marathon Majors: None
Other major city marathons
Düsseldorf: 2011- 7th 2:19:40
Hamburg: 2008- 27th 2:21:03
Istanbul: 2006- 13th 2:17:03, 2008- 9th 2:20:38,
2009- 11th 2:23:17, 2010- 5th 2:16:41,
2011- 6th 2:15:48, 2013- 5th 2:20:27,
2014- 14th 2:22:36
Marathons in major championships
Olympics: 2012- 76th 2:29:38
Worlds: 2011- 47th 2:33:20
Career notes
Bekir Karayel smashed more than two minutes from
his PB when he ran the London Marathon three
years ago. He’d run for Turkey at the 2011 World
Championships and represented his country again at
the London 2012 Olympics.
Most of his marathon running has been done on
home soil in Istanbul where he has raced seven times,
finishing fifth twice and in the top 10 four times.
He also finished seventh in the Düsseldorf Marathon
in 2011 but he has been below his best in the last two
years.
He has represented Turkey at three European Cross
Country Championships and the 2010 European
Mountain Running Championships, while he ran
a PB of 62:48 in last year’s World Half Marathon
Championships in Copenhagen. He broke the Turkish
half marathon record with 62:55 in 2012.
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
HERMANO FERREIRA
(PORTUGAL)
Born: 16 November 1982
Marathon best: 2:13:28 Vienna 2010
London Marathon record: None
Other World Marathon Majors: None
Other major city marathons
Rome: 2013- 13th 2:14:53
Turin: 2011- 7th 2:13:28
Vienna: 2010- 10th 2:13:28
Marathons in major championships
Worlds: 2013- dnf
Europeans: 2010- dnf, 2014- dnf
Career notes
Hermano Ferreira has had two top 10 finishes in his
six marathons, running exactly the same time on both
occasions – 2:13:28 to place 10th in Vienna in 2010
and seventh in Turin in 2011.
He has run three championship marathons for
Portugal, but failed to finish in any of them.
His first international appearance was back in 2001,
when he was 20th at the European Junior Cross
Country Championships. He has also represented
his country at World and European Cross Country
Championships, while he was fourth in the 3000m at
the 2006 Ibero-American Championships.
His ran his half marathon PB of 61:24 when winning
the European Clubs event in 2010.
CHRISTIAN KREIENBÜHL
(SWITZERLAND)
Born: 6 June 1981
Marathon best: 2:15:35 Berlin 2012
London Marathon record: None
Other World Marathon Majors
Berlin: 2012- 18th 2:15:35
Other major city marathons
Zürich: 2011- 11th 2:21:48, 2012- 11th 2:19:38,
2013- 7th 2:17:47
Marathons in major championships
Worlds: 2013- 34th 2:21:17
Europeans: 2014- 23rd 2:18:36
Career notes
Christian Kreienbühl was a member of Switzerland’s
six-strong bronze medal-winning marathon team at
the European Championships in Zürich last summer,
along with the hosts’ favourite, defending champion
Viktor Röthlin, making his farewell appearance, and
former Eritrean Tadesse Abraham, the big new hope.
While Röthlin was fifth and Abraham ninth, Kreienbühl
finished 23rd in 2:18:36 to ensure the host nation won
a place on the team podium. It was the 33-year-old’s
second appearance for his country as he also ran at
the Moscow 2013 World Championships where he
finished 34th.
Kreienbühl made his marathon debut in Zürich in 2011
and has run three of his six marathons in the Swiss
city. His best finish was seventh in 2013. He ran his
quickest marathon in Berlin in 2012 when he was
18th.
He ran his half marathon best in Berlin that year too,
clocking 65:55, while he has a 10km PB of 29:50 and
has run 53:27 for 10 miles on the roads.
He was Swiss marathon champion in 2012, and the
10,000m and half marathon champion in 2013.
Media Guide 2015 43
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
ANURADHA COORAY
(SRI LANKA)
MERT GIRMALEGESSE
(TURKEY)
Born: 24 March 1978
Marathon best: 2:15:51 Asian Games 2014
London Marathon record: 2005- 27th 2:20:16,
2009- 21st 2:21:02, 2011- 27th 2:21:11,
2012- 23rd 2:17:50, 2013- 16th 2:17:53
Other World Marathon Majors: None
Other major city marathons
Islamabad: 2004- 1st 2:16:38
Mahiyanganaya: 2003- 1st 2:16:39
Pune: 2011- 10th 2:18:42
Singapore: 2004- 7th 2:18:28
Marathons in major championships
Olympics: 2004- 30th 2:19:26, 2012- 55th 2:20:41
Worlds: 2005- dnf
Asian Games: 2014- 6th 2:15:51
Born: 30 November 1987
Marathon best: 2:17:45 Tempe 2008
London Marathon record: None
Other World Marathon Majors: None
Other major city marathons
Istanbul: 2014- 12th 2:21:43
Tempe: 2008- 6th 2:17:45
Marathons in major championships: None
Career notes
Anuradha Indrajith Cooray broke his personal best
to finish sixth at the Asian Games in Incheon last
October.
He won his first two marathons and has since run five
times in London, his best performance coming in 2012
when he clocked 2:17:50, while he was just three
seconds slower two years ago in 16th place.
He has represented Sri Lanka in the marathon at two
Olympics and one World Championships, while he
also ran in the 2005 and 2014 World Half Marathon
Championships. Last year in Copenhagen he broke
his own national record with 65:20.
Career notes
Mert Girmalegesse finished sixth in the Tempe
Marathon in Arizona in January 2008 shortly before
switching allegiance from Ethiopia to Turkey.
He became eliglible to run for Turkey in February
2008 and broke the Turkish 10,000m record clocking
27:29.33 to finish 11th in the Beijing 2008 Olympic
final. Earlier in the year he set a Turkish 5000m record
of 13:26.14.
He became European under 23 cross country bronze
medallist later that year, and the under 23 10,000m
champion the following year. He also finished ninth
in the 5000m and picked up a bronze at the 2009
Mediterranean Games.
In 2010 he was ninth in the 5000m at the European
Championships and represented Europe in the
Continental Cup. He was a World Youth bronze
medallist at 3000m back in 2003.
He ran for Turkey at last year’s World Half Marathon
Championships and finished 12th in the Istanbul
Marathon.
Mert Girmalegesse was his Ethiopian name, but since
switching to Turkey he has been known as Selim
Bayrak.
44 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
CESAR LIZANO (COSTA RICA)
Born: 7 March 1982
Marathon best: 2:17:50 Chicago 2011
London Marathon record: None
Other World Marathon Majors:
Chicago: 2011- 11th 2:17:50
Other major city marathons
Houston: 2013- 11th 2:22:01
Sacramento: 2014- 19th 2:18:20
Toronto: 2010- 19th 2:23:45
Marathons in major championships
Olympics: 2012- 65th 2:24:16
Career notes
Cesar Lizano set his personal best in his only previous
appearance in a World Marathon Majors race, finishing
11th in Chicago in 2011.
He ran his first marathon in Toronto the previous
year and represented Costa Rica at the London
2012 Olympics, where he finished 65th. He was only
30 seconds outside his PB when finishing 19th in
December’s California Marathon in Sacramento.
STIJN FINCIOEN (BELGIUM)
Born: 29 December 1980
Marathon best: 2:17:57 Eindhoven 2011
London Marathon record: None
Other World Marathon Majors: None
Other major city marathons
Eindhoven: 2009- 25th 2:24:15, 2010- 13th 2:22:36,
2011- 17th 2:17:57, 2012- 22nd 2:21:13,
2014- 12th 2:19:30
Rotterdam: 2014- 18th 2:19:10
Tourhout: 2013- 1st 2:22:50
Marathons in major championships: None
Career notes
Stijn Fincioen has raced in the Eindhoven Marathon
almost every year since 2009, posting his PB there
in 2011. He won the Tourhout Marathon on home
soil in Belgium in 2013 and finished in the top 20 at
Rotterdam last year.
He represented Costa Rica at the 2009 and 2014
World Half Marathon Championships, finishing 84th
both times, running his PB is 66:07 on the second
occasion.
Media Guide 2015 45
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
MATTHEW HYNES
(GREAT BRITAIN & NI)
PEDRO RIBEIRO (PORTUGAL)
Born: 15 January 1988
Marathon best: Debut
London Marathon record: (2010- 272nd 2:43:40)
Other World Marathon Majors: None
Other major city marathons: None
Marathons in major championships: None
Career notes
Matthew Hynes regards this as his marathon debut,
although he has run one before. He competed in the
2010 London Marathon from the championship start,
jogging home in 2:43:40.
He finished 10th in this year’s Paris half marathon on 8
March in 63:54, a time which would have ranked him
fifth in the UK last year.
He ran a 10km road best in 2013 of 29:23 when
winning the Leeds Abbey Dash. He was fourth in the
same event last year running just six seconds slower.
He was second at last year’s Great North 10k and third
at the Great Yorkshire Run in Sheffield.
He also ran a 10 miles road best of 48:48 last year
and clocked a 10,000m track PB of 29:20.07 to finish
fourth at the England Athletics championships, just
missing a place on the Commonwealth Games team,
but earning a British Athletics vest at the European
Cup 10,000m championships where he was second.
Born: 25 March 1981
Marathon best: Debut
London Marathon record: None
Other World Marathon Majors: None
Other major city marathons: None
Marathons in major championships: None
Career notes
Pedro Ribeiro is a former Portuguese steeplechase
champion making his marathon debut after
representing his country on the track at European
Championships and World University Games (2003
and 2009), and at European and World Cross Country
Championships.
Ribeiro twice finished eighth in the 3000m
steeplechase at the World University Games while he
was sixth at the 2004 Ibero-American Championships.
He was selected to run for Portugal at the 2010
European Championships in Barcelona but could only
finish ninth in his heat.
He has run for his country at four European and one
World Cross Country Championships.
His half marathon best of 65:20 was set in 2007 when
he was third in Ovar.
He won the Portuguese steeplechase title five times
between 2004 and 2010, and was second in 2012.
His best time is 8:32.20 from 2006.
He ran a 10,000m PB last year of 29:36.98.
46 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
GUYE ADOLA (ETHIOPIA)
Born: 20 October 1990
Marathon best: Debut
London Marathon record: None
Other World Marathon Majors: None
Other major city marathons: None
Marathons in major championships: None
Career notes
Guye Adola won a bronze medal at last year’s World
Half Marathon Championships in Copenhagen when
he dipped below the hour mark for the first time. He
ran 59:21, the same as Samuel Tsegay who snatched
silver, and just 13 seconds behind the winner Geoffrey
Kamworor.
He’d already lowered his PB once that year, winning
the Marrakech half in 61:26, and he broke it a third
time in November when he won the New Delhi half
marathon in 59:06.
He ran 60:45 to finish fourth in this year’s Lisbon half
marathon on 22 March.
He was also fourth at the Ethiopian Championships
and third in Luanda, two of his five races at the
distance in 2014.
He also set a 10km PB last year of 28:22.
Media Guide 2015 47
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Elite Women
Entries
Bib no.
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
Name
Edna Kiplagat
Mary Keitany
Aselefech Mergia
Florence Kiplagat
Priscah Jeptoo
Tirfi Tsegaye
Feyse Tadese
Jemima Sumgong
Tigist Tufa
Tetyana Gamera
Tatyana Arkhipova
Ana Dulce Félix
Sara Moreira
Alessandra Aguilar
Rkia El Moukim
Iwona Lewandowska
Mary Davies
Elvan Abeylegesse
Diane Nukuri
Sonia Samuels
Emma Stepto
Volha Mazuronak
Rebecca Robinson
48 Media Guide 2015
Nation
KEN
KEN
ETH
KEN
KEN
ETH
ETH
KEN
ETH
UKR
RUS
POR
POR
ESP
MAR
POL
NZL
TUR
BDI
GBR
GBR
BLR
GBR
PB
2:19:50
2:18:37
2:19:31
2:19:44
2:20:14
2:20:18
2:20:27
2:20:48
2:21:52
2:22:09
2:23:29
2:25:40
2:26:00
2:27:00
2:28:12
2:28:32
2:28:57
2:29:30
2:29:35
2:30:56
2:32:40
2:33:33
2:37:14
Bib name
E. KIPLAGAT
KEITANY
MERGIA
F. KIPLAGAT
JEPTOO
TSEGAYE
TADESE
SUMGONG
TUFA
GAMERA
ARKHIPOVA
FELIX
MOREIRA
AGUILAR
EL MOUKIM
LEWANDOWSKA
DAVIES
ABEYLEGESSE
NUKURI
SAMUELS
STEPTO
MAZURONAK
ROBINSON
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Preview: Kenya’s fantastic four to fight for title
Edna Kiplagat will face two former champions and the fastest half marathon runner in history when she defends
her women’s title in what promises to be a clash of the Kenyans. The double world champion sprinted to victory
on The Mall last year, beating half marathon world record holder Florence Kiplagat by just three seconds in the
closest women’s race for 17 years.
The two Kiplagats will meet again this year when they face the 2013 champion, Priscah Jeptoo, and Mary
Keitany, who topped the London Marathon podium in 2011 and 2012. The women’s elite field contains nine
runners who have completed the 26.2-mile distance in less than two hours 22 minutes, and no fewer than 11
who have run quicker than 2:25. But it will be these four who are expected to battle it out over the closing stages
just as they did in 2012 when Keitany smashed the Kenyan record.
Keitany’s return to the London Marathon will be keenly anticipated by marathon fans after she won her second
title in compelling style three years ago in 2:18:37, a time only world record holder Paula Radcliffe has ever
beaten on the London course. Keitany made a spectacular return to marathon racing last year when she won the
New York City Marathon in November after taking a year out in 2013 to have her second child. Undefeated over
the London course, she is the quickest in this year’s line-up by more than a minute and is aiming to become only
the fourth woman to win the London Marathon three times.
Both Edna and Florence Kiplagat have also dipped under 2:20 in the past, while Jeptoo set her personal best
of 2:20:14 when she was third in London three years ago. After failing to finish last year, the 2012 Olympic silver
medallist will be keen to make amends this time.
But Kenya’s fantastic four won’t have the race to themselves for Aselefech Mergia is in form to do some real
damage. The Ethiopian won the Dubai Marathon for a third time this January running just half a minute outside
her best. The former national record holder is eighth quickest of all time and has done well on the London course
in the past. She crossed the line third on her London debut in 2010, and the two Russians who finished ahead of
her that year have both since failed drugs tests. The 30-year-old could well win the title for real this time.
The Kenyan contingent is further strengthened by New York Marathon runner-up Jemima Sumgong, while Mergia
will have three strong compatriots alongside her in last year’s Tokyo and Berlin champion, Tirfi Tsegaye, Feyse
Tadese, who was fourth here in 2014 and second in Berlin, and Tigist Tufa, who won marathons in Ottawa and
Shanghai in 2014.
The east Africans won’t have it all their own way, however, for the 2015 field has a strong European presence
thanks to two women who have gone under 2:25 – Ukrainian record holder Tetyana Gamera, the three-time
Osaka champion who was seventh last year, and Russia’s 2012 Olympic bronze medallist, Tatyana Arkhipova.
There’s also a pair of Portuguese contenders in Ana Dulce Félix, who was eighth last year, and Sara Moreira, who
was third on her marathon debut in New York last November. Spain’s Alessandra Aguilar could also target a top
10 spot – she was fifth at recent World and European Championships – while Elvan Abeylegesse, Turkey’s former
world 5000m record holder and double European track champion, will be looking to improve her best in her first
World Marathon Majors race.
The British athletes on the elite start line are Sonia Samuels, a top 20 finisher at the Moscow 2013 World
Championships, Emma Stepto, who was 14th in London last year at the age of 44, and Rebecca Robinson, who
ran for Britain at the 2010 European Championships.
Of course, much of the domestic attention will focus on Paula Radcliffe as the world record holder bids farewell
to the event she won three times. Radcliffe will start with the club athletes and compete as one of the British
championship runners.
Media Guide 2015 49
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
EDNA KIPLAGAT (KENYA)
Born: 15 November 1979 Eldoret
Marathon best: 2:19:50 London 2012
London Marathon record: 2011- 3rd 2:20:46,
2012- 2nd 2:19:50, 2013- 2nd 2:21:32,
2014- 1st 2:20:21
Other World Marathon Majors
New York: 2010- 1st 2:28:20, 2013- 9th 2:30:04,
2014- 13th 2:36:24
Other major city marathons
Las Vegas: 2005- 10th 2:50:20
Los Angeles: 2010- 1st 2:25:38
Marathons in major championships
Olympics 2012- 20th 2:27:52
Worlds: 2011- 1st 2:28:43, 2013- 1st 2:25:44
Career notes
Edna Kiplagat won her first London Marathon title last
April at the fourth time of asking. The double world
champion sprinted to victory on The Mall, beating
half marathon world record holder Florence Kiplagat
by just three seconds. After finshing third in 2011,
and runner-up two years in a row, it was a welcome
change of fortune for the 35-year-old who had
become the first woman to retain the world marathon
title in Moscow the previous summer.
Kiplagat made her marathon debut in December 2005
in Las Vegas when she was 10th in 2:50:20, although
her first appearance on the international stage came
nearly 10 years earlier when she won a 3000m silver
medal at the 1996 World Junior Championships, aged
16. She added a bronze at that event in 1998.
She began running road races in the United States 12
years ago and produced PBs for 5km (15:20), 10km
(31:18) and 15km (47:57) in summer 2010. The USbased Eldoret native emerged onto the world scene
that November when she surprised everyone to win
the New York Marathon, only her second world class
race at the distance. She broke away from debutantes
Mary Keitany and Shalane Flanagan on the testing
climbs of Central Park to win in 2:28:20. Added to her
Los Angeles victory eight months earlier, the New York
triumph made her the first athlete to win marathons on
both coasts of the USA.
Six months later, she improved her PB by nearly five
minutes to finish third at the 2011 London Marathon
behind Keitany and Liliya Shobukhova. At the time, it
was the best ever performance for third place.
That summer, she led a Kenyan sweep of the medals
at the Daegu World Championships, the first ever
in a women’s marathon at a Worlds or Olympics. In
punishing temperatures and high humidity, Kiplagat
romped home despite falling at a drinks station.
She improved both her PB and place at the 2012
London Marathon, finishing second behind Keitany
in 2:19:50, good enough to win selection for Kenya’s
Olympic team. Her Olympic experience was not a happy
one, however. After running with the leaders for 30km,
Kiplagat struggled home in 20th place, suffering from flu.
She finished nearly five minutes behind the winner.
50 Media Guide 2015
She was runner-up for the second year in a row at the
2013 London Marathon, this time following Priscah
Jeptoo home in 2:21:32. But she was back on top
of the podium in Moscow that summer – the only big
name to cope with the muggy conditions – before
finishing the year at the New York Marathon, where she
was ninth in 2:30:04. She returned to New York last
November but fared no better, struggling in the cold
and windy conditions to finish 13th in 2:36:24.
Kiplagat’s half marathon PB of 67:41 was set at the
2012 Great North Run when she lost a sprint finish
to Tirunesh Dibaba. She was fifth in last year’s Great
North Run and won half marathons in Olomouc and
Glasgow.
This January she had a rare cross country outing,
finishing sixth in the Kenyan Police championships.
Personal notes
Her full name is Edna Ngeringwony Kiplagat. Her
husband and coach is Gilbert Koech, a marathon
runner with a best of 2:13:45 from Las Vegas in
January 2005. He also won the 2009 San Antonio
Marathon.
When in the US, the pair live in Boulder, Colorado. They
have five children, two of their own, two adopted from
Edna’s sister who died of breast cancer in 2003, and
one adopted from a neighbour who died in childbirth in
2013. She established the Edna Kiplagat Foundation
in 2013 to target breast cancer issues and raise
awareness of breast self-examination.
She was awarded the AIMS ‘Best Marathoner of the
Year’ award in October 2013 in recognition of her
repeat victory at the World Championships.
She holds the rank of inspector in the Kenyan police.
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
MARY KEITANY (KENYA)
Born: 18 January 1982 Kisok, Baringo District
Marathon best: 2:18:37 London 2012
London Marathon record: 2011- 1st 2:19:19,
2012- 1st 2:18:37
Other World Marathon Majors
New York: 2010- 3rd 2:29:01, 2011- 3rd 2:23:38,
2014- 1st 2:25:07
Other major city marathons: None
Marathons in major championships
Olympics: 2012- 4th 2:23:56
Career notes
Mary Keitany returns to the London Marathon after a
three-year absence seeking to become only the fourth
woman to win the title three times. Keitany’s 100%
record on the London course began in 2011 when
she produced a brilliant victory to beat defending
champion Liliya Shobukhova in a time only Paula
Radcliffe had ever beaten.
The then 29-year-old strode home in 2:19:19 to move
alongside Irina Mikitenko as the fourth fastest in
history. She defended her title 12 months later in even
more impressive style, leading five Kenyans home –
the first medal sweep in the women’s race – in 2:18:37
to take Catherine Ndereba’s Kenyan and African
record and rise to third on the all-time list.
Keitany announced herself on the world stage when
she was second to Lornah Kiplagat at the 2007 World
Half Marathon Championships in Udine, running 66:48
as Kiplagat broke the world record. She had her first
child in mid-2008, and returned in 2009 to win the
World Half Marathon Championships in Birmingham
with an African record of 66:36 improving Elana
Meyer’s 1999 time of 66:44.
The following May she won the Berlin 25km by almost
five minutes in 1:19:53, a world best for the distance.
She then won the Bupa 10k in London, in another PB
of 31:06, and warmed up for her marathon debut by
winning the Lisbon half in 68:50.
Before her marathon debut in New York, Keitany said
she had no idea how her body would react in the final
few miles. In the event, she found herself in sight of
victory with only compatriot Edna Kiplagat and USA’s
Shalane Flanagan for company. In the end, Keitany
was third in 2:29:01, losing out in the tussle over the
ups and downs of Central Park.
In February 2011 Keitany broke Lornah Kiplagat’s
world half marathon record when she won the Ra’s
Al-Khaymah race in 65:50, taking 35 seconds from the
previous mark. En route to her historic sub-66 minute
time, Keitany went through 8km in 24:30 (a ‘world
best’), 15km in 46:40, 10 miles in 50:05 (another
world best) and 20km in 62:36 (a world record). The
half marathon and 20km records have since fallen to
Florence Kiplagat.
She returned to the New York Marathon in November 2011 seemingly in pursuit of the marathon world
record. She swept through half way up on Paula
Radcliffe’s schedule (67:56) only to fade dramatically
over the final 10km and finish third for the second year
in a row.
She won the RAK again in 2012 before her stunning
second London Marathon victory. But there was disappointment for Keitany in the British capital that summer
when she missed out on an Olympic medal by less
than half a minute. She finished fourth in 2:23:56.
Keitany skipped the 2013 season to have her second
child, but made a spectacular return to competition last
year winning the Great North Run half marathon in a
PB of 65:39 before finally clinching the New York title in
2:25:07, three seconds ahead of Jemima Sumgong. in
a time considerably slowed by the cold and wind.
On the track, she has a 10,000m best of 32:18.07
from 2007. She set a 5km best of 15:25 in Lisbon last
year.
She ran a world leading time of 66:02 to win her third
Ra’s Al Khaymah half marathon title in February this
year.
Personal notes
Mary Jepkosgei Keitany married Kenyan athlete
Charles Koech on 31 December 2011. They have
a son Jared Kipchumba, born in June 2008, and a
daughter, born in April 2013.
She trains in Iten and is coached by Gabriele Nicola.
Her husband has run 61:27 for the half marathon.
Media Guide 2015 51
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
ASELEFECH MERGIA
(ETHIOPIA)
Born: 23 January 1985
Marathon best: 2:19:31 Dubai 2012
London Marathon record: 2010- 2nd 2:22:38,
2011- dnf
Other World Marathon Majors
Other major city marathons
Dubai: 2011- 1st 2:22:45, 2012- 1st 2:19:31,
2015- 1st 2:20:02
Paris: 2009- 2nd 2:25:02
Marathons in major championships
Olympics: 2012- 42nd 2:32:03
Worlds: 2009- 3rd 2:25:32, 2011- dnf
Career notes
Aselefech Mergia has won the lucrative Dubai
Marathon three times in the last five years, including
2012 when she broke the course record and the
Ethiopian record with 2:19:31 as three women finished
under 2:20.
Although her national mark fell soon afterwards to
Tiki Gelana, Mergia is still placed eighth on the world
all-time list as one of just 18 women to have run
sub-2:20. She was fractionally outside that time this
January when she celebrated her 30th birthday by
winning her third Dubai title in 2:20:02. It was a perfect
comeback in her first marathon since 2012, and
her first since the birth of her daughter in July 2013.
She beat Gladys Cherono by just one second in the
greatest women’s race in the event’s history.
She failed to finish the testing Daegu 2011 World
Championships marathon that summer, dropping out
in the final few kilometres, but was back to winning
ways in Dubai in January 2012, dipping under 2:20 for
a national record that lasted all of three months until
Gelana sliced half a minute from it in Rotterdam.
Mergia makes her third appearance at the London
Marathon this year after a gap of four years. She
first came to London in 2010 having clinched
the world bronze medal in Berlin the previous
August and finished third behind the Russian pair
Liliya Shobukhova and Inga Abitova in a huge PB
of 2:22:38, ahead of four of her more favoured
compatriots.
She didn’t race again for nearly two years when she
was on maternity leave. She returned to action at a
half marathon in Gothernburg last May and returned to
the marathon this January when she became the first
woman to win the Dubai Marathon three times, taking
victory and the $200,000 prize with a sprint finish
against Gladys Cherono.
She was later promoted to second when Abitova was
suspended for a doping violation, while Shobukhova’s
result is also in doubt as she faces investigation for a
positive drugs test announced last year.
After three years of success at the half marathon,
Mergia made her marathon debut in Paris in 2009.
She finished second in a swift 2:25:02 winning her
place on Ethiopia’s World Championships team.
In Berlin she shadowed the Asians for 40km before
dropping back to claim a bronze medal just 17
seconds behind the winner, China’s Bai Xue, and
beating all of the more renowned Africans.
She continued her good form in London the following
April with a performance that may yet be rewarded
with a winner’s medal. She won the first of her three
Dubai titles in January 2011 before returning to
London where she dropped out after 30km having
lost touch with the leading group powered by Mary
Keitany.
52 Media Guide 2015
While Gelana went on to triumph at the 2012 Olympics,
Mergia struggled with London’s wet conditions and
finished well down the field.
In 2008 Mergia was second at the World Half Marathon
Championships in 69:57 and lowered her PB still
further in New Delhi with 68:17 just a second ahead of
Genet Getaneh.
That became 67:48 in 2009 when she was second in
Ra’s Al Khaymah, then 67:22 from RAK in 2010, and
67:21 when third in New Delhi in November 2011.
Personal notes
Aselefech Mergia gave birth to her daughter Sena in July
2013. Her return to racing was delayed because she
struggled to lose weight again after the birth.
She is coached by Gemedu Dedefo (the same as Feyse
Tadese).
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
FLORENCE KIPLAGAT (KENYA)
Born: 27 February 1987 Kapkitony, Keiyo District
Marathon best: 2:19:44 Berlin 2011
London Marathon record: 2012- 4th 2:20:57,
2013- 6th 2:27:05, 2014- 2nd 2:20:24
Other World Marathon Majors
Berlin: 2011- 1st 2:19:44, 2013- 1st 2:21:13
Boston: 2011- dnf
Chicago: 2014- 3rd 2:25:57
Other major city marathons: None
Marathons in major championships: None
Career notes
Florence Kiplagat came to London full of confidence
last year as the reigning Berlin Marathon champion
and the new world half marathon record holder having
clocked 65:12 in Barcelona in February. En route to
that time she also broke the world 20km record.
It was well-placed confidence for Kiplagat came
as close as possible to winning her first London
Marathon, losing out to her namesake Edna Kiplagat
in a sprint down The Mall, the three-second difference
on the line the smallest losing gap for 17 years. After
finishing fourth in 2012 and sixth in 2013, it was some
compensation to finally make the podium.
She returned to Barcelona on 15 February this year
and lowered her half marathon record by three
seconds, clocking 65:09, breaking 15km and 20km
world records along the way (46:13 and 61:54
respectively).
Kiplagat made her marathon debut in Boston in
2011 but dropped out after going through half way in
1:11:42 and 30km in 1:42:59. It was an inauspicious
start that she soon put behind her by winning the first
of her two Berlin Marathon titles that September.
Kiplagat led from start to finish in Berlin and crossed
the line more than two and a half minutes clear after
shrugging off the attentions of two of the fastest
women of all time, world record holder Paula Radcliffe
and German record holder Irina Mikitenko.
She came to London in 2012 as one of five Kenyans
vying for Olympic selection but finished fourth behind
Mary Keitany, Edna Kiplagat and Priscah Jeptoo and
so missed out on an Olympic place. Twelve months
later, she was leading at 25km with Jeptoo and Edna
Kiplagat, but faded badly and could only finish sixth.
She made a victorious return to Berlin in September
2013, when she regained the title ahead of Sharon
Cherop and Mikitenko, and finished the year ranked
fifth in the world.
After almost tasting victory in London last April, she
reached another World Marathon Majors podium
in October when she finished third in the Chicago
Marathon.
Kiplagat began winning international medals at a young
age, starting with a 5000m silver at the 2006 World
Junior Championships, when she was 19. She was
fifth in the senior race at the 2007 World Cross Country
Championships and, after becoming a mother in 2008,
returned to win the 2009 World Cross in Amman.
Later that year she clocked 30:11.53 over 10,000m
in Utrecht to erase Linet Masai’s Kenyan record, but a
hamstring injury meant she could only finish 12th at the
2009 World Championships.
Injury prevented her defending her cross country
title in 2010, but in September that year she made her
half marathon debut, and a month later won the world
half marathon title in Nanning, defeating Dire Tune in
the final stages.
After last year’s London Marathon she returned
to the track, winning the 10,000m at the Kenyan
championships and clinching a silver medal at the
Glasgow Commonwealth Games. She was back on
the roads a few weeks later, setting a 10km road best
of 31:42 in Nairobi. She also won the New Delhi half
marathon in November.
Personal notes
Her full name is Florence Jebet Kiplagat.
She used to be married to Moses Mosop who ran
2:03:06 when he was second at the 2011 Boston
Marathon and set world track records for 25,000m and
30,000m in 2011. She has two daughters, Faith and
Aisha. Her uncle, William Kiplagat, is a marathon runner
with a best of 2:06:50 from 1999.
She lives on a 20-acre farm in Eldoret with 1200
chickens, among other livestock. Edna Kiplagat is a
neighbour. She is coached by Renato Canova.
Media Guide 2015 53
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
PRISCAH JEPTOO (KENYA)
Born: 26 June 1984 Chemnoet Village, Nandi
Marathon best: 2:20:14 London 2012
London Marathon record: 2012- 3rd 2:20:14,
2013- 1st 2:20:15, 2014- dnf
Other World Marathon Majors
New York: 2013- 1st 2:25:07
Other major city marathons
Padua: 2010- 2nd 2:30:53
Paris: 2011- 1st 2:22:55
Porto: 2009- 1st 2:30:40
Turin: 2010- 1st 2:27:02
Marathons in major championships
Olympics: 2012- 2nd 2:23:12
Worlds: 2011- 2nd 2:29:00
Career notes
Priscah Jeptoo arrived to defend her London
Marathon title in 2014 after more than two years of
consistently high performances which culminated in
the 2012/13 World Marathon Majors crown.
But Jeptoo’s run of form ended here last April when
she failed to finish, dropping out before 30km with a
calf injury. She didn’t return to action until November
when she won a 15km road race in the Netherlands,
clocking a best for the distance of 46:59, having
withdrawn from the New York Marathon with injury.
Jeptoo’s sequence of successful marathons began
when she snatched the silver medal from her
teammate Sharon Cherop in the closing stages of the
Daegu 2011 World Championships, helping Kenya to
a clean sweep of the medals. She added an Olympic
silver in 2012 having won her place on the Kenyan
team just four months earlier when finishing third on
her London Marathon debut behind Mary Keitany and
Edna Kiplagat in a personal best of 2:20:14.
She returned to London in 2013 hoping to improve
her PB and left with the title after dominating a race
containing some of the most impressive marathon
runners of all time. She broke away in the second half
and crossed the line more than a minute clear of world
champion Edna Kiplagat, one second outside her PB.
She skipped the 2013 World Championships in
Moscow instead focusing on the Great North Run,
where she ran a half marathon PB of 65:45 to beat
Meseret Defar and Tirunesh Dibaba, and the New
York Marathon, where she overcame more than three
minutes deficit at half way to win by 49 seconds and
secure the WMM prize. She was the first woman since
Grete Waitz in 1983 and 1986 to win London and New
York in the same year.
Despite last year’s set-back, Jeptoo still has a very
impressive marathon record: in 10 races over the
distance she has won five, finished second three
times, and third once.
Her first victory came in Porto in 2009, followed
by Turin in 2010. But she first grabbed the world’s
attention in April 2011 when she won the Paris
Marathon in 2:22:55, then the second quickest time in
the race’s 35-year history and more than four minutes
quicker than she had run before. She finished nearly
two minutes ahead of Agnes Kiprop to secure her spot
on Kenya’s World Championship team.
A year later she claimed her Olympic place, finishing
third of the quintet of Kenyans who dominated the
2012 London Marathon.
That August she missed out on Olympic gold by just
five seconds, clocking 2:23:12, a time that would have
won every previous Olympic title. It was the smallest
losing margin in Olympic history.
She followed that with a brilliant victory in the 2012
Great North Run when she ran a sensational 10th
mile of 4:34 and covered 10k to 20k in 30:06 to leave
Meseret Defar and Tirunesh Dibaba adrift. Her time
of 65:45 was a supreme performance, although not
eligible as a world record because of the course.
She was second behind Lucy Kabuu in the 2013 Ra’s
Al Khaymah half marathon, and first in 2014. She ran
69:21 to finish third in this year’s Lisbon half on 22
March.
Personal notes
Her full name is Priscah Jeptoo Chepsiror. Her
husband Douglas Chepsiror is also her training partner
and massseur. They have a son, Faustin Kipchumba
and live on a 15-acre farm in Kapsabet. Her mother,
Beatrice Samoei, was a 1500m runner.
She is coached by Claudio Berardelli.
Relatively tall for a female marathon runner, she runs
with wide elbows and an awkward-looking, swinging
stride.
54 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
TIRFI TSEGAYE (ETHIOPIA)
Born: 25 November 1984 Bekoji, Oromia region
Marathon best: 2:20:18 Berlin 2014
London Marathon record: None
Other World Marathon Majors
Berlin: 2012- 2nd 2:21:19, 2014- 1st 2:20:18
Boston: 2011- 11th 2:27:29, 2013- 5th 2:28:09
Tokyo: 2014- 1st 2:22:23
Other major city marathons
Dubai: 2013- 1st 2:23:23
Frankfurt: 2013- 7th 2:26:57
Milan: 2014- 4th 2:36:23
Paris: 2010- 3rd 2:24:51, 2012- 1st 2:21:40
Porto: 2008- 1st 2:35:32
Shanghai: 2009- 2nd 2:28:16, 2010- 1st 2:29:11,
2011- 2nd 2:24:12
Toronto: 2010- 2nd 2:22:44
Turin: 2009- 2nd 2:29:04
Marathons in major championships: None
Career notes
Tirfi Tsegaye won two World Marathon Majors races
in 2014 to place third on the 2013/14 leaderboard.
She set a course record in Tokyo last February with
2:22:23, the fastest ever run in that calendar month,
and lowered her personal best to 2:20:18 to win in
Berlin last September.
She has run 16 marathons in her career, notching up
an impressive string of victories in cities around the
world, including Porto, Shanghai, Paris and Dubai, as
well as Tokyo and Berlin. She has finished in the top
three 12 times, and the top five 14 times.
Personal notes
Her full name is Tirfi Tsegaye Beyene.
She comes from Bekoji in the Oromia region, the
famous running town which nurtured Kenenisa Bekele,
the Dibaba sisters, and Tiki Gelana.
She trains with two-time Berlin Marathon winner Aberu
Kebede, the 2014 Frankfurt Marathon champion who
was fifth in London last year.
Exclusively a road runner, her marathon career began
with victory in Porto in 2008, followed by runner-up
places in Turin and Shanghai the following year.
She cut nearly six minutes from her personal best
in 2010, first running 2:24:51 to finish third in Paris,
then 2:22:44 for second in Toronto before finishing
the year placing second in Shanghai behind Nailya
Yulamanova, a result which now counts as a victory
after the Russian’s suspension for a doping offence.
She ran her first World Marathon Majors in Boston
in 2011 but could only finish 11th. A year later, she
became the Paris champion, reducing her PB to
2:21:40 before slicing a few more seconds off in
Berlin, where she was second to her training partner
Aberu Kebede in 2:21:19.
She won US$200,000 in January 2013 by taking a
16-second victory in the highly competitive and fogbound Dubai Marathon in 2:23:23 and then finished
fifth in Boston that April and seventh in Frankfurt.
She ran three marathons last year too, squeezing a
fourth-place finish in Milan last April between her two
WMM wins.
Tsegaye represented Ethiopia at the 2009 World Half
Marathon Championships, finishing sixth in 69:24.
Her PB of 67:42 came at the 2012 Rome-Ostia half
marathon.
Media Guide 2015 55
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
FEYSE TADESE (ETHIOPIA)
Born: 19 November 1988
Marathon best: 2:20:27 Berlin 2014
London Marathon record: 2014- 4th 2:21:42
Other World Marathon Majors
Berlin: 2014- 2nd 2:20:27
Other major city marathons
Dubai: 2011- 10th 2:30:23
Eindhoven: 2011- 3rd 2:25:20
Paris: 2013- 1st 2:21:06
Seoul: 2012- 1st 2:23:26
Shanghai: 2012- 1st 2:23:07
Venice: 2009- 10th 2:36:57
Marathons in major championships
Worlds: 2013- dnf
Career notes
Feyse Tadese became a significant presence on the
World Marathon Majors scene last year starting with
her performance at the London Marathon where she
produced a strong finish to place fourth, just behind
her compatriot Tirunesh Dibaba in 2:21:42, just half a
minute outside her personal best.
She was more than half a minute inside her PB in
Berlin last September when she finished second, just
nine seconds behind another Ethiopian, Tirfi Tsegaye.
Tadese’s marathon career began in Venice in 2009
when she was 10th in 2:36:57. She was 10th again
in Dubai in January 2011 when she ran six and a half
minutes faster to record 2:30:23. She improved both
time and place in Eindhoven that October, finishing
third in 2:25:20 behind fellow Ethiopian Shitaye
Bedaso.
She followed that with a string of three marathon
victories, first in Seoul in March 2012 when she
crossed the line in 2:23:26, then in Shanghai that
December when she went a fraction quicker, clocking
a course record of 2:23:07.
That PB didn’t last long either as she cut it down by
another two minutes to win the 2013 Paris Marathon
in a course record 2:21:06, continuing a steady
sequence of improving times.
That performance also won her a place on Ethiopia’s
World Championships team, but Tadese failed to finish
in Moscow, unable to cope with the torrid conditions.
Tadese picked up her first global honour in 2012
when she won a silver medal at the World Half
Marathon Championships in Kavarna, a race she led
until the closing stages when she was passed by her
teammate Meseret Hailu. She had been fourth in 2010
and was seventh in that year’s World Cross Country
Championships.
She has a track 10,000m best of 32:29.07 from 2010.
She set her half marathon PB when she was
ninth in the 2013 Ra’s Al Kaymah half in 68:35, and
she was seventh in January 2014 in 69:19.
56 Media Guide 2015
Personal notes
Her full name is Feyse Tadese Boru, and she is also
known as Feysa Tadesse.
She is coached by Gemedu Dedefo (the same as
Aslefech Mergia).
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
JEMIMA SUMGONG (KENYA)
Born: 21 December 1984
Marathon best: 2:20:48 Chicago 2013
London Marathon record: None
Other World Marathon Majors
Boston: 2012- 2nd 2:31:52, 2014- 4th 2:20:41
Chicago: 2013- 2nd 2:20:48
New York: 2014- 2nd 2:25:10
Other major city marathons
Castellón: 2011- 1st 2:28:32
Frankfurt: 2007- 4th 2:29:41
Las Vegas: 2006- 1st 2:35:12
Mumbai: 2008- 11th 2:44:12
Rotterdam: 2013- 1st 2:23:27
San Diego: 2008- 2nd 2:30:18, 2010- 5th 2:32:34
Marathons in major championships: None
Career notes
Jemima Sumgong has completed 11 marathons in her
career so far, and finished in the top five in all but one,
including her four World Marathon Majors races.
At her first, the 2012 Boston Marathon, it was only
inexperience that cost her victory as Sharon Cherop
accelerated off the final turn to pull away for a twosecond victory.
Eighteen months later, at the 2013 Chicago Marathon,
Sumgong pushed her training partner and eventual
winner, Rita Jeptoo, for most of the race, before
winding up second again in 2:20:48.
Last year, she came close to victory again, running
seven seconds quicker than her personal best at the
2014 Boston Marathon to finish fourth in 2:20:41. She
then placed second behind Mary Keitany in New York
last November, a race she lost by just three seconds,
matching the closest margin in the event’s history.
She first established herself on the US road circuit in
2005, and made her marathon debut nine years ago
when she won the 2006 Las Vegas Marathon aged
21.
Personal notes
Her full name is Jemima Sumgong Jelagat and she is
sometimes referred to as Jemima Jelagat.
She married Noah Talam in 2009, a marathon runner
with a best of 2:14:54. She took a break from running
in 2009 and gave birth to her daughter in 2011.
Sumgong trains in Kapsabet in the Nandi Hills under
the direction of her coach, Claudio Beradelli.
She works for the Kenyan Armed Services.
Sumgong tested positive for the banned substance
prednisolone after the 2012 Boston Marathon and was
given a two-year ban by Athletics Kenya. However,
she was cleared on appeal by the IAAF in September
2012 as the local injection Sumgong had received was
permitted under the governing body’s rules.
She broke 2:30 for the first time the following year,
finishing fourth in Frankfurt in 2:29:41, but didn’t notch
up another marathon victory until 2011 when she was
first in the Castellón de la Plana Marathon, lowering
her best to 2:28:32.
After making her WMM debut in Boston in 2012, she
had the biggest marathon victory of her career the
following spring in Rotterdam where she not only won
the prestigious race but knocked some five minutes
from her best with 2:23:27, a time she improved
still further over the next 12 months in Chicago and
Boston.
Sumgong also shaved a few seconds from her half
marathon best last year, clocking 68:32 for second
in Luanda. She was also second in the Lisbon half
marathon last March.
Her 10km PB of 31:15 was set in 2006.
Media Guide 2015 57
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
TIGIST TUFA (ETHIOPIA)
Born: 26 January 1987
Marathon best: 2:21:52 Shanghai 2014
London Marathon record: None
Other World Marathon Majors
New York: 2013- 8th 2:29:24
Other major city marathons
Dubai: 2015- dnf
Houston: 2011- 8th 2:41:50
Jacksonville: 2013- 2nd 2:40:45
Ottawa: 2014- 1st 2:24:31
Santa Monica: 2014- 2nd 2:28:04
Shanghai: 2014- 1st 2:21:52
Marathons in major championships: None
Career notes
Tigist Tufa has been an improving marathon runner
with every race she’s run, from her 2:41:50 debut in
Houston four years ago to her victory in Shanghai
last November when she clocked one of the quickest
times of the year.
She raced three marathons last year, winning two
in course record times, and she finished second in
the other. She also reduced her PB each time, a big
improvement of eight minutes in the year, or a huge 19
minutes in the space of 20 months.
She led this year’s Dubai Marathon in January by a
minute at 20km only to pay the price in the second
half, losing the lead and later dropping out.
After placing eighth on her debut in Houston in
2011, she left it two years before attempting another
marathon. She fared a little better, finishing second in
Jacksonville in 2:40:45.
She tackled her first World Marathon Majors race that
November and finished eighth in New York, reducing
her PB again by 11 minutes to break the 2:30 barrier
for the first time.
She was back in the States in spring last year to
contest the Santa Monica Marathon. She was second
in the West Coast race, taking another 80 seconds
from her best.
Her first marathon victory came in Ottawa last May,
when she clocked 2:24:31, another 3:27 improvement
and a course record.
She continued her winning habit in Shanghai on 2
November where a time of 2:21:52 removed more
than a minute from that event’s course record, set by
Feyse Tadese in 2012. She was the fifth successive
Ethiopian winner of the race and actually placed 10th
overall.
A familiar figure on the US road racing scene, she also
ran a 15km PB of 51:05 last year, finishing fourth in
the Utica Boilermaker race in New York State.
Her half marathon best of 70:03 was set in Lisbon
in 2008, while she has won recent half marathons in
Fairfield and Providence.
58 Media Guide 2015
Personal notes
Tufa lived in The Bronx in New York for 11 months
before moving back to Addis Ababa in December 2013
when she joined the training group of coach Haji Adilo.
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
TETYANA GAMERA (UKRAINE)
Born: 1 June 1983 Hrada, Ternopil
Marathon best: 2:22:09 Osaka 2015
London Marathon record: 2014- 7th 2:25:30
Other World Marathon Majors
New York: 2013- dnf
Other major city marathons
Kraków: 2011- 1st 2:28:14
Osaka: 2012- 2nd 2:24:46, 2013- 1st 2:23:58,
2014- 1st 2:24:37, 2015- 1st 2:22:09
Marathons in major championships
Olympics: 2012- 5th 2:24:32
Worlds: 2011- 15th 2:31:58
Career note
Tetyana Gamera regained the Ukrainian record in
January when she won the Osaka International
Women’s Marathon for the third year in a row.
Running 2:22:09, the 31-year-old shaved more than
two minutes from the time she ran to finish fifth at the
London 2012 Olympics, just one place behind the
two-times London Marathon winner Mary Keitany
and barely more than a minute outside the medals.
She passed eight women in the last 7km to break her
national record.
She opened her marathon career in 2011 when she
won in Kraków in 2:28:14, breaking the course record
and beating all but 13 of the men in the race. That
won her a place on Ukraine’s World Championships
team and she finished 15th in Daegu in 2:31:58, little
indication of how well she would run in London a year
later.
The first hint of that form came at the 2012 Osaka
Marathon when she was second behind Risa
Shigetomo in a national record of 2:24:46.
She ran a series of personal bests in the run-up to the
London Olympics, clocking 33:25 at the World’s Best
10k, 72:15 at the Prague half marathon and 32:50.13
for 10,000m at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene.
In Osaka this January she became only the second
woman to win three times in a row, following Lidia
Simon in 1999-2001. She led from the start and ran
away from her challengers in the second half of the
race.
Personal notes
Her surname is sometimes spelled Hamera.
She competed at the London 2012 Olympics as
Tetyana Gamera-Shmyrko but now wishes to be
known by her maiden name of Gamera.
She is coached by Igor Osmar.
A graduate of Lviv State University of Physical Culture,
she lives in Kyiv and has a daughter, Diana.
Yet another PB followed at the Olympics when she
performed beyond expectations to finish ahead
of many more heralded runners, including world
champion Edna Kiplagat.
She returned to Osaka in January 2013 and improved
her PB again, winning the prestigious women’s race
in 2:23:58 (running a half marathon best of 71:40 at
half way), although it was not a national record as
Olena Shurhno had run 2:23:32 in Berlin the previous
September.
Gamera raced sparingly in the rest of 2013 but was
back in Japan early last year when she retained the
Osaka title. She came from behind to beat Yukiko
Akaba in 2:24:37, becoming only the sixth woman to
win the race more than once.
Her good form continued at the London Marathon last
April when she finished seventh in 2:25:30, two places
ahead of Olympic champion Tiki Gelana.
Media Guide 2015 59
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
TATYANA ARKHIPOVA (RUSSIA)
Born: 8 April 1983 Umarsky District, Chuvashia
née Tatyana Petrova
Marathon best: 2:23:29 Olympics 2012
London Marathon record: None
Other World Marathon Majors
Berlin: 2011- 5th 2:25:01
Boston: 2014- 13th 2:30:29
Chicago: 2005- 8th 2:31:03
Tokyo: 2011- 2nd 2:28:56, 2012- 5th 2:26:46
Other major city marathons
Dubai: 2009- 4th 2:25:53
Honolulu: 2004- 5th 2:36:44, 2007- 3rd 2:35:56
Istanbul: 2014- 4th 2:31:47
Los Angeles: 2009- 1st 2:25:59
Marathons in major championships
Olympics: 2012- 3rd 2:23:29
Career notes
Tatyana Arkhipova produced the performance of her
life in London three years ago when she won the
Olympic bronze medal behind Tiki Gelana and Priscah
Jeptoo, keeping the reigning London Marathon
champion Mary Keitany off the podium.
It was a huge breakthrough for Arkhipova (running for
the first time under her married name) who benefited
from a conservative approach in the first half to catch
the leaders at 30km. She lost touch only in the final
stages.
Better known as a track runner, Arkhipova (then
Tatyana Petrova) was European under 23 10,000m
champion in 2005, when she also picked up the
5000m silver for the second time having lost to Elvan
Abeylegesse in 2003.
As a senior she made a succesful switch to the
barriers and broke the world indoor best for 3000m
steeplechase in 2006 before winning silver medals at
the 2006 European Championships in Gothenburg
and the 2007 World Championships in Osaka.
She almost won her first Olympic medal in Beijing
the following year when she was fourth in a race won
by her teammate, the world record-setting Gulnara
Samitova-Galkina.
It was in 2009 that she first gave serious attention
to the marathon, although she’d made a stab at the
distance back in 2004, when she was fifth in Honolulu,
and 2005, when she finished eighth in the Chicago
Marathon in 2:31:03.
When she returned to the event six years ago it was
with greater success. She lowered her PB by nearly
five minutes to finish fourth in Dubai in 2:25:53 before
enjoying her first taste of success in Los Angeles,
running just six seconds slower.
She was on the podium again in 2011 when she
placed second in Tokyo, followed by another PB in
Berlin that September, good enough for fifth in a race
that featured Florence Kiplagat, Paula Radcliffe and
Irina Mikitenko.
60 Media Guide 2015
She returned to Tokyo at the start of 2012 and, despite
running two minutes quicker than the previous year,
finished fifth again in 2:26:46.
That didn’t exactly make her one of the favourites
for Olympic medals as most observers focused on
the Kenyans, Ethiopians and her heralded Russian
teammate Liliya Shobukhova.
But while Shobukhova dropped out, and many of
the favourites fell back, Arkhipova’s steady start paid
dividends as she came within touching distance of the
title.
She didn’t race at all in 2013 but returned to action last
year when she finished 13th in Boston before lowering
her half marathon PB to 73:34 in September and
placing fourth in the Istanbul Marathon in November.
Personal notes
She was born Tatyana Valeriyevna Petrova and has
sometimes been referred to as Tatyana Petrova
Arkhipova since she got married.
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
ANA DULCE FÉLIX (PORTUGAL)
Born: 23 October 1982 Azurém, Guimarães
Marathon best: 2:25:40 New York 2011
London Marathon record: 2014- 8th 2:26:46
Other World Marathon Majors
Boston: 2013- 9th 2:30:05
New York: 2010- dnf, 2011- 4th 2:25:40,
2014- 12th 2:35:33
Other major city marathons
Vienna: 2011- 2nd 2:26:30
Marathons in major championships
Olympics: 2012- 21st 2:28:12
Career notes
The 2012 European 10,000m champion made her
marathon debut in Vienna in April 2011, finishing a few
seconds behind Fate Tola, and ran her PB in New York
later that year when she was fifth behind Inga Abitova
in 2:25:40 (later promoted to fourth when Abitova was
disqualified).
It was an encouraging start to her marathon career for
Ana Dulce Félix – a woman who once doubted she
could make it as a professional athlete – and good
enough to win a place on Portugal’s marathon team
for the 2012 Olympics. She finished 21st on the wet
roads in London, just a few weeks after winning the
European 10,000m title in Helsinki.
She returned to the British capital 12 months later for
her London Marathon debut a year after running in
the ill-fated 2013 Boston Marathon where she finished
ninth in 2:30:05.
Félix ran well in London last year to place eighth, the
third European behind her compatriot Jéssica Augusto
and Tetyana Gamera of Ukraine.
Félix began her international career as a junior at the
2000 and 2001 World Cross Country Championships
but failed to make an impression, finishing outside the
top 60. It wasn’t until 2007 that she tasted any kind of
success, winning the Portuguese 10,000m title for the
first time.
She returned to international competition the following
year at the World Cross Country Championships
and then finished 13th at the World Half Marathon
Championships and 17th at the European Cross
Country Championships.
It’s at cross country that she’s had most success,
winning European silvers in 2011 and 2012, and
bronze medals in 2010 and 2013, as well as taking
team golds with Portugal in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
She was also 15th at the World Cross in 2009, leading
Portugal to a team bronze.
She broke the Portuguese half marathon record
running 68:33 to finish second in Lisbon in 2011,
having finished second in 2010 and third in 2009 at the
Great North Run.
She won the Portuguese road running championships
over 10km in 2013 and 2014, and lowered her PB to
32:16 in the Lisbon 10km at the end of December.
She ran in the European Championships 10,000m final
in Zürich last summer, but could only place 10th, and
was 12th in last November’s New York Marathon.
She won the Portuguese 10km road race title on
11 January this year and a month later was second
in the Five Mills cross country race in Italy. She won
the Portuguese cross country title in March ahead of
Sara Moreira and was fifth at this year’s Lisbon half
marathon in 70:27.
Personal notes
Disheartened by her first taste of international
competition in 2000 and 2001, Félix took a low-paid
job in a clothing factory thinking she would never
make it as a professional. It was Jéssica Augusto who
persuaded her to quit the job and focus full-time on
running.
Her goal is to break Rosa Mota’s 29-year-old
Portuguese marathon record of 2:23:29.
She started running for the Benfica club in August
2013 and is coached by Sameiro Araujo.
On the track, she ran 10,000m for Portugal at the
2009, 2011 and 2013 World Championships, finishing
eighth and top European in 2011. She was seventh at
the 2010 European Championships when she faded
over the second half of the race. She made amends
two years later when she triumphed in Helsinki.
Media Guide 2015 61
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
SARA MOREIRA (PORTUGAL)
Born: 17 October 1985 Santo Tirso, Portugal
Marathon best: 2:26:00 New York 2014
London Marathon record: None
Other World Marathon Majors
New York: 2014- 3rd 2:26:00
Other major city marathons: None
Marathons in major championships: None
Career notes
Sara Moreira ran her debut marathon at New York City
last November and made it to the podium, finishing
third in 2:26:00 just behind Mary Keitany and Jemima
Sumgong.
Previously a track specialist, she won the 2013
European indoor 3000m title and has a handful
of silver and bronze medals from European
championships, including outdoor 5000m silver and
bronze medals from 2010 and 2012, respectively, and
an indoor 3000m silver from 2009, plus an under 23
3000m steeplechase bronze in 2007.
At global level, she was a 5000m finalist at the 2009
World Championships in Berlin and finished fifth over
3000m at the World Indoors in 2010. And she was
14th at 10,000m at the London 2012 Olympic Games
having run the steeplechase at Beijing 2008.
She was a double gold medallist at the 2009 World
University Games, winning both the 5000m and
3000m steeplechase.
As a steeplechaser she broke the Portuguese under
23 record in 2007 and the national senior record in
2008, while her personal best of 9:28.64 was set at
the Berlin 2009 World Championships.
At 5000m she ran her PB of 14:54.71 to pick up
European silver in 2010, while her 10,000m PB of
31:16.44 was set at the London Olympics.
She ran her pre-2015 half marathon best of 70:08
when finishing fourth at the 2010 Great North Run.
She won the Great Birmingham Run half marathon in
2012.
She has won no fewer than 16 Portuguese national
titles on all surfaces.
She has also represented Portugal at four World Cross
Country Championships from 2008 to 2011, and five
European Cross Country Championships, helping
Portugal to team golds in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
She was sixth in the 5000m at last summer’s
European Championships.
62 Media Guide 2015
She was second in this year’s Portuguese cross
country championships behind Ana Dulce Félix, and
second ahead of Priscah Jeptoo in the Lisbon half
marathon on 22 March in a personal best of 69:18.
Personal notes
She was born Sara Isabel Fonseca Moreira in Santo
Tirso, Portugal.
She was Portuguese sportswoman of the year in 2013.
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
ALESSANDRA AGUILAR (SPAIN)
Born: 1 July 1978 Lugo, Galicia
Marathon best: 2:27:00 Rotterdam 2011
London Marathon record: None
Other World Marathon Majors
New York: 2011- 14th 2:33:08
Other major city marathons
Hamburg: 2009- 1st 2:29:01
Rotterdam: 2008- 3rd 2:29:03, 2011- 4th 2:27:00,
2013- 4th 2:27:03
Marathons in major championships
Olympics: 2008- 54th 2:39:29, 2012- 26th 2:29:19
Worlds: 2009- 24th 2:33:38, 2011- dnf,
2013- 5th 2:32:38
Europeans: 2010- 5th 2:35:04, 2014- dnf
Career notes
Alessandra Aguilar has represented Spain in the
marathon at seven major championships, including
two Olympic Games, three World Championships and
two Europeans.
Her best result came in Moscow two years ago when
she finished fifth, a great improvement on Daegu two
years before, when she did not finish.
She also finished fifth at the 2010 European
Championships in Barcelona but found the conditions
too tough at the 2014 Europeans in Zürich last
summer when she dropped out.
She was fourth in this year’s Spanish cross country
championships.
Personal notes
She competes for FC Barcelona.
Aguilar made a positive start to her marathon career
when she was third in Rotterdam in 2008, breaking
2:30 at her first attempt. That won her a place on
Spain’s 2008 Olympic team for Beijing where she
placed 54th.
She achieved her first marathon victory in Hamburg
the following year before finishing 24th at the 2009
World Championships in Berlin.
She broke her personal best when she returned
to Rotterdam in 2011, finishing fourth in 2:27:00.
After failing to finish in Daegu, she ran her one and
only World Marathon Majors race in New York that
November. She finished 14th, a little short of her best.
She was back under 2:30 at the Olympic Games in
London the following summer, when she was 26th,
and returned to Rotterdam for a third time in April
2013. She was fourth again, just three seconds slower
than two years previously.
She ran a personal best of 70:56 to finish 21st at the
World Half Marathon Championships last March. She
was sixth at the 2010 Great North Run.
Early in her career, Aguilar represented Spain on the
track at the 1999 European Junior Championships
when she was ninth at 5000m, and at the 2001 World
University Games, where she was sixth at 10,000m.
She’s raced at numerous World and European Cross
Country Championships since 1999, her highest place
being eighth at the 2010 Europeans.
Media Guide 2015 63
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
RKIA EL MOUKIM (MOROCCO)
Born: 22 February 1988
Marathon best: 2:28:12 New York 2014
London Marathon record: None
Other World Marathon Majors
New York: 2014- 6th 2:28:12
Other major city marathons: None
Marathons in major championships: None
Career notes
Rkia El Moukim made an encouraging start to her
marathon career when she was sixth in New York last
November in 2:28:12, an impressive debut given the
strong winds which buffeted the runners for much of
the race.
It was the climax of a breakthrough year for the
27-year-old Moroccan who set five personal bests on
the roads in 2014 when she did much of her racing
in the USA. She ran 32:07 to place third in the New
Orleans 10km race in April and ran 40:41 over 12km
when she was fifth in Spokane in May.
She lowered her half marathon best to 70:03 to win
the Marrakech half marathon in January and then
broke the course record with 71:18 to win the Hy-Vee
half in Des Moines in April, a race delayed by an hour
due to a thunderstorm.
She represented Morocco twice at cross country in
2011, at that year’s World (where she was 36th) and
African championships (ninth).
On the track she was Moroccan 5000m champion in
2012.
She has run three half marathons this year. She
clocked 72:50 when she was third in Adana, won the
Marrakech half on 25 January in 70:48, and was fifth
in the New York half in 70:14 on 16 March.
Personal notes
El Moukim began running in 2001 aged 13. She lives
and trains in Ifrane, a town in the Middle Atlas region of
Morocco, but spends a period each summer racing in
the United States where she is based at Roxborough in
Pennsylvania.
She is married to Ali Attaki who is also an athlete.
She earned $12,000 for her Hy-Vee victory in Iowa last
year, and pledged to buy a car with her winnings.
She is managed by Hicham el Mohtadi, who is head of
D1 Athletics Sports Management and lives in Queens,
New York.
In the US, El Moukim sometimes trains with Askale
Morachi of Ethiopia who is the cousin of double
Olympic 10,000m champion and former London
Marathon winner, Derartu Tulu.
64 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
IWONA LEWANDOWSKA
(POLAND)
Born: 19 February 1985
Marathon best: 2:28:32 Frankfurt 2012
London Marathon record: None
Other World Marathon Majors
Berlin: 2011- 11th 2:30:38
Other major city marathons
Eindhoven: 2014- 1st 2:28:33
Frankfurt: 2012- 7th 2:28:32
Los Angeles: 2012- 4th 2:31:17
Warsaw: 2010- 5th 2:41:58, 2014- 2nd 2:32:42
Marathons in major championships: None
Career notes
Iwona Lewandowska missed her personal best by just
one second when she won the Eindhoven Marathon
last October in 2:28:33.
It was a first victory in six marathons for the former
junior international steeplechaser.
Lewandowska made her marathon debut in Warsaw
in September 2010 when she was fifth in 2:41:58. She
ran the Berlin Marathon a year later and improved by
more than 11 minutes to finish 11th in 2:30:38.
After placing fourth in the 2012 Los Angeles Marathon
she took another two minutes from her best in that
year’s Frankfurt Marathon where she was seventh.
She was runner-up in Warsaw last April before
clinching her first marathon win in Eindhoven.
That capped an excellent year for Lewandowska
who set PBs at 1500m (4:17.40) and 10km (32:25) in
2014, and won Polish titles at 5km and cross country
before finishing eighth at the European Cross Country
Championships. She also won the Warsaw half
marathon in 73:10, half a minute outside her PB. Her
track PB for 5000m 15:35.75 from 2012.
Lewandowska first competed for Poland as a junior in
at the 2004 European Cross Country Championships.
She ran in the under 23 race in 2007 and was eighth
in the seniors in 2014. She ran in the World Cross
Country Championships in 2010.
She also represented her country in the 3000m
steeplechase at the European under 23
Championships in 2005 and 2007.
Personal notes
She runs for the LKS Vectra Wloclawek club.
Media Guide 2015 65
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
MARY DAVIES (NEW ZEALAND)
Born: 27 August 1982
Marathon best: 2:28:57 Toronto 2012
London Marathon record: None
Other World Marathon Majors: None
Other major city marathons
Ottawa: 2010- 7th 2:39:30
Toronto: 2012- 1st 2:28:57
Vienna: 2009- 8th 2:42:39
Marathons in major championships
Worlds: 2009- 34th 2:38:48, 2013- 37th 2:51:24
Career notes
Mary Davies ran 2:28:57 to win the 2012 Waterfront
Marathon in Toronto. Despite rainy and windy
conditions, she clipped almost 10 minutes from her
previous best as she broke 2:30 for the first time and
beat Kenyan Agnes Kiprop by 36 seconds.
She has twice represented New Zealand at World
Championships, finishing 34th in Berlin in 2009 and
37th in Moscow two years ago.
She’s also had top 10 finishes in the Vienna and
Ottawa marathons.
Davies won a 10,000m bronze medal at the 2005
World University Games having worn the all-black
vest for the first time at the 2004 World Cross Country
Championships when she was 53rd.
Her half marathon PB of 1:11:07 was set in Minnesota
in 2013.
She has a 10km PB of 32:09 from Ottawa in 2013
having won the Houston 10km earlier that year. She
won the Houston 10km again this year in 34:53.
Personal notes
Hailing from Northlands in New Zealand, Davies is now
based in Houston, USA, having lived for some time in
Ottawa, Canada. She often competes on the US road
race circuit.
She played hockey at school before taking up running.
She moved to North America to study at Oklahoma
State University in 2004 where she became an AllAmerican on the track before moving to Ottawa with
her Brazil-born husband Gabriel Sawakuchi, a physics
professor.
They had a son, Lucas, born in 2011, and moved to
Houston in 2013. Davies gave birth to her second child
in July last year.
She is coached by New Zealand-based Ian Babe.
Her goal is to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
66 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
ELVAN ABEYLEGESSE (TURKEY)
Born: 11 September 1982 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Marathon best: 2:29:30 Istanbul 2013
London Marathon record: None
Other World Marathon Majors: None
Other major city marathons
Istanbul: 2013- 2nd 2:29:30, 2014- 5th 2:32:15
Marathons in major championships
Europeans: 2014- 5th 2:29:46
Career notes
Elvan Abeylegesse moved up to the marathon for the
first time two years ago, having won Olympic, world
and European medals on the track, including the
5000m and 10,000m double at the 2010 European
Championships in Barcelona.
She won two silvers at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in
those same events, beaten both times by Ethiopia’s
Tirunesh Dibaba, and was the World Championships
silver medallist behind Dibaba in 2007.
She broke the 5000m world record at the Bislett
Games in Oslo in 2004, running 14:24.68 to eclipse
the 1997 mark of China’s Jiang Bo, while her silver
medal-winning time from the Beijing Olympic 10,000m
final of 29:56.34 is still the European record for that
distance.
As a junior she won European titles at 3000m and
5000m in Grosseto, Italy, in 2001, and at cross
country later that year, and she won the European
under 23 5000m gold in 2003.
She holds Turkish records at 2000m, 3000m, 5000m
and 10,000m on the track, while in 2010 she broke
the Turkish half marathon record running 67:07 at the
Ra’s Al Khaymah race in the United Arab Emirates. It
was the fastest debut half marathon on record and at
the time made her the sixth fastest ever.
She ran her first marathon in 2013 when she was
second behind Kenya’s Rebecca Cheshire in Istanbul
in 2:29:30. She also contested the marathon for
Turkey at the European Championships in Zürich last
summer, finishing fifth, just a few seconds outside her
best.
She married and changed her name to Elvan Can
to acquire Turkish citizenship. She became Elvan
Abeylegesse when she got divorced.
Abeylegesse married her long-time partner Semeneh
Debelie in February 2011 and took a break from
competition that year because she was pregnant. She
gave birth to her daughter, Arsema, in July 2011.
She runs for the Enka Sports Club in Istanbul and is
coached by Ertan Hatipoglu, a former triple jumper.
The Ethiopian federation no longer allows her to train
in their country, although she remains on friendly terms
with Ethiopian runners.
In 2010 she received the Pierre de Coubertin World Fair
Play Trophy, an annual award given by the International
Fair Play Committee. She lent a pair of running shoes to
Ethiopia’s Meselech Melkamu just before the 10,000m
final at the 2009 World Championships. Melkamu had
forgotten to bring her shoes to the track, and she went
on to take the silver medal.
She was a couple of minutes slower in November’s
2014 Istanbul Marathon, where she was fifth.
She competed for Turkey at last year’s World Half
Marathon Championships in Copenhagen, but put in a
poor performance, finishing 58th in 75:58.
Personal notes
She was born Hewan Abeye in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,
one of seven children, and ran for Ethiopia as a junior
at the 1999 World Cross Country Championships
in Belfast. She was invited to a meeting in Istanbul
and decided to move there, claiming the Ethiopian
federation didn’t give her enough support.
Media Guide 2015 67
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
DIANE NUKURI (BURUNDI)
Born: 1 December 1984 Kigozi-Mukike, Burundi
Marathon best: 2:29:35 Amsterdam 2014
London Marathon record: 2014- 12th 2:33:01
Other World Marathon Majors
Boston: 2013- 8th 2:29:54
Chicago: 2010- 22nd 2:39:09
New York: 2011- 20th 2:41:21, 2013- 10th 2:30:09
Other major city marathons
Amsterdam: 2014- 3rd 2:29:35
Honolulu: 2014- 7th 2:37:11
Los Angeles: 2011- 4th 2:33:47
Marathons in major championships
Olympics: 2012- 31st 2:30:13
Career notes
Diane Nukuri has broken the Burundi marathon record
three times in the last three years, first at the London
Olympics when she was 31st in 2:30:13, then in
the 2013 Boston Marathon when she was eighth in
2:29:54, and most recently last October when she
was third in the Amsterdam Marathon in 2:29:35.
That was the second of three marathons in 2014,
the first coming in London 12 months ago when she
was 12th in 2:33:01. She also raced in the Honolulu
Marathon in December, finishing seventh, her fourth
top 10 finish in two years.
A Sydney 2000 Olympian at 5000m, Nukuri made a
modest start to her marathon career in 2010 when she
was 22nd in Chicago in 2:39:09. Six months later she
improved by more than five minutes and just missed a
medal at the Los Angeles Marathon, finishing fourth in
2:33:47, although her first run in New York was more
disappointing – 20th in 2:41:21, also in 2011.
She returned to New York in 2013 and was just
outside her best on the testing course, finishing 10th
in 2:30:09.
She began running in her early teens and was a
junior international by the time she was 15, competing
at the 2000 World Cross Country Championships,
where she was 18th. She qualified for the Sydney
Olympics later that year and finished 14th in her
5000m heat after carrying the nation’s flag at the
Opening Ceremony, an honour she was given again
in 2012.
She won a bronze medal over 10,000m at the
Francophone Games in Ottawa the following year,
breaking the national junior and senior records in the
process. Afterwards Nukuri fled to Toronto seeking
asylum from the Burundi civil war.
Courted by US coaches, she moved from Canada
to the States and began breaking national records
indoors and out at every distance from 1500m to
10,000m, and at 5km and marathon on the roads.
She currently holds eight Burundi records and has
so far lowered national bests no fewer than 38 times,
including in September 2013 when she ran 32:29.14
to win 10,000m gold at the Francophone Games in
Nice.
68 Media Guide 2015
Earlier that year she broke her own indoor records
for one mile and 5000m, and that April improved her
marathon record in Boston. She also lowered the
national half marathon record to 69:12 finishing second
in New York in March 2013. She ran her 10km PB of
31:52 in Cape Elizabeth last August.
While at college in the States, Johnson amassed nine
national junior collegiate titles and 17 national junior
All-American honours. At university she won two Big
Ten Championships, in cross country (2007) and at
5000m (2008).
Personal notes
Born in Burundi, she fled the civil war in 2001 after
her father was killed, and gained asylum in Canada,
settling with relatives in the Toronto suburb of
Pickering.
She moved to El Dorado in Kansas to study at Butler
County Community College where she trained with Kirk
Hunter while learning English, her third language. After
two seasons, she transferred to the University of Iowa
to work with coach Layne Anderson who had recruited
her from high school.
She was named an All-American three times and won
the Wilma Rudolph student athlete award. She left
Iowa in 2008 with university records in 10 events and a
degree in communications. She married Alex Johnson
in 2010 having met her husband at the university.
She still lives in Iowa City and is still coached by Layne
Anderson.
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
SONIA SAMUELS
(GREAT BRITAIN & NI)
Born: 16 May 1979 Wallsend
Marathon best: 2:30:56 Berlin 2012
London Marathon record: 2012- 19th 2:33:41
Other World Marathon Majors
Berlin: 2012- 9th 2:30:56
Other major city marathons: None
Marathons in major championships
Worlds: 2013- 16th 2:39:03
Career notes
Sonia Samuels made her marathon debut in London
three years ago when she finished 19th, fourth Briton,
in 2:33:41.
She failed to make the British team for the London
Olympics but ran at the Berlin Marathon that
September and knocked nearly three minutes from
her London time to finish ninth.
She was selected for Britain at the 2013 World
Championships in Moscow and ran well to finish 16th
in 2:39:03.
Samuels took a break from marathon running in
2014 to improve over the shorter distances and,
after recording a personal best of 32:39.36, she was
selected to run 10,000m for England at the Glasgow
Commonwealth Games where she finished seventh.
She used to make her living teaching German, Spanish
and French at John Flamsted School in Denby, but
has recently put her teaching career on hold while she
concentrates on achieving her dream of a place on
Britain’s Rio 2016 Olympic team.
A qualified open water diver, she has dived with great
white sharks at night. She also cycled from Geneva to
Nice through the Alps.
She went on to win a place in the British squad for the
European Cross Country Championships in Samokov
last December. She finished 15th, helping Britain’s
women to a team gold medal.
She also set 5km and 10km PBs on the roads last
year.
Samuels was national junior cross country champion
as long ago as 1999 and won the British universities
cross country title in 2001.
She made her first international appearance in 1997 at
the World Junior Cross Country Championships and
ran in the senior World Cross for the first time in 2002.
On the track, she became British 10,000m champion
in 2011 having finished third the previous year.
She has a half marathon PB of 72:36 from 2013
when she was sixth in Berlin. She finished third there
in 2011. She was 12th at this year’s Lisbon half
marathon in 74:20.
Personal notes
Previously known as Sonia Thomas, she became
Sonia Samuels when she married Nick in 2008. He ran
3:44.2 for 1500m in 2010.
She studied at Loughborough University and was
coached by George Gandy until 2013. Now she is
guided by Terrence Mahon. She runs for Sale Harriers.
Media Guide 2015 69
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
EMMA STEPTO
(GREAT BRITAIN & NI)
Born: 4 April 1970 Wadebridge
Marathon best: 2:32:40 Frankfurt 2014
London Marathon record: 2012- 30th 2:44:17,
2014- 14th 2:36:05
Other World Marathon Majors: None
Other major city marathons
Amsterdam: 2013- 8th 2:35:05
Frankfurt: 2014- 7th 2:32:40
Toronto: 2012- 9th 2:42:58
Marathons in major championships: None
Career notes
Emma Stepto finished fourth on her London Marathon
debut three years ago, aged 42 – not in the elite race, of
course, but in the women’s section of the mass event.
She did run from the elite start last April and finished 14th
in 2:36:05 – more than eight minutes quicker.
Better still came in Frankfurt last October where she
was seventh in 2:32:40, improving her best by two
minutes 25. In two years, she has reduced her PB by
more than 10 minutes from the 2:42:58 she ran to
finish ninth at the 2012 Toronto Marathon.
She took nearly eight minutes from that at the 2013
Amsterdam Marathon when she was eighth in
2:35:05, becoming the third fastest British woman
over 40 behind Priscilla Welch and Joyce Smith, and
the quickest in that age group for 36 years. She also
ranked fourth in the UK for the marathon in 2013; she
ranked third last year.
That was only the last of a string of impressive
performances by Stepto in 2013, topped by her
women’s 40+ UK 5000m record of 16:13.0 in July.
She also placed seventh over 5000m at the British
championships and won the Bristol half marathon in
73:40, quicker than any British woman at the Great
North Run. She achieved all that despite missing two
months with a stress fracture which had forced her to
skip the 2013 London Marathon.
Last year she lowered her 10km PB to 33:11 in Leeds
and finished third in the Cardiff half marathon in 72:29,
another lifetime best.
Having broken Welch’s 5000m mark by eight tenths
of a second, Stepto now has her sights set on her UK
masters marathon record of 2:26:51.
She won the Bath half marathon on 1 March this year
in 73:50 and ran 73:32 to finish fifth at the Reading
half on 22 March.
70 Media Guide 2015
Personal notes
Growing up in the Cornish town of Wadebridge, Stepto
(then known as Emma Stallard) took part in many sports
but didn’t take up running until she was 35.
In the last couple of years she’s been coached by Alan
Rowling.
She lives in Redruth and runs for Cornwall Athletics
Club.
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
VOLHA MAZURONAK
(BELARUS)
Born: 14 April 1989
Marathon best: 2:33:33 Lódz 2013
London Marathon record: None
Other World Marathon Majors: None
Other major city marathons
Baltimore: 2012- 4th 2:40:06
Debno: 2012- 1st 2:33:56
Lódz: 2013- 2nd 2:33:33
Omsk: 2012- 1st 2:44:47
Sacramento: 2014- 1st 2:27:33
Marathons in major championships: None
Career notes
Volha Mazuronak shattered the course record by
nearly two minutes when she dipped under 2:30
for the first time to win last December’s California
International Marathon in Sacramento, a race that
starts shortly after dawn but is run on a downhill
course, so doesn’t count for records.
It was the 25-year-old’s third victory in five marathons
and she improved her personal best by exactly six
minutes.
A former international race walker at youth and junior
level, she moved up to the marathon in 2012, winning
the Belarussian championships in Debno in 2:33:56.
That was in April, and four months later she won
again, this time in Omsk, although in a much slower
time.
She ran her first overseas marathon just two months
later, finishing fourth in Baltimore in 2:40:06. She
shaved 23 seconds from her PB when she was
second in Lódz in April 2013 before running her quick
time in California towards the end of last year.
Mazuronak’s international career stretches back to
2005 when she was fourth in the 5000m walk at the
World Youth Championships.
She was fifth at the following year’s World Juniors in
the 10,000m walk having finished fourth in the junior
10km race at the World Race Walk Cup in La Coruña
that year. She was Belarus junior champion at 10km
walk in 2006 and 2007.
She set a half marathon PB of 72:43 last year shortly
after finishing seventh over 10,000m at the European
Championships in 32:31.15, another PB. She also
lowered her 5000m best last summer to 15:35.44,
finishing third at the European Team Championships
in Tallinn.
Media Guide 2015 71
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
REBECCA ROBINSON
(GREAT BRITAIN & NI)
Born: 28 October 1982
Marathon best: 2:37:14 London 2010
London Marathon record: 2010- 18th 2:37:14
Other World Marathon Majors: None
Other major city marathons
Brighton: 2014- 3rd 2:37:41
Marathons in major championships
Europeans: 2010- 22nd 2:44:06
Career notes
Rebecca Robinson finished third in last year’s Brighton
Marathon, just a fraction outside her best time in
2:37:41, good enough to rank fifth in the UK for 2014.
An established international mountain runner,
Robinson made her marathon debut on the roads in
London in 2010 when she was 18th in 2:37:14, which
remains her PB.
She was selected to run at that summer’s European
Championships in Barcelona where she finished 22nd,
helping Britain to a team bronze medal.
She’d placed 45th at the previous year’s World
Half Marathon Championships and was 17th at the
European Mountain Running Championships that July,
her best performance in three appearances at that
event.
She was 30th at the 2012 World Mountain Running
Championships in Italy and last September improved
to finish 14th in that event after winning the UK
mountain running title for the first time in August.
Robinson ran a half marathon best of 72:40 when she
was fifth in Cardiff last October while she was 12th,
10th, 11th and 12th at the Great North Run between
2008 and 2013. She won the Miami half marathon in
2010.
Personal notes
Robinson runs for Kendal.
She is a trained doctor, and works in Sheffield as a
registrar in sports and exercise medicine.
72 Media Guide 2015
KENDAL
RUNNING CLUB
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Awards & Bonuses for Elite Races
Awards for place
Men
Women
1$55,000 $55,000
2$30,000 $30,000
3$22,500 $22,500
4$15,000 $15,000
5$10,000 $10,000
6$7,500 $7,500
7$5,000 $5,000
8$4,000 $4,000
9$3,000 $3,000
10$2,000
$2,000
11$1,500
$1,500
12$1,000
$1,000
$156,500$156,500
Total prize money: $313,000
Time & Record Bonuses
MenWomen
Any runner recording sub:
(not cumulative)
2:05:00 $100,000
2:06:00 $75,000
2:07:00 $50,000
2:08:00 $25,000
2:08:30 $15,000
2:09:00 $10,000
2:09:30 $5,000
2:10:00 $3,000
2:11:00 $1,000
Any runner recording sub:
(not cumulative)
2:18:00$100,000
2:20:00$75,000
2:22:00$50,000
2:23:00$25,000
2:24:00$15,000
2:25:00$10,000
2:26:00$5,000
2:27:00$3,000
2:28:00$1,000
Any runner achieving the following will receive (in addition to the above):
• First in race and men’s course record (2:04:29) - $25,000
• First in race and women’s only course record (2:17:42) - $25,000
• First in race and men’s world record (currently 2:02:57) - $125,000
• First in race and women’s only world record (currently 2:17:42) - $125,000
Media Guide 2015 73
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
British Runners
The British athletes listed below are those who will line-up at the ‘elite’ start lines. To be considered part of the
elite entries British athletes must satisfy the following criteria:
Men: athletes who have run a sub-2:18:00 marathon or sub-67:00 half marathon between 1 January 2014 and
31 December 2014.
Women: athletes who have run a sub-2:38:00 marathon or sub-1:17:00 half marathon between 1 January 2014
and 31 December 2014.
These athletes are all offered travel expenses and two nights accommodation. Any other athlete achieving these
times at the 2015 Virgin Money London Marathon will have their travel expenses reimbursed.
British Men
Bib
17
27
Name
Scott Overall
Matthew Hynes
Club
Blackheath & Bromley
Gateshead
PB (year) Age
2:10:55 (11) 32
Debut
27
Bib name
OVERALL
HYNES
Club
Sale Harriers, Manchester
Cornwall
Kendal
PB (year)
2:30:56 (12)
2:32:40 (14)
2:37:14 (10)
Bib name
SAMUELS
STEPTO
ROBINSON
British Women
Bib
120
121
123
Name
Sonia Samuels
Emma Stepto
Rebecca Robinson
Age
35
45
32
Note: Paula Radcliffe will not start with the elite women’s field, but among the British Championship runners who
line up behind the elite men on the blue start at Blackheath. Her details are:
1255
Paula Radcliffe
74 Media Guide 2015
Bedford & County AC
2:15:25 (03) 41
PAULA
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
PAULA RADCLIFFE
(GREAT BRITAIN & NI)
Born: 17 December 1973 Davenham, Cheshire
Marathon best: 2:15:25 London 2003
London Marathon record: 2002- 1st 2:18:56,
2003- 1st 2:15:25, 2005- 1st 2:17:42
Other World Marathon Majors
Berlin: 2011- 3rd 2:23:46
Chicago: 2002- 1st 2:17:18
New York: 2004- 1st 2:23:10; 2007- 1st 2:23:09,
2008- 1st 2:23:56, 2009- 4th 2:29:27
Other major city marathons: None
Marathons in major championships
Olympics: 2004- dnf, 2008- 23rd 2:32:38
Worlds: 2005- 1st 2:20:57
Career notes
Paula Radcliffe returns to the London Marathon for
the first time since 2005 to make what is expected
to be her final appearance as a competitive athlete
on the course where 12 years ago she revolutionised
the notion of how fast a woman can run 26 miles 385
yards.
Radcliffe won the 2003 London Marathon in 2:15:25,
averaging 5 minutes 9.9 seconds per mile (or 3:12.56
per km). It was the first and only time in history that the
women’s world record came within 10 minutes of the
contemporary men’s record (2:05:38). She is the only
female athlete to run the marathon quicker than 2:18
and she’s done it three times.
After her sensational marathon debut in London in
2002, she first broke the world record in Chicago
that October, running 2:17:18 with the aid of male
pacemakers, and clocked 2:17:42 to claim the
‘women-only’ world record in London in 2005. She
went on to add the World Championships title in
Helsinki that August, in a championship record time,
and she’s also won the New York Marathon three
times, running sub-2:24 on each occasion.
The average of her three London Marathon times
alone is faster than any other woman has ever run.
Her final marathon on 26 April will be her 13th. In the
previous 12 she has won eight while she also finished
fourth in New York in 2009, and third in Berlin in 2011.
She has produced four of the seven fastest times in
history.
However, her dream of winning an Olympic marathon
gold was ruined three times by injury. She started the
2004 Olympic marathon as an overwhelming favourite
but was forced to drop out of the gruelling Athens
race because of illness caused by pain killers. The
pictures of Radcliffe sitting beside the Athens road in
tears were among the most enduring images of those
Games.
Then a toe injury followed by a hip stress fracture
meant she lost vital weeks of training in the run-up to
the Beijing 2008 Games, where she finished 32nd,
again in pain … and more tears.
She was selected for the London 2012 Olympics but
pulled out of the team two weeks before the Games
with a foot injury which has plagued her ever since.
Before her marathon career took off, Radcliffe won the
World Cross Country title twice, claimed two World
Half Marathon golds, won the European 10,000m title
and a Commonwealth Games 5000m crown. She
appeared in five World Championship track finals,
clinching 10,000m silver in 1999, and three Olympic
finals, finishing fifth over 5000m in 1996 and fourth at
10,000m in 2000.
She made her first competitive appearance for two
and a half years on 21 September last year when she
was third in the Worcester 10km road race. She also
ran a 10km race in Sopot, Poland, last October and
ran 15km in Heerenberg, in the Netherlands, on 7
December.
Radcliffe will not start with the elite women’s field, but
among the British Championship runners who line up
behind the elite men on the blue start at Blackheath.
Personal notes
Radcliffe married Garry Lough (a 3:34.76 1500m
runner) in 2001, and they have two children – Isla,
born in 2007, and Raphael, born in 2010. They live in
Monaco and she trains in the south of France and Iten,
Kenya.
She has a first class degree in European languages
from Loughborough University. In 2002, she received
an MBE and was 2002 BBC Sports Personality of
the Year. Her great aunt Charlotte won a silver medal
in the 4x100m freestyle swimming relay at the 1920
Olympics. She is a BBC TV athletics commentator.
Media Guide 2015 75
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
UK Championships & Bonuses
UK Championships
The 2015 Virgin Money London Marathon is also the 2015 British Athletics men’s and women’s marathon
championships. To compete in the championships an athlete must be a member of a UK Athletics affiliated club
and have run the following times in 2013 or 2014:
Men: 2:45, or 1:15 half marathon
Women: 3:15, or 1:30 half marathon
2015 World Championships selection
The 2015 London Marathon elite races are also the official British Athletics marathon trials for the 2015 IAAF
World Championships in Beijing. To be eligible for selection athletes must have run the following qualifying times
between 1 January 2014 and 16:00 (BST) on 26 April 2015:
Men:
2:14:00Women:
2:31:00
The first two British athletes to finish the London Marathon who hold the qualifying time will be selected
automatically. Marathon performances must be achieved on IAAF accredited courses (as listed on the IAAF
website) or at the 2014 European Championships or 2014 Commonwealth Games.
The British marathon competitors for the 2015 World Championships will be announced on Tuesday 28 April
2015. British Athletics can select up to three athletes for the individual men’s and women’s marathons.
Currently, the following athletes have achieved the British Athletics marathon standards:
Men Individual: Mo Farah (2:08:21), Chris Thompson (2:11:19), Scott Overall (2:13:00)
Women Individual: -
Bonuses
These bonuses apply to all British athletes eligible to compete for the UK in major championships. These sums
are not cumulative.
MenWomen
Sub 2:11:00 - $8,000
Sub 2:31:00 - $8,000
Sub 2:12:00 - $7,000
Sub 2:32:00 - $7,000
Sub 2:13:00 - $6,000
Sub 2:33:00 - $6,000
Sub 2:14:00 - $5,000
Sub 2:34:00 - $5,000
Sub 2:15:00 - $4,000
Sub 2:35:00 - $4,000
Sub 2:16:00 - $2,500
Sub 2:36:00 - $2,500
Sub 2:17:00 - $1,500
Sub 2:37:00 - $1,500
Sub 2:18:00 - $1,000
Sub 2:38:00 - $1,000
Sub 2:19:00 - $500
Sub 2:40:00 - $500
76 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
05 IPC ATHLETICS MARATHON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
In October 2014, IPC Athletics, the international federation for para-athletics, announced that the 2015 London
Marathon would host the IPC Athletics Marathon World Championships.
The 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships will be held in Doha in October, but IPC Athletics decided to
switch the marathon events to London as it better suits the schedules of the leading marathon racers. Ryan
Montgomery, Head of IPC Athletics, explained: “Following the success of the IPC Athletics Marathon World Cup
in London for the last two years, we are delighted that the British capital will stage the IPC Athletics Marathon
World Championships next year. London has a superb track record for staging top class marathon events, as
demonstrated each year and during the London 2012 Paralympic Games.”
London was chosen by IPC Athletics to launch the first IPC Athletics Marathon World Cup in 2013 with events
for para-athletes added to a race-day programme that had long included elite wheelchair competitions. Six IPC
world records have been set at the two hugely successful World Cups in 2013 and 2014. The Marathon World
Cup will return to the London Marathon in 2016.
The Events
There will be eight IPC Athletics Marathon World Championship races at the 2015 London Marathon:
• T11/T12 – for para-athletes with a severe visual impairment who run with a guide – races for men & women
• T13 – for para-athletes with a visual impairment meeting the minimum criteria – men’s race only
• T42/43/44 – for para-athletes with lower and upper leg impairments – men only
• T45/46 – for para-athletes with lower and upper arm impairments – men only
• T51/52 – wheelchair racers with activity limitation in both lower and upper limbs – men only
• T53/54 – wheelchair racers with partial trunk and leg function – men & women.
•Each country can enter a maximum of six athletes in each event.
•Athletes must have achieved the minimum qualification standard for their catgeory (although the IPC may directly invite some athletes to compete in some events).
• As well as athletes selected for the World Championships, the London Marathon has directly invited some
additional elite athletes to compete in its long-standing T53/54 races. These invited athletes will race in the
same events, and can receive London Marathon prize money, but they will not count as part of the IPC
Athletics Marathon World Championships and will not receive World Championship medals or titles if they
finish in the top three.
• All team members will compete in their national vests. Invited T53/54 athletes will wear their own colours.
• These races will also act as qualifiers for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
• The wheelchair races will start at 09:00; the other IPC events will start at 09:05.
Reigning champions
The last marathon world titles were awarded on 28 July 2013 as part of the IPC Athletics World Championships
in Lyon, France. Five marathon events were held in the following categories. These were the medallists:
T11 Men
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Cristian Valenzuela (CHI)
Shinya Wada (JPN)
Joaquim Machado (POR)
2:44:33
2:45:34
2:45:50
T12 Men
Gold
Silver
Bronze
El Amin Chentouf (MAR)
Elkin Serna Morena (COL)
Gabriel Macchi (POR)
2:29:47
2:40:41
2:41:25
T46 Men
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Alessandro di Lello (ITA)
Pedro Meza (MEX)
Ezekuiel Costa (BRA)
2:33:42
2:48:20
3:00:45
T54 Men
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Marcel Hug (SUI)
Tomasz Hamerlak (POL)
Kota Hokinoue (JPN)
1:28:44
1:32:27
1:32:27
T54 Women
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Manuela Schär (SUI)
Wakako Tsuchida (JPN)
Edith Wolf (SUI)
1:49:45
1:49:45
1:49:46
More details of the World Championship marathons can be found at: www.paralympic.org/athletics
Media Guide 2015 77
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Athletes with Visual Impairments
T11/12 Men
Bib
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
Name
Alberto Suarez Laso
El Amin Chentouf
Elkin Alonso Serna Moreno
(Alexander Krasnoperov)
(Sergio Silva / Paulo Ramos)
Tadashi Horikoshi
Masahiro Taniguchi
DoB
19/12/77
08/06/81
13/01/85
Bib name
SUAREZ LASO
CHENTOUF
SERNA MORENO
T12
T11
2:27:48
2:35:39
45
37
13/04/70
09/07/77
OKAMURA
WADA
T12
T12
2:36:58
2:37:23
51
39
08/04/64
02/10/75
MARKLEW
MACCHI
JPN
RUS
T12
T11
2:37:55
2:37:59
28
38
14/02/87
21/03/77
KUMAGAI
KHAVLIN
POR
T11
2:38:27
45
06/06/69
FERREIRA
JPN
JPN
T12
T11
2:39:33
2:41:21
26
24
19/07/88
16/07/90
HORIKOSHI
TANIGUCHI
POR
T11
2:41:53
44
03/04/71
MACHADO
RUS
T12
2:41:56
29
11/09/85
ANTIPIN
POR
T12
2:43:31
39
11/01/76
PINA
FRA
JPN
T12
T12
2:44:16
2:48:43
33
41
22/01/82
09/09/73
BOMPARD
HATAT7
ESP
T12
2:50:10
38
15/03/77
AVILA
SLO
T11
2:52:07
41
16/07/73
NOVAK
HUN
T12
2:54:36
43
01/09/71
ORBAN
GBR
T11
2:59:23
45
03/11/69
AHMAD
GER
T11
2:59:59
43
30/07/71
ARNOLD
JPN
JPN
GBR
POR
(Satoshi Ikezawa / Makoto Sasaki)
113
Joaquim Machado
(Rui Chaves / Jose Ferreira)
114
Oleg Antipin
(Oleg Kharitonov)
115
Jorge Pina
(Anotonio Pinheiro / Luis Ginja)
Age
37
33
30
(Martim Nunes / Jorge Rodrigues)
Yutaka Kumagai
Igor Khavlin
116
117
PB
2:23:24
2:24:00
2:26:39
(Takashi Nakata / Takehiko Gyoba)
Stephen Marklew
Gabriel Macchi
Carlos Ferreira
Class
T12
T12
T12
(Guides: German Naranjo Jaramillo / Sellares)
Masahiro Okamura
Shinya Wada
110
111
112
Country
ESP
MAR
COL
Nicolas Bompard
Masato Hatate
(Manabu Otsuki / Kyo Ishibashi)
118
Abel Avila
(Roberto Alvarez / Oriol Martinez)
119
Sandi Novak
(Roman Kejzar / Urban Jereb)
120
Csaba Orban
(Jozsef Varga / Imre Szabo)
121
Haseeb Ahmad
(Rodger Wilkins)
122
Ralf Arnold
(Martin Schmidtke)
Biographies
Alberto Suarez Laso: The London 2012 Paralympic T12 marathon champion. He ran 2:24:50 to take victory,
having won gold at the 2011 Worlds the previous year. But he did not finish the marathon at the 2013 Worlds. He
won the T13 5000m at last summer’s European Championships. He was diagnosed with macular degeneration
in 2008 and took up the sport when he began to lose his vision.
El Amin Chentouf: Broke the T12 world record to win the inaugural 2013 IPC World Cup in 2:24:00. He won
T12 5000m gold at the London 2012 Paralympics when he broke the world record by more than 30 seconds.
He added three more golds at the 2013 World Championships in Lyon, the T12 5000m, 10,000m and marathon.
He broke the world record in the 10,000m and won the marathon by 11 minutes in 2:29:47. He retained his
IPC World Cup title here last April in 2:25:07. He was second in the 2012 Moroccan able-bodied 10,000m. He
comes from Rabat and began competing in 2008.
Elkin Alonso Serna Moreno: The London 2012 silver medallist in the T12 marathon. He was Colombia’s flag
bearer. He also took silver at the 2013 and 2011 Worlds and at the Beijing 2008 Games. He was fifth at the 2013
IPC World Cup but did not compete in 2014 when he was suffering from gastritis brought on by the stress of
building his own house. He only returned to full health last December. In 1998, his family had to flee their village,
La Magdalena, near Urrao, because of violence. His sight is roughly 10% of normal vision after he contracted
macular degeneration at age five. He began running at seven. He had to run six miles each day to school.
Masahiro Okamura: The 2011 World Championships T12 bronze medallist. He was fourth in the marathon at
the London 2012 Paralympics and eighth in the 5000m. A teacher by occupation, he’s married to Ayumi.
78 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Shinya Wada: The T11 marathon silver medallist from the 2013 Worlds, improving from bronze in 2011. He was
fifth in the T12 marathon at the London 2012 Paralympics, and won a 5000m bronze. His visual impairment is
congenital. He began running in 2006 and is married with two children.
Stephen Marklew: A runner and coach at Royal Sutton Coldfield, he ran his marathon PB at the London
Marathon in 2009. He has run London every year since 2007. He clocked 2:58:37 last year.
Gabriel Macchi: He was third in the IPC World Cup in 2013 and 2014 clocking 2:37:23 in 2013, and won
another bronze at the 2013 World Championships. He was sixth in the London 2012 marathon after finishing
14th in Beijing 2008. Argentine-born, he now teaches in Fundão in central Portugal. He took up running in 2006.
Igor Khavlin: Was ninth in the IPC World Cup in 2013 and fourth last year. He was sixth in the T11 marathon
at the 2013 World Championships having finished seventh in 2006. He ran 2:37:59 in Turin in 2010 but was
disqualified from the T12 marathon at London 2012 when his guide crossed the finish line ahead of him. He took
up the sport after losing his sight in an accident. He holds the title of Master of Sport in Russia. After the 2012
Paralympics he was awarded a monetary stipend by the governor of the Sverdlovsk region in Russia.
Carlos Ferreira: He won the Sydney 2000 T11 Paralympic marathon in 2:38:27. He also won silver at 10,000m
that year and silvers at both events in Athens 2004. He also has silver and bronze marathon medals from the
2002 and 2006 World Championships. He won a 5000m bronze at last year’s IPC European Championships. He
competed for Portugal’s 7-a-side football team at the 1992 Paralympics winning a silver medal. His hero is Paul
Tergat. He took up athletics in 1995.
Tadashi Horikoshi: He was fifth in the T12 5000m at London 2012, setting an Asian record of 14:48.59, having
been eighth at Beijing 2008. He was fifth in the 10,000m at the 2011 Worlds and sixth in the 5000m and 800m.
He was sixth at 1500m and seventh at 5000m in 2013.
Masahiro Taniguchi: Was fifth in three events at the 2013 Worlds – 1500m, 5000m and marathon. He took up
the sport in his first year at the University of Tsukuba’s special needs school for the blind. He lives in Kobe.
Joaquim Machado: The 2013 world bronze medallist in the T11 marathon was fifth in the IPC World Cup
last year in 2:41:53 after finishing seventh in 2013. He finished eighth in the T12 marathon at London 2012 in
2:43:17. He ranked third in the world in the T11 class in 2012 after running 2:42:37 in Tokyo. Coached by Carlos
Ferreira. He took up the sport in 2005 aged 34.
Oleg Antipin: He ran his PB at the Frankfurt Marathon last October.
Jorge Pina: He was fourth in the T12 marathon at the 2013 IPC World Championships and sixth at last year’s
IPC World Cup. He was disqualified at the end of the London 2012 marathon because his guide crossed the line
ahead of him. A national boxing champion several times, he became visually impaired aged 30 after suffering
retina damage during a practice bout. When doctors told him of the diagnosis, the first thing he asked was,
“Can I run?” He set up his own club, the Associacao Jorge Pina, to help disadvantaged people.
Nicolas Bompard: He ran 2:44:16 to finish fourth overall at the Orléans Marathon last November. His previous
PB was 2:47:17 from Cheverny in 2011. He also ran 2:48:17 at the 2012 Poitiers Marathon. He comes from
Auvergne and started running as a teenager.
Masato Hatate: Ran his PB in the 2011 Fukuchiyama Marathon. He is a teacher and is married with two
daughters. He is blind from a congenital disease and was encouraged to try running by a teacher at school.
Abel Avila: He won World Championship golds at 800m and 1500m in 2002 having claimed Paralympic silver at
800m in Sydney 2000. He won World bronze and silver at the same distances in 2006 when he also won a relay
gold. His younger brother Ignacio won a gold medal in the T12 800m event at the 2004 Paralympic Games in
Athens. He took up athletics in 1998.
Sandi Novak: Was seventh in the T11 marathon at the 2013 Worlds and fourth in the 5000m at last year’s
Europeans. He lost his sight in an accident in 2004 while celebrating the marriage of a friend. He then devoted
himself to marathon running while at a rehabilitation centre recovering from the accident. He missed out on the
London Paralympics despite having the B qualifying time.
Csaba Orban: He finished 12th in the London 2012 marathon in 3:01:02, the first Hungarian to compete in a
Paralympic marathon. He ran 2:54:36 in Seville in 2012. He was an athlete before he became visually impaired.
Haseeb Ahmad: A Leicester Tri runner who broke three hours at the 2014 London Marathon, improving his PB
by about 40 minutes. He also ran a half marathon best of 1:23:10 at the Keyworth Turkey Trot last December.
He has been totally blind since the age of 20 due to retinitis pigmentosa which began when he was 10.
Media Guide 2015 79
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
T11/12 Women
Bib
131
Name
Misato Michishita
Country Class PB
JPN
T12
2:59:21
(Guides: Takahiro Higuchi / Noritaka Horiuchi)
52
15/01/63
(Lorenzo Sanchez Martinez)
Elena Pautova
(Grigoriy Andreev)
134
Mihoko Nishijima
(Manabu Mizobuchi)
135
Regina Vollbrecht
(Ralf Miilke)
136
Elena Congost
(Roger Esteve Montserrat)
137
Yumiko Fujii
(Hiroaki Hashimoto)
138
Naomi Abe
(Eri Matsubara / Fusai Narita)
139
Maria Williams
(Melissa Moon)
2:59:22
Bib name
MICHISHITA
Maria Paredes Rodriguez
T12
DoB
19/01/77
132
133
ESP
Age
38
RUS
T12
3:04:10
29
22/01/86
PAREDES
RODRIGUEZ
PAUTOVA
JPN
T12
3:11:33
59
01/05/55
NISHIJIMA
GER
T11
3:18:15
38
28/12/76
VOLLBRECHT
ESP
T12
3:25:27
37
20/09/87
CONGOST
JPN
T12
3:26:10
50
21/09/64
FUJI
JPN
T12
3:27:31
42
30/03/73
ABE
NZL
T11
3:30:00
45
27/07/69
WILLIAMS
Biographies
Misato Michishita: She was second to Rodriguez at the IPC World Cup last year in 3:09:40. She ranked
No.1 in the world for T12 athletes in 2013 after setting a personal best of 3:06:32 at the Hofu Marathon that
December, a time she improved in the same race last year to rank world No.1 for the second time. She has been
running since 2004.
Maria del Carmen Paredes Rodriguez: She won the IPC World Cup in both 2013 and 2014, clocking official
IPC world records on both occasions. She ran 3:17:10 in 2013 and then became the first T12 female athlete to
dip under three hours last year when she finsihed in 2:59:22. She was ranked third in the world among T12s in
2013 and second behind Michishita last year. She was 10th at the Carpi Marathon in 2011. Last year she won
a bronze medal in the T12 5000m at the European Championships. She was one of six runners to feature in a
Canal+ TV show ‘Run to Valencia’ last October. The show accompanied six athletes over 12 episodes as they
prepared to run the Valencia Marathon on 16 November.
Elena Pautova: A multiple track gold medallist at Paralympic, World and European level, she ranked No.3 in the
world for the marathon in 2014 after running a PB of 3:04:10 at the Frankfurt Marathon. She was Paralympic T12
1500m champion in 2004 and 2012, and has won the world 1500m title three times in succession in 2006, 2011
and 2013. She won the European crown last summer. She also has three Paralympic and one world bronze
medal at 800m. She received the Order of Honour following the 2012 Paralympic Games, and she holds the
title of Honoured Master of Sport in Russia. She began training while attending a boarding school for blind and
visually impaired children in Armavir.
Mihoko Nishijima: She set her personal best at the 2003 Osaka Ladies’ Marathon. She ran 3:12:25 in the
Nagoya Marathon to rank fourth in the world last year for T12 runners having ranked second in 2013. She has
been running since 2001. She was third in last year’s IPC World Cup in 3:20:18.
Regina Vollbrecht: She set four T11 marathon world records between 2004 and 2007, most recently running
3:18:15 at the 2007 Hamburg Marathon. She was ranked No.1 in the world last year in the T11 marathon after
running 3:28:35 at the Frankfurt Marathon last October. She started playing sport in King’s Wusterhausen, a
special school for visually impaired people, and ran her first marathon in 2000 after only two months of training.
She also represented Germany in goal ball at the 2004 Paralympics and is a para-cyclist. She is a social worker
in Berlin and since August 2006 has been an ambassador for Christoffel-Blindenmission, an agency that aims to
help people living with impairments, as well as those who are at risk of acquiring or developing an impairment.
Elena Congost: A Paralympic silver medallist in the T12 1500m at the London 2012 Games, she also won a
world silver in 2011 and bronze in 2013 at that distance. A former long jumper, she ran for Spain at the 2004 and
2008 Paralympics. She works as an early childhood educator and trains at the high performance centre in Sant
Cugat del Valles.
Yumiko Fuji: She set her personal best finishing fourth in last year’s IPC World Cup which ranked her fourth in
the world for 2014. Her previous best was 3:28:29 from the 2008 Fukuchiyama Marathon. She ran 3:28:39 in
Tsuchiura in 2013 to rank fourth in that year’s world rankings. She has been running since 1999.
Naomi Abe: She ranked sixth in the world last year after running 3:27:31 at the Hofu City Marathon.
80 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
T13 Men
Bib
141
142
143
144
145
146
Name
Country
Youssef Benibrahim
MAR
Aleksei Akhtyamov
RUS
Aniceto Antonio dos Santos BRA
Egor Merkulov
RUS
Tim Prendergast
NZL
Jason Romero
USA
Class
T13
T13
T13
T13
T13
T13
PB
2:35:24
2:42:41
2:44:53
2:47:17
2:48:34
2:51:15
Age
31
25
39
27
36
45
DoB
19/07/83
03/05/89
17/04/76
26/06/87
01/03/79
07/03/70
Bib name
BENIBRAHIM
AKHTYAMOV
DOS SANTOS
MERKULOV
PRENDERGAST
ROMERO
Biographies
Youssef Benibrahim: The Beijing 2008 Paralympic silver medallist in the T13 5000m. He was also fourth in the
1500m in Beijing. He won world bronze at 1500m in 2011 and silver in 2013. He began running in 2007 and
made his international debut at the African Championships in 2008.
Aleksei Akhtyamov: The London 2012 F57/58 discus champion, he also finished sixth in the T13 800m and
eighth in the 1500m at the Paralympics. He picked up two silvers at last year’s European Championships in the
1500m and 5000m, breaking the European T13 5000m record. He began athletics in 2004 and is based at the
Moscow Regional Centre for Paralympic and Deaf Sports. He holds the title of Master of Sport of International
Class in Russia.
Aniceto Antonio dos Santos: Ran his PB at the 2014 São Paulo Marathon last October. He started running
aged 11 when a neighbour in Ceilandia told him he wouldn’t be able to do it. To prove him wrong, dos Santos
ran barefoot alongside him for 10km.
Egor Merkulov: He began training in 2009 and is based in Lipetsk. He holds the national sports title of Master
of Sport of International Class in Russia.
Tim Prendergast: The Athens 2004 T13 800m champion. He also won silver medals at 800m and 1500m
in Sydney 2000. He was world 800m champion in 2002 and world silver medallist at both events in 2006. At
London 2012 he was fifth at 800m in his fastest time, and sixth at 1500m. He ran his PB when finishing 11th in
the T11-13 race at the 2013 IPC World Cup at the London Marathon. He lives in London and is a member of
Woodford Green and Essex Ladies club. Nickamed ‘Prendo’. His hero is Roger Bannister. He works as an athlete
mentor visiting schools in England to share his story. He is married to Lisa and their son, Finn, was born in 2013.
Jason Romero: He is the 2014 US Association of Blind Athletes marathon champion. He ran in the 2009
Boston Marathon, finishing in 3:05:19. He is also an ultrarunner, often competing in races of 100 miles or longer,
including the Leadville Trail 100. He earned a degree in business administration from the University of San Diego
and a law degree from University of Colorado. He is now based in Denver. He was diagnosed with retinitis
pigmentosa in middle school.
Media Guide 2015 81
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Athletes with Limb Impairments
T42-44 Men
Bib
151
152
Name
Richard Whitehead
Eitan Hermon
Country Class
GBR / INV*T42
ISR
T44
PB
Age
2:42:52 38
3:00:46 40
DoB
19/07/76
01/11/74
Bib name
WHITEHEAD
HERMON
* INV = athletes invited by the London Marathon who are not competing in the IPC Athletics Marathon World Championships.
They will not wear their national vests and are not eligible for World Championship medals. They will receive London Marathon
prize money.
Biographies
Richard Whitehead: He finished the 2013 IPC World Cup race in 3:15:53, an official world record, although
some way short of his personal best from Chicago in 2010, a course not licensed by the IPC. He ran 3:42:04
last year. Whitehead holds the world’s fastest times for T42 athletes at both half and full marathon. Born without
lower legs, he became the first athlete with double leg impairments to break three hours in Rome in 2009, and
he lowered that time to 2:42:52 at the 2010 Chicago Marathon. He could not contest the marathon at London
2012 because there was no race for his class, so he entered the sprints, winning gold in the T42 200m in a world
record 24.38 seconds, and placing seventh in the 100m. He is also a double world champion at 200m, winning
in 2011 and 2013, while he was second at the Europeans last year. He ran his first marathon in New York in
2004.
He lives in Nottingham and is coached by Keith Antoine for sprints and Liz Yelling for long distance. He has also
competed internationally at cricket and swimming, and played sledge hockey for Britain at the 2006 Winter
Olympics. He was nicknamed ‘Richard the Lionheart’ after running the Comrades Ultra Marathon. In September
2013 he ran 40 marathons in 40 days from John O’Groats to Land’s End to raise £1 million for Sarcoma UK and
Scope. He was made an MBE in 2013. He and his partner Val Davies have two children, Zarah, born in January
2013, and Andrew John, or ‘AJ’, who was born on 5 February this year. He says he always wears the same
pants when he competes. In 2014 he was second in the TV celebrity diving show, Splash.
Richard Whitehead
Eitan Hermon: He started running at 10 after watching his brother compete. He now runs about 120km a
week, and swims and cycles. He lost his right leg after the second Lebanon war in 2006 when a roadside
bomb exploded near his armoured tank. Doctors tried to save the leg for a year, but he decided to get it
amputated so he could run again. Two years after his amputation, he became the first Israeli with an amputation
to finish a marathon when he completed the 2010 Tiberias Marathon in 3:46. He then ran 3:02:14 at the
2012 Berlin Marathon and competed in the 2012 Williams Route66 Marathon in USA. He has also completed
the Rotterdam and Paris Marathons. His original prosthesis was the first ever to be made in Israel, but it was
designed for walking, not running. His second cost £20,000 and was fitted at the Pace Rehabilitation Centre in
Buckinghamshire in 2013. It rubs against his limb as he runs, so after a long run it leaves the stump looking “like
raw meat”. He returned to Pace this January to get a new prosthetic. His aim is to break the world record for
below-the-knee amputees which stands at 2:57:06. He already holds the 10km world record of 37:42.
82 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
T45/46 Men
Bib
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
Name
Country
Tito Sena
BRA
Abderrahman Ait KhamouchESP
Alessandro di Lello
ITA
Mario Bauer
AUT
Pedro Meza
MEX
Derek Rae
GBR
Alex Pires da Silva
BRA
Isidro Vildosola
PHI
Oleh Leshchyshyn
UKR
Ezequiel Marcelo da Costa BRA
Peter Molnar
HUN
Ahmed Farhat
MAR
Manuel Mendes
POR
Jose Monteiro
POR
Class
T46
T46
T46
T46
T46
T46
T46
T46
T46
T46
T46
T46
T46
T46
PB
2:30:40
2:31:04
2:31:06
2:39:30
2:41:59
2:44:43
2:45:18
2:46:36
2:46:55
2:46:57
2:47:15
2:47:40
2:49:51
3:03:18
Age
48
29
37
33
40
29
24
39
30
43
36
32
44
40
DoB
06/02/67
31/08/85
18/07/77
10/12/81
23/02/75
23/10/85
07//05/90
15/05/76
07/11/84
01/06/71
23/12/78
01/01/83
14/04/71
11/03/75
Bib name
SENA
AIT KHAMOUCH
DI LELLO
BAUER
MEZA
RAE
PIRES DA SILVA
VILDOSOLA
LESHCHYSHYN
DA COSTA
MOLNAR
FARHAT
MENDES
MONTEIRO
Biographies
Tito Sena: He won T46 marathon gold at the London 2012 Paralympics, going one better than in 2008 when he
took silver despite running with a partially-ruptured Achilles tendon. Sena won at London 2012 with a personal
best of 2:30:40, beating his Beijing time by nine seconds. He could only finish fourth in the IPC World Cup in
2013, but made amends last year when he ran 2:35:45 to beat Alessandro di Lello and rank first in the world
for the year. He was world champion in 2006 and world silver medallist in 2011. He was also ninth over 5000m
at the Beijing Games. In 2003 his right arm was crushed in a packaging machine at the drinks factory where he
worked, needing six operations and six months recuperation. He gained 12kg from taking steroids and became
depressed. He began running to lose weight. He is a father of two and comes from Goiania. His pre-accident PB
was 2:25:42.
Abderrahman Ait Khamouch: Ran 2:31:04 to win the London 2012 Paralympics silver medal. He was leading
the race with just 400m to go but suffered a coughing fit brought on by a cold, allowing Sena to pass him. He
had run a T46 world record at the Barcelona Marathon earlier that year. He ranked ninth in the world last year
after running 2:52:31 in the Seville Marathon. He won silver and bronze medals on the track at Beijing 2008 at
1500m and 800m. He was disqualified in the marathon at the 2013 World Championships. Born in Mellab, a
village in southern Morocco, he moved to Spain at 15 and first competed for Spain in Beijing shortly after gaining
citizenship. He lost his right arm in a farming accident as a child. He lives in Barcelona and speaks Arabic,
Catalan, French and Spanish. He wrote an autobiography in Arabic entitled The Angel with the Crooked Wing
which was translated into Spanish.
Alessandro di Lello: He became the 2013 T46 world champion in Lyon, a race he won by nearly 15 minutes,
just three months after winning the inaugural IPC World Cup in 2:32:06. He ran 2:31:06 at the New York
Marathon in 2009 but could only finish eighth at the London Paralympics in 2:46:27 and was beaten by Sena in
London last year when he ran 2:41:05. He became disabled after a motorcycle accident and began running to
lose weight. He lives in Tivoli.
Mario Bauer: He ran 2:39:30 at the Berlin Marathon last September to rank second in the world among T46
athletes for 2014.
Pedro Meza: He was silver medallist at 2013 World Championships in 2:48:20 after finishing sixth at London
2012 and eighth in the Beijing 2008 Games. He was fourth in last year’s IPC World Cup in 2:49:16. He was also
sixth at 5000m in Lyon. He lives in Tlaxcala with his wife, Caritina, and children, Maria, Maitza and Pedro. He took
up running at 16. His full name is Pedro Meza Zempoaltecatl.
Derek Rae: He ranked fourth in the world in 2014 after running 2:44:43 at the London Marathon last year. This
will be his championships debut. Formerly a joiner, he lost use of his right arm in 2010 when his motorcycle
crashed into a truck. A member of Anster Haddies Running Club in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, he has since transformed
himself from an average club runner (3:15 at the 2010 Edinburgh Marathon) into a British international. He first
broke 3:00 at the 2013 Edinburgh Marathon and lowered his best in London last year. He has a half marathon
PB of 73:03. He now works as a used car salesman.
Alex Pires da Silva: He ranked fifth in the world last year after running 2:45:18 in the São Paulo Marathon.
He won two silver medals and a bronze at the 2013 World Championships, finishing second in the 1500m and
5000m, and third at 800m. Born with his left arm shorter than his right, he took up athletics in 2007, at first
running cross country before moving to the roads.
Media Guide 2015 83
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Isidro Vildosola: He ran 1500m at the 2012 Paralympics but was eliminated in the first round. He’s won five
gold medals on the track at Asian Paralympic Games between 2005 and 2011. He was 38th at the 2008
Singapore Marathon out of 50,000 runners. He’s also run the Hong Kong Marathon and competed in ultramarathons. He tried volleyball, basketball and taekwondo before taking up running in 2005. He is part of the
Wetshop Para Tri Team which competes in able-bodied triathlon competitions. Vildosola runs while two other
para-athletes complete the other disciplines – Arnel Aba swims and Godfrey Taberna cycles. His right arm was
amputated at 14 after it got caught in a threshing machine in a rice mill where he’d been trying to rescue his
cousin. He is nicknamed ‘Coach Sid’.
Oleh Leshchyshyn: He ranked sixth in the world last year after running 2:46:55 at the Istanbul Marathon.
He competed for Ukraine at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics, running 800m and 1500m.
Ezequiel Marcelo da Costa: Bronze medallist from the 2013 World Championships when he ran 3:00:45.
He was sixth in the 2013 IPC World Cup in a PB of 2:46:57, and third last year in 2:47:17. He has won the St
Silvester Marathon five times. He’s also raced the New York Marathon with the non-disabled competitors. He lost
his right arm in 1991 in a workplace accident. In 2005 he ran as a guide for a visually-impaired competitor in the
St Silvester Marathon when the runner’s assigned guide failed to appear, despite being a competitor himself.
Peter Molnar: His left arm was folded in the womb and as a result is underdeveloped. He began running in
2001. He is an international ultrarunner and in 2013 ran 3,000km over six weeks alongside the River Danube
in Europe. His mission was to promote the Danube-Strategy, which aims to boost economic growth, develop
transportation, protect the environment and increase security in the countries the river passes through. He has
competed in numerous ultra events, including the IAU world and European 24 hour championships. His 50km
PB is 4:27:51 and he’s run 8:51:35 for 100km.
Ahmed Farhat: Finished eighth over 800m at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics. He won a silver in the T46 800m at
the 2011 Pan-Arab Games in Doha.
Manuel Mendes: He ran 2:49:51 to finish 18th at the 2014 Porto Marathon last November.
Jose Monteiro: A veteran of three Paralympics and three World Championships, Monteiro was a Paralympic
silver medallist at 800m in Sydney 2000. He ranked 10th in the world for the marathon last year after running
3:03:18 in the Porto Marathon. He began running at age nine, and ran able-bodied athletics until he had a
motorbike accident at 16 that resulted in paralysis to the upper right side of his body. He started running again at
23 while attending the Irene Rolo Foundation school for people with impairments.
84 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Wheelchair Athletes
T51/52 Men
Bib
Name
Country Class
PB
Age DoB
91
Santiago Sanz
ESP
T52
1:42:05
34
18/09/80
92
Raymond Martin
USA
T52
1:48:29
21
02/01/94
93
Rob Smith
GBR
T52
1:56:13
39
09/10/75
94
Toshihiro Takada
JPN
T52
1:58:48
49
09/09/65
95
Hirokazu Ueyonabaru
JPN
T52
2:00:06
43
22/05/71
96
Cristian Torres
COL
T52
2:08:12
34
21/01/81
97
Stefan Strobel
GER
T51
2:28:19
38
21/02/77
Note: This race will start at 09:00 at the same time as the T53/54 wheelchair races.
Bib name
SANZ
MARTIN
SMITH
TAKADA
UEYONABARU
TORRES
STROBEL
Biographies
Santiago Sanz: He won four gold medals at the 2006 World Championships, including the marathon, and
took a brace of silver and bronze medals in 2002 and 2011. He ranked first in the world last year for T52s after
clocking 1:47:29 in Oita. He also won the Boston Marathon for his class and the IPC World Cup in London where
he clocked 1:58:16. He won 5000m silver and 800m bronze at the 2000 Paralympics and 1500m silver and
5000m bronze in 2004. He set his marathon PB when fourth at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics. Nicknamed ‘Santi’,
he began racing around his home village at the age of 13. He contracted Charcot Marie Tooth at 18 months, a
disease that affects one in every 2,500 people. He first used a wheelchair at 13 and turned professional in 2003.
A father of two, he trains in the Andes in South America and lives four months a year in USA.
Raymond Martin: He was second in the World Cup last year in 2:00:35, and went on to clock a PB of 1:48:29
at the Boston Marathon. He won four golds on the track at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, aged 18,
at 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m. He followed that by becoming the first man to win five titles at a World
Championships when he added the 1500m to his roster in Lyon 2013. He was named US Paralympic Male
Athlete of the Year in 2011/12 and 2012/13, and set a T52 200m world record in 2014. He was born with
Freeman-Sheldon syndrome, a skeleto-muscular impairment that restricts the movement in his joints, and started
to race when he was in pre-school. He studies human movement at the University of Illinois.
Rob Smith: He holds British records for the T52 400m, 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m, half marathon and marathon.
He won three Dubai Marathons in a row to 2013, was beaten in 2014 despite setting a PB and national record
of 1:56:39, and then won again in 2015 in another PB of 1:56:13. He is coached by Jenni Banks who also looks
after Hannah Cockroft. He finished the 2013 London Marathon in 2:13:22 having narrowly missed out on London
2012 selection a year ealier. This will be his 10th London Marathon. Last year he was third in the World Cup
T51/52 race in 2:09:33 before clinching silver in the 1500m at the European Championships. A former wheelchair
rugby player with the North East Bulls and GB development squad, he switched to racing in 2002 because
he liked training and competing on his own. He suffered a high-level spinal cord injury in 1996 which left him
with partial paralysis in all four limbs after falling 40ft down a cliff in Devon. A mechanical engineer, he set up a
company to develop gripping aids for disabled people. He is married to Johanna and lives in Leamington.
Toshihiro Takada: The Paralympic T52 marathon champion from Athens 2004 when he also won golds in the
400m and 5000m and a bronze at 1500m. He won 400m and 800m silvers in 2008 and took marathon bronze,
though he was less successful at London 2012. He won two bronze medals on the track at the 2011 Worlds
and was fourth in the marathon in 2006. He ranked fifth in the world last year after finishing the Oita marathon in
1:58:48. He only began wheelchair racing at 30 when friends suggested he should try the sport.
Hirokazu Ueyonabaru: The 2008 Paralympic marathon silver medallist also finished fourth at 800m and sixth
at 200m and 400m in Beijing. He was world 1500m champion in 2011 when he also won silvers at 400m and
800m. He ranked sixth in the world last year after clocking 2:00:06 in Oita. He began racing aged 31.
Cristian Torres: He set his PB finishing second in the Miami Marathon last February in 2:08:18. He finished sixth
in the 800m at London 2012 Paralympics and again at the 2013 Worlds when he was also fourth at 1500m and
fifth at 400m. He had his legs amputated at age nine and took up the sport in 2003, initially as a hobby.
Stefan Strobel: The 2004 Paralympic silver medallist in the marathon, he was also a world silver medallist over
200m in 2002. He ranked second in the world for T51 marathons in 2014 after clocking 2:38:57at the Schenkon
Marathon. He was seventh in the T51 100m and sixth in the 200m at the 2013 World Championships, and
finished sixth in both the 100m and 400m at the 2014 Europeans. In 1991 he broke his fifth cervical vertebra in a
swimming pool accident, resulting in paraplegia. He had been involved in athletics as a child and continued after
his accident. He works as a teacher in Saarbrücken.
Media Guide 2015 85
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
T53/54 Men
Bib
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
Name
Marcel Hug
Josh Cassidy
Ernst van Dyk
Masazumi Soejima
Heinz Frei
Kota Hokinoue
Choke Yasuoka
Rafael Botello Jimenez
Denis Lemeunier
Joshua George
Aaron Pike
Michel Filteau
Hiroyuki Yamamoto
Jordi Madera Jimenez
Tomasz Hamerlak
James Senbeta
David Weir
Pierre Fairbank
Kozo Kubo
Alexey Bychenok
Tobias Lötscher
Ebbe Blichfeldt
Simon Lawson
Ryota Yoshida
Hiroki Nishida
Alhassane Balde
Aberto Baptista
Alexandrino Silva
Patrick Monahan
Country Class
SUI
T54
CAN
T54
RSA
T54
JPN
T54
SUI
T53
JPN
T54
JPN / INV* T54
ESP
T54
FRA
T54
USA
T53
USA / INV* T54
CAN / INV* T54
JPN
T54
ESP
T53
POL
T54
USA
T54
GBR
T54
FRA
T53
JPN
T54
RUS
T54
SUI
T54
DEN
T54
GBR
T53
JPN
T54
JPN
T54
GER
T54
POR
T54
POR
T54
IRL
T53
PB
1:20:52
1:18:25
1:18:27
1:18:50
1:20:14
1:21:14
1:22:17
1:22:18
1:22:31
1:22:50
1:22:55
1:23:02
1:23:16
1:23:26
1:24:53
1:25:23
1:27:46
1:28:59
1:30:01
1:31:26
1:31:33
1:31:38
1:32:33
1:33:54
1:33:56
1:35:33
1:36:21
1:37:19
1:52:43
Age
29
30
42
44
57
41
42
37
50
31
28
48
35
35
39
28
35
43
33
28
35
31
32
33
31
29
44
48
29
DoB
16/01/86
15/11/84
04/04/73
31/08/70
21/01/58
30/03/74
18/01/73
23/02/79
12/02/65
18/03/84
04/05/86
30/12/66
27/10/79
19/01/80
05/09/75
19/11/86
05/06/79
27/07/71
27/05/81
31/07/86
27/05/79
12/08/83
07/06/82
28/09/81
11/03/84
21/12/85
26/01/71
16/03/67
14/01/86
Bib name
HUG
CASSIDY
VAN DYK
SOEJIMA
FREI
HOKINOUE
YASUOKA
BOTELLO JIMENEZ
LEMEUNIER
GEORGE
PIKE
FILTEAU
YAMAMOTO
MADERA
HAMERLAK
SENBETA
WEIR
FAIRBANK
KUBO
BYCHENOK
LOETSCHER
BLICHFELDT
LAWSON
YOSHIDA
NISHIDA
BALDE
BAPTISTA
SILVA
MONAHAN
* INV = athletes invited by the London Marathon who are not competing in the IPC Athletics Marathon World Championships.
They will not wear their national vests and are not eligible for World Championship medals. They will receive London Marathon
prize money.
Preview
Twelve months on from their thunderous battle down The Mall last April, David Weir and Marcel Hug are all set
for a thrilling re-match. Reigning world champion Hug edged out Weir by the length of his wheel in last year’s
scintillating sprint finish, denying the six-times Paralympic gold medallist a record seventh London Marathon
title in his 15th consecutive appearance at the event.
Weir equalled Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson’s record of six London Marathon victories in 2012, and has
been targeting a seventh ever since. But the Briton had to settle for fifth two years ago and lost out to Hug
last April as the Swiss racer added a first London Marathon crown to the five gold medals he won at the Lyon
2013 IPC Athletics World Championships. Now the pair are ready to go wheel for wheel again in pursuit of the
US$20,000 winner’s prize, the biggest award ever for a London Marathon wheelchair race.
“Just a second separated the top three last year and I’m sure it’s going to go down to the wire again in 2015,”
said Weir. “It would mean a lot to get the record-breaking seventh in London and win gold for the British team,
but first and foremost I’m focused on ensuring I’m in the best possible condition and ready to attack the race.”
Hug won’t be the only racer trying to stop the 35-year-old ‘Weirwolf’, for the elite field is the biggest in London
Marathon history and packed with champions – athletes such as official world record holder Heinz Frei, the
Swiss who won three London titles in the 1990s; Canada’s 2010 London champion Josh Cassidy, who
produced the quickest wheelchair marathon ever in Boston three years ago; and 10-times Boston Marathon
winner Ernst van Dyk, the South African star who’s still seeking his first London win.
The field also includes the 2013 world silver and bronze medallists, Tomasz Hamerlak of Poland and Kota
Hokinoue. Hokinoue is one of seven Japanese racers in the line-up, while Joshua George leads the US
challenge just six months after winning the Chicago Marathon for a fourth time.
There will be 56 athletes in total in the men’s wheelchair race.
86 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Marcel Hug (Switzerland)
Josh Cassidy (Canada)
Born: 16 January 1986 Lucerne
Marathon best: 1:20:52 Seoul 2013
London Marathon record: 2010- 2nd 1:36:07,
2011- 11th 1:35:35, 2012- 2nd 1:32:27,
2013- 2nd 1:31:29, 2014- 1st 1:32:41
Other major city marathons
Berlin: 2005- 2nd 1:28:33, 2006- 2nd 1:29:35,
2007- 3rd 1:32:22, 2008- 3rd 1:39:01,
2010- 3rd 1:35:58, 2011- 1st 1:29:31,
2012- 1st 1:29:43, 2013- 2nd 1:31:03
Boston: 2013- 4th 1:28:19, 2014- 4th 1:24:39
New York: 2008- 7th 1:49:21, 2009- 3rd 1:40:43,
2011- 5th 1:38:42, 2013- 1st 1:40:14,
2014- 18th 1:37:32
Oita: 2008- 2nd 1:27:35, 2010- 1st 1:23:28,
2011- 1st 1:24:55, 2012- 1st 1:25:08
Schenkon: 2008- 2nd 1:27:37, 2010- 2nd 1:30:50,
2012- 1st 1:30:53, 2014- 1st 1:21:41
Seoul: 2013- 1st 1:20:52
Marathons in major championships
Paralympics: 2008- dnf, 2012- 2nd 1:30:21
Worlds: 2006- 4th 1:29:57, 2011- dnf,
2013- 1st 1:28:44
Born: 15 November 1984 Ottawa
Marathon best: 1:18:25 Boston 2012 (world best)
London Marathon record: 2010- 1st 1:35:21,
2011- 5th 1:30:56, 2012- 9th 1:33:54, 2013- dnf,
2014- 20th 1:41:58
Other major city marathons
Boston: 2009- 8th 1:39:48, 2012- 1st 1:18:25,
2013- 9th 1:30:54, 2014- 13th 1:27:24
Chicago: 2003- 1st, 2004- 1st, 2006- 1st,
2011- 4th 1:29:24, 2012- 1st 1:32:58,
2013- 5th 1:33:30, 2014- 8th 1:32:20
New York: 2006- 12th 1:51:36, 2007- 13th 1:49:29,
2008- 10th 1:53:09, 2009- 6th 1:40:46,
2010- 7th 1:42:48, 2011- 8th 1:39:30,
2013- 16th 1:52:57
Ottawa: 2006- 1st 1:33:50, 2010- 1st 1:35:03
Marathons in major championships
Paralympics: 2012- 12th 1:33:06
Worlds: 2006- 40th 1:47:08, 2013- dnf
CANADA
suisse
Career notes
Hug beat David Weir by a second last year to win
his first London Marathon title after three runnerup places. He became world marathon champion
in 2013 when he clinched the last of his five gold
medals in Lyon. The Paralympic silver medallist won
the New York Marathon in 2013 and was second to
Frei in Berlin that year. In Padua 2008 he recorded
the second fastest ‘legal’ marathon time which he
improved in Seoul in 2013 to 1:20:52.
At the 2011 World Championships he took gold in the
10,000m, but was second in four events. In 2013 he
won golds at 400m, 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m and
marathon and was second in the 800m. He won golds
at 800m, 1500m and 5000m at last year’s Europeans.
He posted top-five finishes at the Beijing Paralympics
and at London 2012 he was second to Weir in the
800m and the marathon.
Personal notes
Hug was born with spina bifida and started competing
at 10. He is prominent in Switzerland’s Cool and Clean
anti-drugs campaign. He attended the National Elite
Sports School in Thurgau. Nicknamed, the ‘Silver
Bullet’ and ‘Huggy Bear’, he lives in Neuenkirch and is
coached by Paul Odermatt.
Career notes
Cassidy rode the quickest wheelchair marathon ever
at Boston in 2012, clocking 1:18:25 (although not an
official world record) and retained his Chicago title that
October, his fourth in all.
He secured his first big international victory when he
came from behind to beat David Weir on his London
debut in 2010. Cassidy was fifth in 2011 but did not
finish in 2013 after colliding with Ethiopia’s Olympic
champion Tiki Gelana at the 15km drinks station. He
had a bad run last year too, finishing 20th.
He holds Canadian records for every distance from
1500m to the marathon and claims to have won more
than 75 international medals. He represented Canada
at the 2008 and 2012 Paralympics. He did not win
a medal in London, but made the final of the T54
800m and 1500m events before finishing 12th in the
marathon.
Personal notes
The eldest of 10 siblings, Cassidy was diagnosed with
neuroblastoma, cancer of the spine and abdomen,
weeks after he was born and given a low chance of
survival.
He is a professional graphic designer and illustrator
with an applied arts degree from Sheridan College in
Oakville, Ontario. He is self-coached.
Media Guide 2015 87
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Ernst van Dyk (South Africa)
Masazumi Soejima (Japan)
Born: 4 April 1973 Ceres, Western Cape
Marathon best: 1:18:27 Boston 2004
London Marathon record: 2000 2nd- 1:41:53,
2006- dnf, 2007- 4th 1:33:46, 2008- 6th 1:34:25,
2009- 3rd 1:28:58, 2010- 6th 1:44:11,
2012- 11th 1:36:20, 2013- 3rd 1:31:30,
2014- 3rd 1:32:42
Other major city marathons
Boston: 2001- 1st 1:25:12, 2002- 1st 1:23:19,
2003- 1st 1:28:32, 2004- 1st 1:18:27,
2005- 1st 1:24:11, 2006- 1st 1:25:29,
2007- 3rd 1:37:10, 2008- 1st 1:26:49,
2009- 1st 1:33:29, 2010- 1st 1:26:53
2011- 3rd 1:18:51, 2012- 6th 1:24:23,
2013- 2nd 1:27:12, 2014- 1st 1:20:36
Chicago: 2013- 1st 1:30:37, 2014- 3rd 1:32:13
New York: 2005- 1st, 2013- 2nd 1:40:14,
2014- 2nd 1:30:56
Marathons in major championships
Paralympics: 2000- 4th 1:31:44, 2004- 18th 1:41:59,
2008- 3rd 1:23:17
Born: 31 August 1970 Nagasaki
Marathon best: 1:18:50 Boston 2011
London Marathon record: 2009- 4th 1:30:13,
2010- 7th 1:44:35, 2012- 4th 1:32:29
Other major city marathons
Berlin: 2007- 1st 1:26:50, 2008- 2nd 1:28:39,
2009- 2nd 1:31:41, 2010- 1st 1:28:46
Boston: 2007- 1st 1:29:16, 2008- 3rd 1:33:00,
2009- 2nd 1:36:57, 2010- 4th 1:28:06,
2011- 1st 1:18:50, 2012- 4th 1:23:27,
2013- 6th 1:30:01, 2014- 3rd 1:21:14
Chicago: 2008- 2nd 1:32:30, 2009- 2nd 1:32:30,
2010- 2nd 1:28:01, 2014- 9th 1:32:21
Honolulu: 2007- 1st 1:33:17, 2008- 1st 1:32:06,
2009- 1st 1:31:00, 2010- 1st 1:29:51
New York: 2007- 3rd 1:36:16, 2008- 2nd 1:46:10,
2009- 7th 1:43:42, 2010- 2nd 1:37:31,
2011- 1st 1:31:41, 2014- 4th 1:30:57
Tokyo: 2007- 1st 1:32:21, 2008- 1st 1:27:15,
2009- 1st 1:33:07, 2011- 1st 1:25:38
Marathons in major championships
Paralympics: 2008- 12th 1:23:55, 2012- 4th 1:30:24
Worlds: 2006- 3rd 1:28:22, 2011- 3rd 1:31:10
Career notes
Ernst van Dyk clinched the 2014 Boston London
Challenge with his 10th Boston Marathon victory last
April in the year’s fastest time. He won six Boston titles
in a row to 2006, and in 2004 clocked what was the
fastest marathon ever until Cassidy beat it in 2012.
He won the Chicago Marathon in 2013 and was
third there last year. He has been runner-up in New
York for the last two years. He is yet to win in London
in nine appearances although he has made the
podium four times. He hasn’t always been lucky: in
2008 he crashed into Joshua George within 100m of
the finish; in 2006 he crashed out early in the race.
Career notes
Soejima became the second fastest wheelchair racer
ever when he won the Boston Marathon in 2011 by a
second from Kurt Fearnley and Ernst van Dyk. He had
ended van Dyk’s streak of six wins there in 2007 and
was third in 2014 in the same time as Kota Hokinoue,
1:21:14.
He also won the Tokyo and New York titles that year
and has won marathon titles in Berlin and Honolulu. He
has raced three times in London, finishing fourth twice
and seventh.
At the Athens Paralympics van Dyk won two silvers
and a bronze and in Beijing he won bronze in the
marathon having taken gold in the handcycle road
race two days before. At London 2012, van Dyk won
silver in the handcycling road race.
He has two marathon bronze medals from World
Championships and he was fourth at London 2012
after finishing 12th in 2008. He made the 1500m semifinals in Beijing and won a bronze in the 4x400m relay
in Athens in 2004.
Personal notes
Born without lower legs because of congenital birth
defects, van Dyk was a swimmer in his teens before
he took up wheelchair racing. He competed in both
at the 1992 Paralympics and in Beijing he added
handcycling. He is a Paralympics ambassador and
owns a para-sports equipment company. He is
married to Suzanne and his daughters are Lexi and
Sunei.
Personal notes
Soejima damaged his spine in an accident and started
marathon racing in 1995. He lives in Fukuoka with his
wife and coach Miyuki and races full-time.
88 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Heinz Frei (Switzerland)
Kota Hokinoue (Japan)
Born: 21 January 1958 Oberbipp
Marathon best: 1:20:14 Oita 1999 (world record)
London Marathon record: 1992- 3rd 1:51:58,
1995- 1st 1:39:14, 1998- 1st 1:35:18,
1999- 1st 1:35:27, 2008- 5th 1:34:03,
2009- 5th 1:30:15, 2011- 2nd 1:30:07,
2012- 5th 1:32:30, 2013- 7th 1:31:32
2014- 7th 1:35:05
Other major city marathons
Berlin: 1st 20 times, 2011- 2nd 1:29:32,
2012- 2nd 1:29:48, 2013- 1st 1:31:00,
2014- 2nd 1:36:12
Boston: 2013- 12th 1:33:07
Chicago: 2010- 1st 1:26:56, 2011- 2nd 1:29:23,
2013- 4th 1:30:41, 2014- 10th 1:32:22
New York: 2011- 4th 1:37:24, 2014- 13th 1:34:31
Oita: 1st 14 times
Marathons in major championships
Paralympics: 1984- 1st 1:58:52, 1988- 4th 1:48:20,
1992- 1st 1:30:15, 1996- 3rd 1:32:42,
2000- 3rd 1:29:29, 2004- 7th 1:32:04,
2008- 14th 1:25:43, 2012- 11th 1:33:06
Worlds: 1994- 1st, 1998- 1st 1:32:25,
2002- 1st 1:27:58, 2006- 2nd 1:28:17,
2011- 2nd 1:31:09, 2013- 4th 1:32:27
Born: 30 March 1974 Izuka, Fukuoka Prefecture
Marathon best: 1:21:14 Boston 2014
London Marathon record: 2010- 4th 1:40:59,
2011- dnf, 2012- 10th 1:36:00, 2013- 6th 1:31:31,
2014- 4th 1:32:43
Other major city marathons
Berlin: 2010- 2nd 1:30:08, 2014- 1st 1:32:25
Boston: 2009- 9th 1:46:45, 2010- 3rd 1:27:05,
2012- 3rd 1:23:26, 2013- 3rd 1:27:13,
2014- 2nd 1:21:14
Chicago: 2014- 5th 1:32:16
New York: 2010- 6th 1:42:44, 2013- 5th 1:40:16,
2014- 5th 1:30:57
Oensingen: 2011- 2nd 1:22:01
Oita: 2008- 11th 1:34:47, 2009- 6th 1:33:33,
2010- 2nd 1:23:30
Seoul: 2008- 4th 1:29:42, 2011- 2nd
Tokyo: 2011- 2nd, 2012- 2nd 1:29:31,
2013- 3rd 1:34:42, 2014- 3rd 1:34:45, 2015- 1st
Marathons in major championships
Paralympics: 2008- 5th 1:23:22, 2012- 6th 1:31:13
Worlds: 2006- 9th 1:32:26, 2011- 4th 1:31:10,
2013- 3rd 1:32:27
suisse
Career notes
Heinz Frei has won more than 100 marathons in his
long career, including 20 in Berlin and 14 in Oita, where
he broke the official world record 16 years ago.
He won the London Marathon three times in the
1990s. He was second to David Weir in 2011 by two
seconds and seventh last year after finishing 11th in
the 2012 Paralympic marathon. He was fourth at the
2013 World Championships in Lyon.
Frei has broken numerous world records in his career
from 400m to marathon, and he recorded a world best
for 100km in 1998. He has won 15 Paralympic gold
medals (35 medals in all) in 28 years – 11 in athletics,
three as a handcyclist and one in cross country skiing.
He was Paralympic marathon champion in 1984 and
1992 and world champion three times.
Personal notes
Frei was paralysed in a sports accident in 1975 and
took up wheelchair racing in 1980. Nicknamed ‘the
Godfather’, he now concentrates on handcycling and
winter sports. He has competed at the Winter Paralympics in sit skiing and biathlon.
Career notes
Hokinoue broke the Japanese record in 2011 when
he clocked 1:22:01 finishing second in Oensingen,
and he lowered it again in Boston last April when he
was second in 1:21:14, ranking second in the world
below van Dyk. Just two weeks earlier he had finished
fourth at the London Marathon, his highest place in
five attempts, and he went on to win the 2014 Berlin
Marathon in September and the 2015 Tokyo Marathon
this January.
He picked up the world bronze medal in Lyon in 2013
when he finished just ahead of Frei. He was sixth in
the 2012 Paralympic marathon, having finished fifth in
2008 in Beijing when he was also fifth in the 5000m.
He also competed over 5000m at London 2012 but
did not make the final.
An experienced track racer over distances from 400m
to 10,000m, Hokinoue set Japanese records at 5000m
and 10,000m in 2010.
Personal notes
‘Hoki’ sustained a spinal cord injury in a motorcycle
accident in 2000 and began wheelchair racing in 2002
when a friend suggested he give it a go.
Media Guide 2015 89
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Choke Yasuoka (Japan / Invited)
Rafael Botello Jimenez (Spain)
Born: 18 January 1973 Pran Buri, Thailand
Marathon best: 1:22:17 Seoul 2007
London Marathon record: 2007- 5th 1:33:50,
2008- 10th 1:39:50, 2011- 8th 1:31:01,
2012- 18th 1:50:31, 2013- 16th 1:38:39
Other major city marathons
Boston: 2007- 4th, 2008- 4th 1:37:14,
2013- 21st 1:42:06
New York: 2011- 16th 1:49:22
Oita: 2006- 3rd 1:24:16, 2007- 4th 1:23:23,
2008- 26th 1:44:09, 2011- 26th 1:45:20
Seoul: 2007- 3rd 1:22:17, 2008- 8th 1:38:20,
2009- 4th 1:29:52
Tokyo: 2011- 4th 1:32:33
Marathons in major championships
Paralympics: 1996- 5th 1:32:58, 2008- 13th 1:24:04,
2012- 21st 1:40:26
Worlds: 2006- 39th 1:45:42
Born: 23 February 1979 Vic, Barcelona
Marathon best: 1:22:18 Padua 2007
London Marathon record: 2008- 9th 1:37:26,
2009- 8th 1:37:38, 2010- 12th 2:14:22,
2012- 15th 1:40:01, 2013- 21st 1:45:27
2014- 13th 1:36:45
Other major city marathons
Berlin: 2005- 8th, 2006- 7th, 2012- 1:32:54
Boston: 2009- 6th 1:38:52, 2010- 6th 1:31:12,
2011- 5th 1:25:14, 2012- 12th 1:36:56,
2013- 13th 1:35:28, 2014- 12th 1:26:57
Chicago: 2009- 4th 1:39:56, 2010- 3rd 1:28:46,
2012- 3rd 1:28:46, 2013- 6th 1:33:40,
2014- 19th 1:49:57
New York: 2006- 10th, 2007- 9th, 2008- 12th 1:57:21,
2009- 8th 1:43:42, 2010- 9th 1:47:39,
2011- 10th 1:42:30, 2013- 11th 1:46:43
Padua: 2007- 1st 1:22:18
Valencia: 2007- 1st, 2010- 1st
Marathons in major championships
Paralympics: 2008- 11th 1:23:53, 2012- 9th 1:33:05
Worlds: 2006- dnf, 2011- 13th 1:34:27
joma
Career notes
Yasuoka became the first Japanese wheelchair
athlete to enter the London Marathon in 2007 when
he finished fifth after being involved in a sprint finish
for the bronze medal. In 2008 he was 10th but his
chances were destroyed by a collision with Australian
Kurt Fearnley as the racers passed the Cutty Sark. In
2011 he was eighth and he slipped to 18th and 16th
on his last two appearances.
He has had podium places in Seoul and Oita and has
twice been fourth in Boston, but he could only finish
13th at the Paralympics in Beijing and 21st in London.
Yasuoka broke the Paralympic record to win gold at
800m in 2004 when he also picked up silver in the
400m and bronze in the 4x400m. He failed to qualify
from the semi-finals of the 800m or 1500m in 2008,
and in 2012 he was knocked out in the 800m heats
before finishing 21st in the marathon.
Personal notes
Yasuoka was born Parsopchoke Klunngern in Thailand
and competed for his native country in the 1992, 1996
and 2000 Paralympics before switching to Japan in
2003. He was born with a congenital defect in both
legs and took up the sport at 13.
He married Naoe Yasuoka in 2001 after meeting her
at the 2001 Oita Marathon where she was working as
a translator. They live in Tokyo and have a child called
Aki.
90 Media Guide 2015
Career notes
Botello finished ninth on his London debut in 2008, one
of five top 10 finishes that year to go with his
11th place at the Beijing Paralympic marathon. He
improved by one place in 2009 but suffered flat tyres in
2010 and 2013, and was 13th in 2014.
He finished in the top 10 in the London 2012
Paralympic marathon and was third in Chicago in 2010
and 2012.
The Spaniard set his PB in Padua in 2007, a time that
makes him the third fastest European ever on a ‘legal’
course behind Swiss pair Heinz Frei and Marcel Hug.
He holds Spanish records for 800m, 5000m and
10,000m on the track, and 5km, 10km and marathon
on the road. He was third at the 2008 and 2010 Great
North Run. He also represented Spain over 5000m at
London 2012 but did not make the final.
Personal notes
‘Rafa’ Botello comes from Barcelona. He has a dorsal
spinal cord injury as a result of a bicycle accident in
summer 2002. He began wheelchair athletics in 2003
and entered his first official competition in June that
year. He also competes for Spain at para-triathlon and
para-cycling.
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Denis Lemeunier (France)
Joshua George (United States)
Born: 12 February 1965 Tours
Marathon best: 1:22:31 Padua 2007
London Marathon record: 1998- 3rd 1:44:03,
1999- 4th 1:45:32, 2001- 1st 1:42:37,
2002- 3rd 1:42:37, 2003- 3rd 1:34:50,
2005- 6th 1:36:04, 2008- 3rd 1:34:01,
2009- 6th 1:32:40, 2010- dnf, 2011- 9th 1:31:01,
2013- 10th 1:36:34, 2014- 14th 1:38:01
Other major city marathons
Boston: 2004- 5th 1:26:05, 2013- 7th 1:30:53,
2014- 11th 1:26:57
New York: 2007- 8th, 2008- 9th 1:52:11,
2009- 13th 1:51:31, 2010- 10th 1:48:04,
2011- 9th 1:41:11, 2013- 13th 1:46:46,
2014- 8th 1:33:36
Oita: 2008- 6th 1:27:38, 2011- 11th 1:36:01
Padua: 2007- 5th 1:22:31, 2010- 2nd 1:23:47
Paris: 2008- 2nd 1:32:27, 2009- 5th 1:31:14,
2010- 2nd 1:33:55, 2011- 2nd 1:33:55
Treviso: 2010- 1st 1:25:43
Marathons in major championships
Paralympics: 2004- 14th 1:37:41, 2008- dnf,
2012- 14th 1:33:07
Worlds: 2011- dnf, 2013- 7th 1:36:59
Born: 18 March 1984 Fairfax, Virginia
Marathon best: 1:22:50 Duluth 2012
London Marathon record: 2008- 7th 1:34:46,
2010- 9th 1:46:57, 2012- 14th 1:39:56,
2013- 17th 1:39:10, 2014- 10th 1:35:08
Other major city marathons
Boston: 2007- 10th 2:02:58, 2009- 5th 1:38:23,
2010- 8th 1:35:44, 2013- 18th 1:37:41,
2014- 6th 1:24:49
Chicago: 2002- 4th 1:56:49, 2003- 1st 1:41:01,
2004- 1st 1:36:13, 2005- 5th 1:40:30,
2006- 1st 1:38:31, 2008- 7th 1:38:59,
2010- 9th 1:42:47, 2011- 3rd 1:29:33,
2012- 3rd 1:36:06, 2013- 3rd 1:30:38,
2014- 1st 1:32:12
New York: 2007- 6th 1:38:06, 2008- 11th 1:54:30,
2009- 10th 1:44:22, 2011- 7th 1:39:02,
2013- 10th 1:46:43, 2014- 7th 1:33:09
Marathons in major championships
Paralympics: 2008- 17th 1:30:29, 2012- 20th 1:39:56
Worlds: 2013- 5th 1:32:28
FRANCE
Career notes
The 2001 London Marathon champion, Lemeunier
has raced here 12 times since 1998. He has finished
third four times, including in 2008 when he was five
seconds behind winner David Weir. A consistent
performer, he’s only twice been outside the top 10. He
set his best time on the London course in 2011.
A veteran of the roads (he claims to have completed
more than 90 marathons), he failed to finish at the
2011 World Championships or the 2008 Paralympics,
but was 14th in Athens 2004 and London 2012, and
seventh at the Lyon Worlds in 2013. He was eighth in
the 2014 New York Marathon and finished just outside
the top 10 in Boston last April.
He was fifth in the 1500m at the Beijing Paralympics
and won a bronze in the 4x400m. He competed over
5000m at London 2012.
Personal notes
Lemeunier was a cyclist for 12 years before he had a
motocross accident in 1994. He began racing at 30.
He is married with two daughters, Typhaine and Meva.
His grandfather, Francois Hamon, was a cyclist in the
1960 Olympics and 1964 Tour de France.
Career notes
George won his fourth Chicago Marathon title last
October ending a run of three third places in his
hometown marathon. Earlier in 2014 he finished 10th in
London and sixth in Boston while he went on to place
seventh in New York.
George was involved in a dramatic crash with Ernst
van Dyk at the end of the 2008 London Marathon.
Both ended in the hoardings and lost out on medals.
In 2012, he lowered his personal best to 1:22:50,
breaking the course record at the Grandma’s Marathon
in Duluth.
He competed in six events at London 2012, winning
bronze in the T53 800m, his fifth Paralympic medal.
He broke the Paralympic T53 100m record to become
2008 champion. He took 800m silver in Beijing. He
won four T53 golds at the 2006 Worlds and was fifth in
the marathon in Lyon 2013.
Personal notes
George became disabled aged four when he fell more
than 36 metres (120 feet) out of a 12th floor window.
He landed on his feet, survived, but was paralysed
from the waist down. He was described as a ‘living
miracle’ by doctors. He represented USA in wheelchair
basketball, winning gold at the 2008 Parapan Games.
He has a journalism degree from University of Illinois.
Media Guide 2015 91
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Aaron Pike (United States / Invited)
Michel Filteau (Canada / Invited)
Born: 4 May 1986 Park Rapids, Minnesota
Marathon best:1:22:55 Duluth 2012
London Marathon record: 2013- 20th 1:44:24
Other major city marathons
Boston: 2009- 10th 1:47:10, 2010- 11th 1:38:17,
2011- 8th 1:29:52, 2012- 10th 1:32:45,
2013- 19th 1:39:13
Chicago: 2009- 8th 1:48:31, 2010- 6th 1:36:04,
2011- 6th 1:38:56, 2014- 7th 1:32:19
Duluth: 2011- 4th 1:31:36, 2012- 2nd 1:22:55
Los Angeles: 2009- 4th 1:48:02
New York: 2014- 20th 1:39:27
Twin Cities: 2010- 3rd 1:44:06
Marathons in major championships
Paralympics: 2012- 16th 1:36:26
Worlds: 2011- 19th 1:40:53
Born: 30 December 1966 Arthabaska
Marathon best: 1:23:02 Duluth 2012
London Marathon record: 2013- 13th 1:37:35,
2014- 17th 1:39:17
Other major city marathons
Boston: 2005- 5th 1:33:28, 2006- 6th 1:30:45,
2007- 9th 1:57:59, 2009- 11th 1:50:20,
2012- 7th 1:26:50, 2013- 14th 1:35:29,
2014- 14th 1:29:24
Duluth: 2012- 4th 1:23:02
New York: 2013- 14th 1:49:04, 2014- 16th 1:36:36
Ottawa: 2007- 1st 1:38:80, 2009- 2nd 1:40:08,
2010- 2nd 1:35:04, 2012- 1st 1:37:17
Padua: 2011- 3rd 1:24:52, 2012- 3rd 1:28:50
Marathons in major championships
Paralympics: 2004- 23rd 1:48:17, 2008- 16th 1:28.13,
2012- 26th 1:47:39
Worlds: 2006- 26th 1:38:02, 2011- dns
Career notes
Pike followed Joshua George under the Grandma’s
marathon course record in Duluth in 2012 to qualify for
London 2012, where he was 16th.
He made his London Marathon debut in 2013 and
finished 20th. He has finished in the top 10 three times
in Boston and four times in Chicago, including last
year when he was seventh. He was also fourth in Los
Angeles in 2009, and third in the Twin Cities Marathon
in 2010.
After just missing a spot on the 2008 Paralympic
team, he qualified for London 2012 to compete in four
events – the 1500m, 5000m, marathon and 4x400m
relay. He finished seventh in the heats of the 1500m
and 5000m.
Personal notes
Pike suffered a spinal cord injury in December
1999 at 13 after he was accidentally shot during a
deer-hunting trip in Virginia. He was introduced to
wheelchair racing by Ironman triathlete Carlos Moleda,
a legendary wheelchair racer.
Career notes
Filteau took nearly four minutes from his personal best
when he was fourth at the 2012 Grandma’s Marathon
in Duluth.
He also won the Ottawa Marathon that year for the
second time and finished in the top 10 in Boston. He
has been 14th in Boston for the last two years and has
finished 13th and 17th at the London Marathon on his
two appearances so far.
He competed in the Paralympic marathon at London
2012, finishing 26th. It was Filteau’s third Paralympics
– he was 23rd in the marathon in 2004 and 16th in
Beijing. In 2004 and 2008 he also competed over
1500m, 5000m and 10,000m.
He also competed at the 2006 World Championships,
finishing 26th in the marathon, although he did not start
the race in 2011.
He holds the Canadian T54 10,000m record.
He took up para-skiing in 2013 and competed in
biathlon and cross country skiing at the 2014 Winter
Paralympics and the 2014/15 World Championships.
Personal notes
Filteau lost his legs in a car accident in 1990, aged 23,
and took up the sport in 1996.
He has a sociology degree from the University of
Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He was recruited to play
wheelchair basketball for the university and has also
competed internationally in that sport.
He received a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee
Medal from the Canadian Paralympic Committee in
February 2013.
92 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Hiroyuki Yamamoto (Japan)
Jordi Madera Jimenez (Spain)
Born: 27 October 1979 Kitakyushu
Marathon best: 1:23:16 Seoul 2011
London Marathon record: 2010- 13th 2:16:39,
2011- 13th 1:43:39, 2012- 8th 1:33:00,
2013- 8th 1:31:33, 2014- 12th 1:36:45
Other major city marathons
Berlin: 2013- 3rd 1:34:28
Boston: 2013- 1st 1:25:32, 2014- 8th 1:25:15
New York: 2013- 9th 1:45:23, 2014- 9th 1:33:53
Oita: 2007- 1st 1:23:22, 2011- 8th 1:31:27,
2012- 2nd 1:30:09
Osaka: 2012- 1st 1:28:16
Tokyo: 2011- 3rd 1:30:15, 2012- 1st 1:29:26,
2013- 2nd 1:29:07, 2014- 1st 1:30:43
Seoul: 2011- 3rd 1:23:16
Marathons in major championships
Paralympics: 2008- 6th 1:23:22, 2012- 22nd 1:40:54
Worlds: 2006- dnf, 2011- 21st 1:42:31
Born: 19 January 1980 Granollers
Marathon best: 1:23:26 Beijing 2008
London Marathon record: 2011- 10th 1:34:41,
2012- 13th 1:36:56, 2013- 11th 1:36:34,
2014- 6th 1:35:05
Other major city marathons
Barcelona: 2010- 2nd, 2011- 1st
Berlin: 2011- 12th 1:46:46
Boston: 2010- 7th 1:33:08, 2013- 8th 1:30:54,
2014- 5th 1:24:42
Chicago: 2013- 6th 1:33:40
New York: 2013- 12th 1:46:44, 2014- 10th 1:34:08
Oita: 2010- 7th 1:31:55, 2011- 17th 1:36:47,
2012- 10th 1:33:00
Paris: 2010- 5th 1:39:03, 2011- 7th, 2013- 5th
Seoul: 2010- 9th
Seville: 2011- 1st
Marathons in major championships
Paralympics: 2008- 8th 1:23:26
Worlds: 2006- 12th, 2011- 15th 1:36:40
joma
Career notes
The 2013 Boston champion has not had good luck
in London. He finished 13th on his first two attempts,
getting flat tyres in both 2010 and 2011. On his debut,
he punctured twice, first at 23km which took 30
minutes to repair. When he got a second he gave up
on the race. He got a flat again in 2011 but has made
it to the finish line intact in the last three years. He was
in an eight-man sprint for the line in 2013, finishing
eighth, four seconds behind the winner.
He regained the Tokyo Marathon title in February last
year after winning it first in 2012 and finishing second
in 2013. He also won in Osaka and was second in
Oita in 2012 while he was third in Berlin in 2013.
He posted his personal best in 2011 when he was
third in the Seoul Marathon in 1:23:16, shaving six
seconds off his previous best.
At the Beijing Paralympics he was just five seconds
behind gold medallist Kurt Fearnley in sixth place, but
he could only finish 22nd in London. He was 10th over
5000m at London 2012 but did not make the final of
the 1500m.
Personal notes
Yamamoto injured his spinal cord in a motorcycle
accident at 20. He took up wheelchair marathons at
30. He is married and has a son. His nickname is
‘Hiro-san’. He always eats Italian pizza before leaving
Japan for an international race.
Career notes
Jimenez achieved his highest finish in four London
Marathon appearances last April, finishing sixth in
1:35:05 after being outside the top 10 in the previous
two years.
He won marathons in Barcelona and Seville in 2011,
was second in Duluth, seventh in Paris and 12th in
Berlin. Last year he was fifth in Boston in his second
quickest time, ranking fifth in the world for 2014. He
was also 10th in New York.
He was 15th at the 2011 World Championships,
more than five and a half minutes behind the winner,
having finished eighth at the Paralympics in 2008.
He was 13th over 5000m at the Paralympics in Beijing,
and 14th at the 2006 Worlds but did not compete at
London 2012 or the 2013 Worlds.
His first international was the European Championships in 2005 when he also competed in the Mediterranean Games. He took part in both the world indoor
and outdoor championships in 2006.
Personal notes
Sometimes known as Jorge Madera, Jimenez is one
of four children. He injured his back in a car accident
when he was a child and started athletics aged nine.
Media Guide 2015 93
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Tomasz Hamerlak (Poland)
James Senbeta (United States)
Born: 5 September 1975 Bielsko-Biala
Marathon best: 1:24:53 Boston 2014
London Marathon record: 2010- dnf,
2011- 3rd 1:30:54, 2012- 6th 1:32:31,
2013- 4th 1:31:30, 2014- 16th 1:38:50
Other major city marathons
Berlin: 2004- 6th, 2009- 3rd 1:39:30
Boston: 2007- 5th 1:45:47, 2008- 5th 1:39:19,
2013- 10th 1:31:47, 2014- 7th 1:24:53
Chicago: 2014- 4th 1:32:15
New York: 2011- 6th 1:38:43, 2014- 3rd 1:30:56
Oensingen: 2005- 3rd, 2007- 3rd 1:28:24,
2009- 5th, 2010- 1:27:18
Paris: 2001- 2nd
Schenkon: 2004- 5th, 2006- 3rd, 2008- 3rd,
2010- 3rd 1:37:38
Marathons in major championships
Paralympics: 2000- 8th 1:33:02, 2004- 3rd 1:31:01,
2008- 29th 1:36:14, 2012- 8th 1:31:34
Worlds: 1998- 15th 1:41:07, 2002- 8th 1:33:37,
2006- 12th 1:33:57, 2011- 10th 1:34:24,
2013- 2nd 1:32:27
Born: 19 November 1986 Philadelphia, PA.
Marathon best:1:25:23 Boston 2014
London Marathon record: 2014- 11th 1:36:45
Other major city marathons
Boston: 2013- 23rd 1:44:41, 2014- 9th 1:25:23
Chicago: 2014- 15th 1:44:10
Duluth: 2013- 13th, 2014- 1st
Los Angeles: 2013- 5th
New York: 2014- 14th 1:36:17
Tokyo: 2015- 6th 1:39:01
Marathons in major championships: None
POLSKA
Career notes
A newcomer on the international marathon scene, and
the latest prospect to emerge from the University of
Illinois Wheelchair Racing Team.
He ranked sixth in the world last year for T54s after
finishing ninth in Boston in 1:25:23, a big PB. He was
11th in London a few weeks earlier, the first of the
‘non-elite’ wheelchair athletes across the line.
Career notes
Hamerlak smashed his PB when he was seventh in
the Boston Marathon last year in 1:24:53. He also
finished third in New York and fourth in Chicago.
He was a surprise bronze medallist here in 2011
when he chased Weir and Frei to the finish line. He
performed well again in 2013, finishing fourth, just
two seconds behind the winner. He went on to clinch
a marathon silver at the 2013 Worlds, but could only
finish 16th in London last year.
Hamerlak took bronze at the 2004 Paralympic Games,
and was eighth at London 2012 after a poor finish in
Beijing. He also competed over 1500m and 5000m at
the London Paralympics. He was 10th in the marathon
at the 2011 World Championships and sixth in the
5000m. Earlier in his career, he won gold and silver on
the track at the 2003 European Championships, and a
5000m bronze at the 2002 Worlds. He added another
three medals at the 2010 Europeans and won 5000m
bronze last summer.
Personal notes
Hamerlak’s leg was amputated at 15 to save his life
from bone cancer. He took up the sport in 1996 and
has been an international since 1998. He is married to
Teresa and they have a son, Jana.
94 Media Guide 2015
He made his marathon debut at the Grandma’s
Marathon in 2013 when he was 13th, before finishing
23rd in Boston. He went on to place fifth in Los
Angeles.
He returned to Duluth last year and took the title, his
first big race victory. He also finished 15th in Chicago
last October in 1:44:10 and 14th in the 2014 New York
Marathon.
He set a course record at the 2014 New Balance
Falmouth Road Race and most recently he was sixth at
the Tokyo Marathon in 1:39:01.
Personal notes
An agricultural and bio-engineering student at the
University of Illinois in Champaign, he is coached by
Adam Bleakney and competes for the University of
Illinois Wheelchair Racing Team.
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
David Weir (Great Britain & NI)
Pierre Fairbank (France)
Born: 5 June 1979 Carshalton, Surrey
Marathon best: 1:27:46 Los Angeles 2007 (UK rec)
London Marathon record: 2000- 4th 1:47:11,
2001- 3rd 1:50:55, 2002- 1st 1:39:44,
2003- 2nd 1:34:48, 2004- 2nd 1:36:56,
2005- 3rd 1:36:03, 2006- 1st 1:29:48,
2007- 1st 1:30:49, 2008- 1st 1:33:36,
2009- 2nd 1:28:57, 2010- 3rd 1:37:01,
2011- 1st 1:30:05, 2012- 1st 1:32:26,
2013- 5th 1:31:31, 2014- 2nd 1:32:42
Other major city marathons
Los Angeles: 2007- 2nd 1:27:46
New York: 2005- 6th 1:36:48, 2010- 1st 1:37:29
Oensingen: 2007- 1st 1:28:91
Marathons in major championships
Paralympics: 2008- dns, 2012- 1st 1:30:20
Worlds: 2006- dnf, 2011- dns
Born: 27 July 1971 Nouméa, New Caledonia
Marathon best: 1:28:59 Berlin 2002
London Marathon record: 2002- 7th 1:57:48,
2014- 5th 1:35:05
Other major city marathons
Berlin: 2002- 3rd 1:28:59
Boston: 2001- 7th 1:39:33
New York: 2013- 7th 1:42:29, 2014- 6th 1:30:59
Paris: 2011- 2nd 1:29:30, 2014- 3rd 1:31:01
Marathons in major championships
Paralympics: 2000- dns, 2012- dnf
Worlds: 1998- 12th 1:40:59, 2002- dns,
2011- 7th 1:31:11, 2013- dnf
FRANCE
GREAT BRITAIN
Career notes
Weir won his sixth title in 2012 and could become the
most successful London Marathon wheelchair athlete
ever in 2015. He was fifth in 2013, his lowest finish in
15 appearances, and lost by one second to Marcel
Hug last year.
He won the Mini London Marathon wheelchair race
seven times before his full marathon debut in 2000
and is the only male athlete to win both mini and
senior event. He broke the British record in Los
Angeles in 2007 and won his first New York Marathon
title in 2010. He broke the world half marathon record
in Lisbon in March 2012.
At the 2008 Paralympics he won gold medals in
the 800m and 1500m, silver over 400m and bronze
at 5000m. At the 2011 World Championships in
Christchurch he won golds at 800m, 1500m and
5000m but withdrew from the marathon on safety
grounds. At London 2012 he went one better, winning
four gold medals, including the marathon despite
almost dropping out with exhaustion at half way. He
has held UK records at all distances to 5000m on the
track as well as at 10km, half marathon and marathon
on the road.
Personal notes
Weir is coached by Jennie Archer and together they
run the Weir Archer Academy in Surrey. He was made
an MBE in 2009 and an OBE in 2013. His partner is
Emily Thorne. He has two daughters, Ronie and Tillia
Grace, and a son, Mason. He was born with a severed
spinal cord and took up the sport aged eight.
Career notes
Fairbank was fifth in London last year when he led a
group of six athletes across the line all within three
seconds. He was seventh in 2002, his only previous
appearance here, when he crashed into a small traffic
island. The favourite, and fastest in the field, he’d been
leading at half way, but could not get back in touch
after his accident. He set his marathon best in Berlin
later that year when he was third. He was ranked fourth
in the world last year for T53s after coming third in
Paris in 1:31:01.
He won gold in the T53 200m at the Sydney 2000
Paralympics plus silver in the 400m and bronze at
800m. He contested the same events in Athens but
didn’t win a medal although he helped France to a
silver in the 4x400m and bronze in the 4x100m.
In Beijing 2008 he again missed out on individual
medals but won a team bronze in the 4x400m. He
won no medals at London 2012, but took two bronze
medals at the 2013 World Championships in the T53
200m and 800m. He has seven world medals in total.
He won golds at T53 200m and 800m at last summer’s
European Championships. He broke the T53 400m
world record in 2004 and 800m record in 2008.
Personal notes
Born and brought up in New Caledonia, Fairbank
took up athletics aged 15 after suffering spinal cord
injuries. He made his international debut in 1998 and
was named New Caledonia’s Sportsman of the Year
in 2008. He was an ambassador of the 2011 Pacific
Games in New Caledonia.
He is a teacher and coach, and has one daughter, born
in 2010.
Media Guide 2015 95
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Kozo Kubo: He was the 2012/13 world 15km sitting para-biathlon champion who’s represented Japan
at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Paralympics in both biathlon and cross country skiiing. He won a bronze medal
in the 7.5km sitting biathlon in Sochi 2014. He also won two silver medals at the 2012/13 world biathlon
championships as well as his 15km gold. He was 56th in the marathon at the 2006 World Championships
but did not finish in 2013. He says he does the marathon just to maintain fitness. He injured his back in a car
accident when he was 12.
Alexey Bychenok: The 2014/15 world 15km sitting para-biathlon champion, who also won a silver at
12.5km and bronze at 7.5km. He won a Paralympic silver in the 12.5km event in Sochi. He also won a world
cross country skiing gold for Russia in the 4x2.5km relay in 2014/15, while picking up silver in the 1km sprint and
bronze in the 10km. He produced his marathon best at the Schenkon Marathon last May, ranking 10th in the
world. He has set Russian wheelchair records at 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m. He started doing sport in 2004,
almost 10 years after his injury, playing tennis as well as athletics. He took up skiiing in 2010.
Tobias Lötscher: He was 11th in the marathon at the 2013 World Championships having finished 27th at
the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games. Ranked 11th in the world last year with 1:31:33 from Schenkon, he also
finished second in Berlin behind Kota Hokinoue. He also represented Switzerland at the 2004 Games, competing
in the 800m, 1500m and relays, and at the Worlds in 2002 and 2006, although he has never won a medal. He
was fifth in the 5000m and sixth at 1500m at last year’s European Championships. Born with spina bifida, he
works as a staff secretary for the Swiss Ornithological Institute in Sempach.
Ebbe Blichfeldt: He raced for Denmark at the 2008 Paralympics, finishing 28th in the marathon. He also
raced the marathon at the 2006, 2011 and 2013 World Championships. His highest finish was 18th in 2011.
He didn’t finish in 2013. He was seventh in the 5000m at the European Championships last summer. He ranked
12th in the world last year with 1:31:38 from Schenkon. He was 10th in the London Marathon in 2003. He was
diagnosed with leukaemia at 13 and was left with paraplegia from the tumour pressing against a nerve in his
spine. He began racing in 2001.
Simon Lawson: Improved his best by a minute and a half when sixth in Schenkon last May in 1:32:33
having lowered it by more than two minutes in 2013. He first raced the London Marathon in 2011 when 12th
and finished 18th in 2013. He was 19th last year in 1:39:42 before finishing 11th in New York. He won the Great
Manchester Run in 2012 and 2013, and broke the Silverstone Half Marathon record in 2011, a time eclipsed by
David Weir in 2012. This is his first British international vest. He missed the London 2012 qualifying time by just
60 seconds. He injured his spine racing motocross in 2001 on his home track in Maryport, Cumbria. A former
British junior speedway champion, he is the son of former professional Steve Lawson. His brother Richard rides
motocross for the Peterboro Panthers. He works as a motorcylce mechanic. He has been wheelchair racing
since 2009 and is coached by Ian Thompson.
Ryota Yoshida: Achieved his PB at the Oita marathon in Japan last year when he finished just ahead of
Hiroki Nishida.
Hiroki Nishida: He was 10th in the marathon at the 2013 World Championships and produced his PB at
last year’s Oita marathon. He was left paralysed in both legs after a traffic accident. He took up the sport in 2006
at his home in Osaka. Before his accident he was a baseball catcher.
Alhassane Balde: Germany’s top-ranked wheelchair racer last year after clocking 1:35:33 in Schenkon. He
represented Germany on the track at the 2004 and 2008 Paralympics, and at the 2006 World Championships.
He won two silvers at the European Championships last year, at 1500m and 5000m. Born in Guinea, he travelled
to Düsseldorf at nine months for medical treatment and was later adopted by his aunt and uncle who lived there.
He took up the sport after getting a racing wheechair for his sixth birthday.
Alberto Baptista: He represented Portugal at the 2006 World Championships but dropped out of the
marathon. He had polio as a child, and took up the sport at 10.
Alexandrino Silva: He was 35th in the marathon at the 2008 Paralympics.
Patrick Monahan: He broke the Dublin Marathon course record to win last October’s race in 1:52:43. He
first used a racing chair in August 2013, six years after being paralysed by a car crash. Two months later he was
third in the 2013 Dublin Marathon and in May 2014 he won the Belfast Marathon in 2:06:21. He comes from
Naas in county Kildare.
96 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
T53/54 Women
Bib
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Name
Tatyana McFadden
Wakako Tsuchida
Sandra Graf
Amanda McGrory
Shirley Reilly
Shelly Woods
Manuela Schär
Susannah Scaroni
Chelsea McClammer
Christie Dawes
Jade Jones
Country
USA
JPN
SUI
USA
USA
GBR
SUI
USA
USA
AUS
GBR
Class
T54
T54
T54
T53
T53
T54
T54
T54
T53
T54
T54
PB
1:35:06
1:34:06
1:35:44
1:36:39
1:37:36
1:37:44
1:38:07
1:38:33
1:45:55
1:47:04
1:59:59
Age
25
40
45
28
29
28
30
23
21
34
19
DoB
21/04/89
15/09/74
09/12/69
09/06/86
29/05/85
04/06/86
05/12/84
16/05/91
01/03/94
03/05/80
04/01/96
Bib name
MCFADDEN
TSUCHIDA
GRAF
MCGRORY
REILLY
WOODS
SCHAER
SCARONI
MCCLAMMER
DAWES
JONES
Preview
Tatyana McFadden targets her third consecutive London Marathon victory after breaking the course record in
both 2013 and 2014.
The triple Paralympic champion will be an overwhelming favourite to take the crown again this April. She
celebrated her 24th birthday with her first win two years ago and dominated the event last April when she
crossed the finish line more than a minute and a half ahead of her nearest rival.
McFadden won a record six gold medals on the track at the 2013 World Championships and has been
unbeatable in the marathon over the last two years winning repeat titles in Boston, Chicago and New York,
as well as London. In 2013, she became the first athlete, disabled or otherwise, to win those four major
marathons in a single year while last winter she swapped her racing chair for a sit-ski to win a silver medal in
the 1km cross country event at the Sochi 2014 Winter Paralympics.
Among McFadden’s opponents will be four talented US teammates, including the London 2012 Paralympic
champion, Shirley Reilly, and the 2009 and 2011 London Marathon champion, Amanda McGrory, who was a
close second in 2013.
Wakako Tsuchida of Japan is the fastest woman on paper and the five-times Boston winner will be looking to
regain the title she won in 2010. Paralympic bronze medallist Sandra Graf aims to repeat her 2008 London
victory, while her Swiss colleague Manuela Schär hopes to retain the World Championships crown after
finishing second to McFadden in London, Chicago and New York in 2014.
Australia’s Christie Dawes races in London for the fourth time after finishing fifth last year, while Shelly Woods is
again Britain’s big hope for a medal. The Paralympic silver medallist could only finish sixth in London last year
but she was a commanding winner in 2012 and will be pushing for her third victory this time.
Woods will be joined by Jade Jones, the 19-year-old three-times Mini London Marathon winner who dipped
under two hours on her full marathon debut a year ago.
There will be 14 athletes in total in the women’s wheelchair race.
Media Guide 2015 97
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Tatyana McFadden (United States)
Wakako Tsuchida (Japan)
Born: 21 April 1989 St Petersburg, Russia
Marathon best: 1:35:06 Boston 2014
London Marathon record: 2011- 4th 1:46:34,
2012- 8th 2:05:38, 2013- 1st 1:46:02,
2014- 1st 1:45:12
Other major city marathons
Boston: 2013- 1st 1:45:24, 2014- 1st 1:35:06
Chicago: 2009- 1st 1:50:47, 2010- 3rd 1:56:11,
2011- 1st 1:45:03, 2012- 1st 1:49:52,
2013- 1st 1:42:35, 2014- 1st 1:44:50
New York: 2009– 6th 2:08:05, 2010- 1st 2:02:22,
2011- 3rd 1:52:52, 2013- 1st 1:59:13,
2014- 1st 1:42:16
Marathons in major championships
Paralympics: 2012- 9th 1:58:47
Born: 15 September 1974
Marathon best: 1:34:06 Boston 2011 (world best)
London Marathon record: 2010- 1st 1:52:33,
2012- 2nd 1:53:04, 2014- 3rd 1:46:45
Other major city marathons
Berlin: 2010- 1st 1:46:15, 2011- 4th 1:48:45
Boston: 2007- 1st 1:53:30, 2008- 1st 1:48:32,
2009- 1st 1:54:37, 2010- 1st 1:43:32,
2011- 1st 1:34:06, 2012- 2nd 1:37:37,
2014- 2nd 1:37:24
New York: 2007- 7th 2:01:48, 2009- 3rd 1:58:23,
2011- 4th 1:52:53, 2013- 2nd 2:02:54,
2014- 3rd 1:44:29
Oita: 1999- 1st, 2001- 1st 1:38:32, 2002- 1st,
2003- 1st, 2007- 1st 1:38:55, 2009- 1st 1:39:35,
2013- 2nd 1:38:07 (world record), 2014- 2nd 1:38:43
Tokyo: 2008- 1st 1:45:19, 2009- 1st 1:46:31,
2010- 1st 1:53:01, 2011- 1st 1:40:08,
2012- 1st 1:48:31, 2013- 1st 1:48:29,
2014- 1st 1:48:08, 2015- 1st 1:46:30
Marathons in major championships
Paralympics: 2000- 3rd 1:50:10, 2004- 2nd 1:50:13,
2012- 5th 1:49:02
Worlds: 2011- 1st 1:48:24, 2013- 2nd 1:49:45
Career notes
McFadden has dominated women’s wheelchair racing
in the last two years, winning back-to-back marathons
in Boston, London, Chicago and New York. In 2013
she became the first athlete to win those four major
marathons in one year, and last October she won the
Chicago Marathon for the fourth consecutive time.
She broke the London course record in both 2013
and 2014, while last April in Boston she smashed her
PB with 1:35:06, the fastest time in the world by more
than three and a half minutes.
She made her name on the track when she won two
Paralympic medals in Athens aged 15. She broke her
first world record, in the 100m, just two years later,
and won four more Paralympic medals in Beijing.
At London 2012 McFadden won golds in the T54
400m, 800m and 1500m, plus a bronze in the 100m.
She finished ninth in the marathon. She won a silver
medal in cross country sit skiing at the Sochi 2014
Paralympics (she lost by 0.01 seconds) bringing her
Paralympic medal total to 11.
She won a record six gold medals at the Lyon 2013
World Championships, having won four golds and a
silver in 2011.
Personal notes
Born with spina bifida, McFadden was looked after in
a Russian orphanage for the first six years of her life.
She was adopted by an American family and grew up
in Maryland.
Nicknamed ‘the Beast’, she now competes for the
University of Illinois. A disability sports law is named
after her following her campaign for equal access
to higher education. Her sister Hannah is also a
wheelchair racer.
98 Media Guide 2015
Career notes
The 2010 London champion broke the official world
record at the Oita Marathon in 2013 when she clocked
1:38:07, the same time as winner Manuela Schär.
She won five Boston titles in a row from 2007 until
beaten by Shirley Reilly in April 2012. Her winning time
in 2011 eclipsed the 17-year-old Boston course record
and is the fastest ever by a woman (although not a
world record due to the downhill Boston course). This
February she won her eighth straight Tokyo title.
She won the world marathon title in January 2011 but
had to settle for second behind Schär in Lyon 2013.
She was fifth at the 2012 Paralympics after claiming
bronze in 2000 and silver in 2004 when she also took
gold in the 5000m, an achievement that made her the
first Japanese athlete to win golds at both summer and
winter Paralympics. Before taking up athletics she won
two golds and two silvers at ice sledge speed racing at
the 1998 Paralympic Winter Games in Nagano.
Personal notes
Tsuchida has paraplegia following an accident which
injured her spinal cord. She is married with a son called
Yoshimasa.
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Sandra Graf (Switzerland)
Amanda McGrory (United States)
Born: 9 December 1969 Appenzell
Marathon best: 1:35:44 Padua 2008
London Marathon record: 2008- 1st 1:48:04,
2009- 2nd 1:50:40, 2010- 2nd 1:52:34,
2011- 3rd 1:46:33, 2012- 7th 1:54:43,
2013- 3rd 1:48:01
Other major city marathons
Berlin: 2006- 1st 1:42:48, 2009- 1st 1:39:31,
2010- 2nd 1:46:16, 2011- 2nd 1:45:21,
2012- 1st 1:46:19
Boston: 2001- 3rd 2:04:00, 2004- 3rd 1:42:13,
2005- 3rd 1:51:46, 2007- 3rd 2:02:30,
2013- 2nd 1:46:54
Chicago: 2014- 5th 1:46:15
New York: 2004- 2nd 1:53:37, 2005- 6th 2:03:04,
2006- 5th 1:56:29, 2007- 5th 1:58:10,
2008- 6th 2:20:34, 2009- 5th 2:04:42,
2010- 5th 2:13:03, 2014- 5th 1:52:40
Oita: 2008- 2nd 1:44:20, 2010- 2nd 1:44:40,
2011- 1st 1:45:37
Padua: 2008- 1st 1:35:44
Marathons in major championships
Paralympics: 2000- 5th 1:59:54, 2004- 5th 1:59:09,
2008- 3rd 1:40:01, 2012- 3rd 1:46:35
Worlds: 2006- 2nd 1:44:23, 2011- 2nd 1:48:24,
2013- dnf
Born: 9 June 1986 Kennett Square, PA
Marathon best: 1:36:39 Duluth 2012
London Marathon record: 2008- 2nd 1:51:58,
2009- 1st 1:50:39, 2010- 3rd 1:52:36,
2011- 1st 1:46:31, 2012- 6th 1:54:41,
2013- 2nd 1:46:04
Other major city marathons
Boston: 2009- 4th 2:10:44, 2010- 3rd 1:57:20,
2013- 3rd 1:49:19, 2014- 8th 1:50:52
Chicago: 2007- 1st 1:45:27, 2008- 1st 1:55:12,
2009- 3rd 1:50:49, 2010- 1st 1:47:25,
2013- 3rd 1:42:55, 2014- 3rd 1:45:55
New York: 2006- 1st 1:54:17, 2007- 3rd 1:56:09,
2008- 2nd 2:11:25, 2010- 3rd 2:09:42,
2011- 1st 1:50:24, 2013- 4th 2:05:06,
2014- 4th 1:52:40
Oita: 2008- 1st 1:43:33, 2010- 1st 1:44:38,
2011- 2nd 1:45:45
Paris: 2011- 1st 1:46:51, 2012- 1st
Marathons in major championships
Paralympics: 2008- 2nd 1:40:00, 2012- 4th 1:46:35
Worlds: 2011- 3rd 1:48:24, 2013- 4th 1:51:46
suisse
Career notes
Graf destroyed the 11-year-old London course record
by more than a minute in 2008, picked up a bronze
medal at the Paralympics in Beijing, and set a world
half marathon record of 50:11 in Lisbon. She added
another Paralympic bronze at London 2012, while
she has two silver medals from the 2006 and 2011
Worlds, although she did not finish in Lyon 2013.
She has also won the Berlin Marathon three times,
and broke the course record there in 2009. In London
he was just beaten by McGrory in 2009 and by
Tsuchida in 2010. She was quicker than her own
course record in 2011 when third behind McGrory
and Woods, and was third again in 2013 six days after
finishing second in Boston.
She won gold in the 16km handcycling time trial at
London 2012.
Personal notes
Graf lives in Gais, Switzerland, with her husband and
coach, Martin, and daughters, Melanie and Mara. She
broke her spine in 1991 when she fell from gymnastics
rings. She’s been racing for 16 years.
Career notes
McGrory outbattled Shelly Woods to win her second
London title in 2011, smashing the course record just
a week after taking the Paris Marathon in an almost
identical time. Her remarkable year continued as she
notched up another win and another course record in
New York. She has won two London, two New York,
two Oita and three Chicago Marathon titles.
She was the only racer to stay close to McFadden here
in 2013, finishing second just six days after placing
third in Boston. She went on to finish fourth at the
Worlds. She missed London last April but has been
third in Chicago and fourth in New York for two years.
She picked up a full set of medals at the Paralympic
Games in Beijing and was fourth in the marathon at
London 2012 in the same time as bronze medallist
Graf. She took world 5000m gold in 2011 and bronze
in the marathon, but missed out on medals in 2013.
Personal notes
McGrory was paralysed from the waist down at the age
of five when an injection for an allergy damaged her
spinal cord and left her with transverse myelitis. She
graduated in psychology from the University of Illinois
in 2010 and still lives in Champaign. She began as a
basketball player before she started racing.
Media Guide 2015 99
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Shirley Reilly (United States)
Shelly Woods (Great Britain & NI)
Born: 29 May 1985 Anchorage, Alaska
Marathon best: 1:37:36 Boston 2012
London Marathon record: 2012- 4th 1:54:39,
2013- 6th 1:50:46, 2014- 8th 1:59:57
Other major city marathons
Boston: 2004- 4th 1:58:54, 2005- 3rd 1:53:44,
2006- 5th 2:14:49, 2009- 3rd 2:04:54,
2010- 4th 1:57:23, 2011- 2nd 1:41:01,
2012- 1st 1:37:36, 2013- 4th 1:52:19,
2014- 7th 1:44:34
Chicago: 2011- 4th 1:47:56, 2013- 4th 1:49:30
Los Angeles: 2005- 1st, 2006- 1st
2010- 2nd 2:03:30, 2011- 1st 1:57:25
New York: 2013- 7th 2:11:10
Marathons in major championships
Paralympics: 2008- 7th 1:40:26, 2012- 1st 1:46:33
Worlds: 2002- 11th 2:16:40
Born: 4 June 1986 Blackpool
Marathon best: 1:37:44 Padua 2008 (UK record)
London Marathon record: 2005- 2nd 1:57:03,
2006- 2nd 2:04:37, 2007- 1st 1:50:40,
2008- 3rd 2:01:59, 2009- 6th 1:50:46,
2010- 6th 2:45:40, 2011- 2nd 1:46:31,
2012- 1st 1:49:10, 2013- 5th 1:50:44,
2014- 6th 1:54:52
Other major city marathons
Berlin: 2009- 2nd 1:40:43, 2014- 1st 1:47:56
Boston: 2014- 5th 1:41:42
New York: 2005- 3rd 1:56:51, 2006- 2nd 1:54:19,
2007- 2nd 1:54:19, 2008- 4th 2:16:09,
2009- 2nd 1:58:22, 2010- 7th 2:15:25,
2011- 2nd 1:52:50, 2013- 8th 2:14:31,
2014- 8th 2:03:15
Padua: 2008- 3rd 1:37:44
Los Angeles: 2007- 1st 1:50:51
Marathons in major championships
Paralympics: 2008- 4th 1:40:03, 2012- 2nd 1:46:34
Worlds: 2006- 3rd 1:53:04, 2011- dns, 2013- dnf
GREAT BRITAIN
Career notes
Reilly bagged a full set of medals at London 2012,
taking gold in the marathon, silver in the 5000m and
bronze in the 1500m. 2012 was a great year for Reilly
as she also won the Boston Marathon by a second
in a PB to end Wakako Tsuchida’s five-year winning
streak. She was fourth on her London Marathon
debut just a week later.
She was eighth in London last year before finishing
seventh in Boston in a time that ranked her first in the
world for T53s. She was also fourth in Chicago for the
second year in a row. She has won the Los Angeles
Marathon three times.
She represented USA at the 2004 Athens Paralympics
when she was 19, and again in Beijing when she
was seventh in the marathon. On the track she ranks
among the top three in the US for her class (T53) at
100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m and 5000m as
well as marathon. She won a silver in the T53 400m at
the 2013 World Championships. She also competed
for USA at the 2002 Worlds when she was 17, as well
as in 2011.
Personal notes
Reilly is of Native American (Inupiaq) heritage. She
was born three weeks premature with damage to her
spine leaving her paralysed from the waist down. At
two, her family moved from Anchorage to San Jose
so she could have surgery. She began playing sports
at seven and competed for the University of Arizona
wheelchair track and field team. She lives in Tucson.
100 Media Guide 2015
Career notes
The London 2012 Paralympic silver medallist is only
the second woman to have won both the Mini London
Marathon and the senior race (following Sarah Piercy in
2000). She won the mini event twice and claimed her
second senior title in 2012 with a commanding fourminute victory. She won the Los Angeles Marathon in
2007 and the Berlin Marathon last year.
Woods added the London 2012 silver to the pair
of medals she won in Beijing – a 1500m silver and
a 5000m bronze. She was agonisingly short of a
marathon medal in 2008 when she was fourth, just five
seconds behind the winner. She picked up a World
bronze in 2006 but failed to finish in Lyon last summer.
She had bad luck with punctures here in 2009
and 2010 but bounced back in 2011 when she was
unlucky to lose by a hair’s breadth to Amanda
McGrory as both smashed the old course record.
She broke the 10-year-old British marathon record in
2007 and lowered it again in Padua 2008, clocking
1:37:44. She holds British records at 800m, 1500m,
5000m, 10km, half marathon and marathon.
Personal notes
Woods was paralysed at 11 when she fell 6m (20 feet)
from a tree. She married Chris Oxley in 2011, and is
coached by Jennie Archer and David Weir.
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Manuela Schär (Switzerland)
Susannah Scaroni (United States)
Born: 5 December 1984 Altishofen
Marathon best: 1:38:07 Oita 2013 (world record)
London Marathon record: 2014- 2nd 1:46:44
Other major city marathons
Berlin: 2013- 1st 1:41:39
Boston: 2014- 4th 1:39:29
Chicago: 2013- 2nd 1:42:37, 2014- 2nd 1:45:12
New York: 2013- 3rd 2:03:53, 2014- 2nd 1:43:25
Oita: 2013- 1st 1:38:07, 2014- 1st 1:38:42
Marathons in major championships
Worlds: 2013- 1st 1:49:45
Born: 16 May 1991 Burns, Oregon
Marathon best: 1:38:33 Boston 2014
London Marathon record: 2013- 7th 1:50:47,
2014- 4th 1:51:01
Other major city marathons
Boston: 2012- 5th 1:50:44, 2013- 6th 1:53:28,
2014- 3rd 1:38:33
Chicago: 2011- 7th 2:02:51, 2012- 2nd 1:56:30,
2014- 7th 1:51:56
Duluth: 2012- 2nd 1:50:06, 2013- 2nd 1:42:46
Los Angeles: 2013- 1st 1:54:38
New York: 2013- 5th 2:05:07, 2014- 7th 1:57:55
Twin Cities: 2013- 1st 1:54:37
Marathons in major championships
Paralympics: 2012- 8th 1:58:37
Worlds: 2013- 5th 2:00:36
suisse
Career notes
Schär not only won the world marathon title in 2013
but also became the joint official world record holder
when she clocked 1:38:07 in Oita. In both cases
she just beat Japan’s Wakako Tsuchida. She added
another victory in 2013 in Berlin followed by second in
Chicago and third in New York.
A relatively new name on the marathon scene, last
year Schär emerged as the main challenger to the
dominant Tatyana McFadden, finishing second to the
American in London, Chicago and New York. She was
first in Oita for the second year in a row, in another fast
time which ranked her second in the world in 2014.
She won three track silvers at the 2013 World
Championships in Lyon where she was second to
McFadden in the T54 400m, 800m and 5000m.
She won a 200m silver at her first Paralympics in 2004
and bronze in the 100m while in 2008 she took bronze
at 200m. Her best results at London 2012 were two
fifth places.
She is the European record holder at 200m, 400m
and 800m and won four gold medals at last year’s
European Championships in Swansea, in the 400m,
800m, 1500m and 5000m.
Personal notes
She grew up in Altishofen with her brother, Ivo, and
parents, Elisabeth and Ireno.
She was injured in an accident in 1993 and started
wheelchair sport in 1998 aged 14. She made her
international debut in 2001.
She studied commerce at college in Montreux.
Career notes
Susannah Scaroni entered her first marathon in
Chicago in 2011 along with her training partners from
Team St Luke’s in Washington. She finished seventh
and qualified for the Boston Marathon where she
placed fifth in a highly respectable time of 1:50:44.
She improved her time by a fraction at the Grandma’s
Marathon in Duluth 2012 and was soon selected for
the US Paralympic team. She raced well in London to
finish eighth, just ahead of fellow Illinois student Tatyana
McFadden, and went on to place second behind
McFadden in Chicago that October.
She made big improvements in 2013 with victories
in Los Angeles and at the Twin Cities Marathon in
Minnesota where she broke the course record. She
was second at the Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth,
lowering her PB to 1:42:46, and was fifth at the 2013
World Championships.
She smashed that best in Boston last year when she
was third in 1:38:33 just a week after finishing fourth
in London. She finished seventh in Chicago and New
York last autumn.
Personal notes
Scaroni was injured in a car accident aged five and
took up wheelchair racing in 2002, at 11. She joined
the University of Illinois track team in 2012 and now
lives in Champaign.
She graduated in food science and human nutrition in
May last year. She has two brothers and one sister.
Media Guide 2015 101
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Chelsea McClammer (United States)
Christie Dawes (Australia)
Born: 1 March 1994
Marathon best: 1:45:55 Chicago 2014
London Marathon record: None
Other major city marathons
Chicago: 2014- 4th 1:45:55
New York: 2014- 9th 2:03:17
Marathons in major championships: None
Born: 3 May 1980 Newcastle, New South Wales
Marathon best: 1:47:04 Chicago 2011
London Marathon record: 2009- 5th 1:50:43,
2013- 4th 1:50:43, 2014- 5th 1:51:01
Other major city marathons
Berlin: 2003- 6th 1:55:12
Boston: 2003- 5th 2:16:33, 2013- 5th 1:52:20
Chicago: 2009- 5th 1:50:50, 2011- 2nd 1:47:04,
2013- 5th 1:49:31, 2014- 6th 1:51:50
Gold Coast: 2000- 3rd 1:57:52
New York: 2007- 7th 2:12:46, 2008- 3rd 2:16:09,
2009- 4th 1:58:37, 2011- 4th, 2013- 6th 2:06:17,
2014- 6th 1:52:41
Marathons in major championships
Paralympics: 2004- 8th 2:08:11, 2012- 6th 1:49:37
Career notes
She ranked second in the world last year for T53
racers behind Paralympic champion Shirley Reilly after
finishing fourth in Chicago in 1:45:55. She was also
ninth in New York last November while she won the
2014 Indianapolis Mini Marathon.
At the age of 14, McClammer was the youngest
member of the 2008 US Paralympic team in Beijing
where she finished eighth in the T54 800m.
She contested the 200m at the 2011 World
Championships and won her first global medal at the
2013 Worlds, picking up a bronze in the T53 200m.
She was also fourth at 400m, fifth at 800m and sixth
at 100m.
Personal notes
She has used a wheelchair since she injured her spine
in a car accident aged six. She was introduced to
wheelchair racing at a sport convention when she was
11.
She now trains with Team St Luke’s disability sports
team in Washington, and she lives in Benton City,
Washington.
She studied dietics at the University of Illinois in
Champaign.
Australia
Career notes
Christie Dawes has competed at the last five
Paralympic Games, starting in Atlanta 1996 when
she was 16. She was awarded the 1996 Young
Paralympian of the Year Award.
She picked up a silver medal in the 4x100m relay in
2008 and claimed 5000m bronze at London 2012
when she was also sixth in the marathon.
She was fifth on her London Marathon debut in 2009,
fourth in 2013 in exactly the same time, and fifth again
last year. She withdrew from the 2010 line-up.
She was also fifth in Boston two years ago, and sixth
in Chicago and New York last year, while she set
her personal best when second in Chicago in 2011
just six months after giving birth to her son. She
was also fourth in New York that year while she had
been third there in 2008, just months after the Beijing
Paralympics.
Dawes was involved in a brutal crash in the 5000m
final in Beijing. She emerged unscathed but the race
was re-run, causing huge controversy. She is Australian
record holder at 1500m and 5000m.
Personal notes
She became a paraplegic in 1990 aged 10 as the result
of a car accident and started racing after watching
Louise Sauvage at the 1992 Paralympics.
She has a degree in early childhood education.
Previously Christie Skelton, she married her coach
Andrew Dawes in 2002. They have a son, Charlie, born
in January 2011.
102 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Jade Jones (Great Britain & NI)
Born: 4 January 1996 Middlesbrough
Marathon best: 1:59:59 London 2014
London Marathon record: 2014- 9th 1:59:59
Other major city marathons: None
Marathons in major championships: None
GREAT BRITAIN
Career notes
Jade Jones made her senior marathon debut at the
London Marathon last year at the age of 18 after
winning the Mini London Marathon three times in a
row from 2011 to 2013, twice breaking the under 17s
girls’ course record.
She was selected for Britain’s 2011 World
Championships team when she was 15 and finished
fifth in the T54 200m.
She set personal bests for 400m, 800m and 1500m
in 2012 and was selected for Britain’s London 2012
Paralympic team. Although just 16, she made the
final of the 1500m. In 2013 she qualified for the World
Championships in Lyon and reached four finals, the
400m, 800m, 1500m and 5000m, finishing fourth in
the 400m.
Last year she won a silver and bronze at the European
Championships, at 800m and 1500m respectively, and
she took another bronze for 1500m at the Glasgow
Commonwealth Games.
She won the junior wheelchair event at the 2012 Great
North Run and the senior women’s wheelchair race
at the 2013 Silverstone Half Marathon where she
smashed the course record by 10 minutes in 62:09.
She was second to Shelly Woods last year.
Personal notes
Jones was born with a missing femur in her right
leg and her foot was amputated when she was 10.
A pupil at Ormesby School in Middlesbrough, she
started wheelchair racing after being invited to try
out a racing chair by Tanni Grey-Thompson and her
husband, Ian, who were attending a sports day.
Within a few weeks she was training under GreyThompson at the New Markse club and began
entering competitions in 2009. She now attends Prior
Pursglove College in Guisborough and aims to be a
lawyer.
In 2012, she was named one of Zoo Weekly’s ‘sexiest
Paralympians’.
Media Guide 2015 103
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Wheelchair Awards & Bonuses
Prize money for the London Marathon T53/54 wheelchair races has been increased this year by a total of
$16,250. The winners of the men’s and women’s contests will each receive an extra $5,000, with the prize for
second place boosted by $3,500. Prize money for athletes finishing third, fourth and fifth has also increased,
while a new course record is now worth $5,000 to the record-breaker compared to $1,000 in previous years.
Awards for place
1st 2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
Total: $84,500
MenWomen
$20,000
$20,000
$10,000$10,000
$5,000$5,000
$2,500$2,500
$1,250$1,250
$900$900
$800$800
$700$700
$600$600
$500$500
Course record:$5,000
$5,000
Britons outside top 10
1st
$200$200
2nd
$100$100
3rd
$50$50
The Boston London Wheelchair Challenge
A new competition for wheelchair athletes competing at both the Boston and London Marathons started in
2013 with an additional $35,000 in prize money available for the top three men and women over the two races.
Australia’s Kurt Fearnley and US athlete Tatyana McFadden were the inaugural winners, taking $10,000 apiece.
Last year, South African veteran Ernst van Dyk clinched the top men’s prize, while McFadden proved to be
unbeatable again in the women’s contest (see page 173). The third Challenge will be held this year.
Points are awarded to the top 10 finishers in each race and the cumulative scores are ranked to find the top
three men and women overall. To be eligible for prize money athletes must compete in both races.
Points
1st - 20 points
2nd - 15
3rd - 10
4th - 9
5th - 8
6th - 7
7th - 6
8th - 5
9th - 4
10th - 3
Prizes
Men
Women
1st
$10,000$10,000
2nd
$5,000$5,000
3rd
$2,500$2,500
Total: $35,000
If there is a tie, athletes will be awarded equal shares of the total prize money for the tied places.
22 athletes are competing in both races (the 2015 Boston Marathon was held on Monday 20 April):
Men (14): Josh Cassidy, Ernst van Dyk, Joshua George, Tomasz Hamerlak, Marcel Hug, Rafael Botello Jimenez,
Jordi Jimenez, Kota Hokinoue, Denis Lemeunier, Aaron Pike, James Senbeta, Masazumi Soejima, David Weir,
Hiroyuki Yamamoto.
Women (8): Sandra Graf, Tatyana McFadden, Amanda McGrory, Chelsea McClammer, Shirley Reilly,
Susannah Scaroni, Wakako Tsuchida, Shelly Woods.
104 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
06 THE MASS EVENT
Starters & Finishers
Year
Total applicants
Accepted applicants
Starters
Finishers
1981 20,000
7,7477,055 6,255
1982
90,000
18,05916,350 15,116
1983
60,000
19,73516,500 15,776
1984
70,000
21,14216,992 15,649
1985
83,000
22,27417,500 15,841
1986
80,000
25,56619,261 18,030
1987
80,000
28,36421,485 19,545
1988
73,000
29,97922,469 20,889
1989
72,000
31,77224,452 22,652
1990
73,000
34,88226,500 24,953
1991
79,000
33,48524,500 23,393
1992
83,000
34,25024,500 23,783
1993
68,000
35,82025,000 24,448
1994
72,000
37,37926,000 25,194
1995
79,000
39,09727,000 25,326
1996
68,000
39,17327,134 26,761
1997
78,000
39,81329,500 29,135
1998
96,000
42,22830,663 29,924
1999
87,000
43,77431,582 30,809
2000
93,000
42,59632,620 31,658
2001
92,000
43,51731,156 30,314
2002
99,000
46,08333,297 32,899
2003 111,000
45,62932,746 32,067
2004 108,000
45,21932,746 32,174
2005 132,000
47,96935,600 35,201
2006 119,000
47,02033,578 32,980
2007 128,000
50,03936,396 35,674
2008 120,000
48,63035,037 34,497
2009 155,000
49,99535,884 35,371
2010 163,000
51,37836,956 36,550
2011 163,926
50,53235,303 34,705
2012 170,150
50,20037,227 36,705
2013 167,449
48,32334,631 34,278
2014 169,682
49,87236,337 35,868
2015172,888
51,696
924,741 runners have completed the London Marathon since it started.
A record 36,705 people finished in 2012 after 37,227 had started, the largest field so far.
Media Guide 2015 105
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Mass Facts & Figures
Finishers’ medals – main race
Finishers’ medals - mini marathon
Finishers’ bags for runners – main race
Finishers’ bags for runners – mini marathon
Goody bag items
Pink Lady apples 37,500
2,500
37,500
2,500
600,000
40,000 (in finishers’ bags)
Operational vehicles (hired)
TNT lorries transporting runners’ kit
Renault Grand Scenic cars carrying media, VIPs and staff
Portable toilets (incl. start, course, mini marathon and finish) Urinal bays at start
106
40
17
1,250
400
Blue line paint marking the course
Barriers in metres
Barrier Tape
Roadside signs
Ball bearings in finish cones
300 litres – 3-stripe line
43,000 metres
116,000 metres
279
3.2 million
Marshals at the start
Marshals at the finish
Marshals on the course
Marshals at drinks stations
1,000
2,000
1,500
2,500
St John Ambulance volunteers
1,200 (incl. 30 cycle response specialists
and 200 healthcare professionals)
Ambulances45
St John Ambulance treatment centres
59
First aid stations
52
First aid kits
100s
Stretchers300
Sterile gloves
5,000 pairs
Ice packs for sprains and strains
400
Petroleum jelly
250 tubs; 100lbs
Baby oil
200 bottles
Plasters2,000
Foil blankets
40,000
Water stations
Elite drink stations
Lucozade Sport stations
Lucozade Sport (isotonic energy drink)
Lucozade Sport Carbo Gels Tables at drink stations
Bottles of Buxton Natural Mineral Water
23, one every mile from three miles
8 – for the elite runners where their chosen drinks are placed if required
5 – isotonic energy drink is available to
runners at 5, 10, 15, 19 and 23 miles; 149,100 100% recyclable 380ml bottles
36,000 bottles of isotonic drink are
distributed at the start and 36,000
in finishers’ bags.
50,000 at miles 14 and 21
671
Around 750,000 bottles in total are
distributed at the start, on the course and at the finish
Pubs on or near to the course
Pubs hosting charities as part the London Marathon scheme
Live music sites on the course
Official cheering zone
83
45
41
mile 23
Rubbish bags filled after the race
Runners’ blogs
Road closure leaflets delivered
Sustainability
3,450
7,200 – c. 20 per cent of runners
200,000
The London Marathon takes measures
to reduce its environmental impact in all
areas of operation, including branding,
communications, Expo and Race Day
106 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Celebrities
The challenge of completing the London Marathon has attracted many well-known names and famous faces
over the years, and celebrities have become an increasingly visible and important part of the charity fund-raising
element of the mass race.
Emmerdale actor Tony Audenshaw and model Nell McAndrew are two of the quickest celebrities ever to
complete the course – Audenshaw once romped home in 2:55:06 while in 2012 McAndrew finished in 2:54:39,
more than good enough to mix it with the serious club runners in the UK championship race.
Chris Newton became the quickest celebrity ever in 2014, the world champion cyclist finishing well ahead of the
field in 2:45:10. Newton will run again in 2015. Racing driver Jonny Kane was best of the rest, cruising home in
3:11:56, just two minutes ahead of BBC sports reporter Vassos Alexander who ran 3:13:43.
Designer Tilly Hemingway was the fastest female celebrity in 3:45:19, just ahead of former England footballer
Michael Owen, who clocked 3:45:43, and the 2014 race starters, Olympic champion rowers Katherine Grainger
and Anna Watkins, who finished in 3:55:59 and 4:00:49 respectively. Bringing up the rear last year was Her
Excellency Margaret Kenyatta, the First Lady of Kenya, who completed the course in 7:05:28 alongside Douglas
Wakiihuri, the former world champion and London Marathon winner.
Finishing times are only one concern among celebrity entrants, of course, as the race to raise funds is often
their primary goal. Former rower Sir Steve Redgrave once held the record for most money raised in a single
London Marathon. The Olympic legend amassed £1.7 million, later surpassed by Steve Chalke who raised
£2,330,159.38 for Oasis UK in 2011.
Celebrities Running in 2015
A typical array of celebrities will be running in 2015. Coming from the worlds of TV, show business, film, music,
sport and media, they all have their own target times and will aim to raise as much money and publicity as
possible for their chosen charities.
A full up-to-date list of all the celebrities entered for this year’s race, and their charities, can be found in the Media
Resources section of the London Marathon website: www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com.
Here are a few names to look out for:
Jenson Button: the 2009 Formula One world champion who helped Brawn GP to claim the world constructors’
championship that year. A Formula One driver for 15 years, he has won 15 of his 266 races and finished on the
podium 50 times. He has been driving with McLaren since 2010 and will partner Fernando Alonso in 2015.
David Hemery: Britain’s 1968 Olympic 400m hurdles champion, who was also known for winning the first BBC
Superstars contest in 1973. He became president of UK Athletics in 1998. Now 70, he will run with his son,
Peter, and weightlifter Michaela Breeze while raising money for his charity, 21st Century Legacy.
Christy Turlington Burns: the American model who founded the safe pregnancy and childbirth organisation
Every Mother Counts in 2010 and directed the documentary, Every Mile, Every Mother, in 2013. The film explores
the organisation’s participation in long distance running to highlight the distance barrier that prevents women
receiving quality care.
Ian Stark: former world equestrian champion who also won four Olympic silver medals in his long career. Stark
was inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.
James Toseland: former double world superbike champion who was the fastest celebrity in 2013 when he
finished just outside three hours. This will be his third London Marathon.
Helen George: the actor who plays Trixie Franklin in the BBC’s Call the Midwife. Previously a backing singer for
Elton John, she once aspired to be a long jumper, and Aston Villa manager.
Media Guide 2015 107
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Simon Couchman
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, the global authority on
record-breaking, has supported many individuals
who have attempted records while running the
marathon. Since 2007 Guinness has officially
partnered the London Marathon to adjudicate record
attempts in the mass event and present successful
record-breakers with certificates.
Caroline Pleasence was the quickest of the female
attemptees, the best of four women aiming to break
the record for fastest in a nurse’s uniform. Pleasence
ran a pulse-quickening 3:13:57, barely three minutes
ahead of Sarah Dudgeon, who married speed with
elegance to become fastest woman in a wedding
dress when she crossed the line in 3:16:44.
A team of eight Guinness officials are on the course
throughout the day to judge any records and provide
immediate news of successful efforts.
More Guinness World Records were broken in 2011
than at any previous London Marathon with 35
successful attempts. In 2014 there were 53 record
attempts made by more than 100 runners, and 30
new records were achieved.
The first record fell to 33-year-old type 1 diabetes
sufferer Alex Collins from London who roared
across the line wearing a burning-bright all-body tiger
costume in 2:48:29, the fastest marathon ever run
dressed in an animal costume.
He was followed across the line by David Stone,
who rumbled home in 2:49:51 dressed as a character
from Thunderbirds, the 1960s children’s TV show,
breaking the record for the fastest marathon-running
television character. The 31-year-old from Exeter was
running his 16th London Marathon. In 2013 he flitted
home as Jack Sparrow to set the record as fastest film
character.
Ali King, also 31, from London, became the fastest
male baby in an anything-but-crawling time of
2:51:18, while 35-year-old Marcus Mumford from
Worcestershire flushed away the opposition to win a
three-way battle for fastest toilet in 2:57:54.
Rik Vercoe rustled his way to a new world record for
the fastest marathon dressed as a cowboy in 3:09:09.
The 43-year-old from Walton on Thames certainly
earned his running spurs, completing more than 300
marathons last year.
Just ahead of the cowboy came the astronaut as
38-year-old Simon Couchman from Birmingham
powered home in a starry 3:08:45, while Ross Birkett
galloped in to become the fastest jockey in 3:08:30.
108 Media Guide 2015
Sarah Dudgeon
Tom Collins clocked a heavenly time of 3:29:32 to
break the record as fastest marathon-running monk
while Francis Gilroy won the ever-popular fastest
mascot contest, running 3:51:50.
Susie Hewer needled her way to another world
record when she broke her own mark for producing
the longest crochet chain while running a marathon.
The 56-year-old from east Sussex finished her 34th
marathon in 5:40:47 having made a chain of 139.4
metres.
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Susie Hewer
This year
Guinness have received more than 100 requests from
entrants in this year’s race who want to attempt a
Guinness World Record. These attemptees have all
registered on the London Marathon section of the
Guinness website:
www.guinnessworldrecords.com/virgin
Everyone who registers receives a response from
Guinness, including guidelines on how to try to break
the record and the time they need to beat.
Among many records being attempted this year are:
• fastest marathon by a mascot – Ed Stevens will
run as a ‘practical action man’ when he attempts
to finish quicker than 3:51:50.
• fastest marathon dressed as a lifeguard –
Terry Midgley needs to come in at three hours or
less to become the fastest lifeguard.
As ever, there were a couple of multi-personned
record attempts. Wolverhampton’s London wanderers
Stuart Bailey, Andy Newman, Earl Edwards and
Adam James slid home in 6:29:44 wearing a 14-foot
replica of the Cool Running bobsled to become record
holders as the fastest in a four-person costume,
while the 33-piece Huddersfield Marathon Band
reclaimed the record for the fastest marathon by a
marching band in 6:56:44.
• fastest marathon three-legged (female) – 4:30
or quicker is the target time for Debbie Leeland as
she attempts to become the fastest three-legged
woman marathon runner.
• fastest marathon wearing high heels – Natalie
Eckert is aiming to wobble home in less than 7
and a half hours.
• fastest marathon dressed as a a framed
painting – Gemma Kirkham will adopt an
enigmatic air as she tries to break 4:30 dressed as
in the Mona Lisa portrait.
• fastest marathon wearing Wellington boots
– 4:30 is also the target for Robin Hobson as he
digs deep to complete the race wearing every
gardeners’ favourite footwear.
For a full list of this year’s Guinness world record
attemptees go to the Media Resources page of
www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com.
Staff from Guinness World Records will be based near
the Race Day Media Centre, confirming records and
awarding certificates. The Guinness World Records
press office can provide the stories behind various
record-breaking runners.
Stuart Bailey, Andy Newman, Earl Edwards & Adam James
The London Marathon is a Guinness World Record
breaker in its own right as it is officially the largest
annual one-day fund-raising event in the world. It
first set the record in 2007 and has broken it every
year since, a remarkable eight-year sequence. In
2014 runners raised £53.2 million for charities,
meaning that a total of more than £716 million has
been raised by London Marathon runners since
1981.
More information, including a full list of the record
attempts planned this year, are available from the
VMLM and GWR press teams.
GWR contact: Amarilis Whitty
Tel. 020 7891 4586;
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.guinnessworldrecords.com
Twitter: @GWR
The Guinness World Record press conference will be
held at the Tower Hotel on Friday 24 April.
A list of all the 2014 Guinness World Record Breakers
can be found at: www.guinnessworldrecords.com.
Media Guide 2015 109
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Politicians
MPs & the Marathon
Fifty-six Members of Parliament have run the London Marathon and MPs have been present in all 34 races bar
one, each of them encouraged and ably organised by former lobby correspondent Mike Steele.
Matthew Parris holds the record as the fastest MP, a fact of which he is enormously and rightly proud. His five
London Marathon times (1981-85) are all faster than the next best, Doug Henderson.
Having run 10-apiece, Dick Douglas and Gary Waller jointly hold the record for the highest number of London
Marathons completed as an MP. Douglas (born 4 January 1932) went on to complete a further 11 London
Marathons after he left Parliament, then at the age of 70 decided that his 21st in 2002 would be his last.
Alistair Burt holds the record among MPs for the longest time between his first and his most recent London
Marathon – 1984 to 2008, 24 years – a record previously held by David Heathcoat-Amory who first ran in 1987
and last in 2002, 15 years. Heathcoat-Amory ran only two minutes 33 seconds slower in 2002 than he did in
1987. Chris Pond has been running since 1988 but his first and most recent (in 2007) were not as an MP.
Conservative Alun Cairns was the fastest last year, the Vale of Glamorgan MP improving his personal best by five
minutes to move up to ninth on the all-time list. Cairns’ Tory colleague Edward Timpson, the Minister for Children
and Families, also shaved some time from his PB, as did Dan Jarvis, Labour’s Shadow Justice Minister, who was
more than a minute faster than his 2013 debut with 3:45:08.
Two other shadow ministers, Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham, made encouraging debuts 12 months ago, both
finishing within 4:30, while Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls crossed the line in 4:57:40, more than quarter of an hour
quicker than in 2013 and a good 30 minutes swifter than his 2012 debut.
Cairns, Timpson and Jarvis will all run again this year, along with Graham Evans, another MP who ran a PB in
2014. This year’s newcomer is Richard Drax, Tory MP for South Dorset, who was a Coldstream Guard for nine
years and a journalist before entering Parliament in 2010.
Strictly speaking, of course, none of these politicians will be running as Members of Parliament on 26 April as the
House of Commons was formally dissolved on 30 March for the General Election campaign. Therefore, if any of
this year’s entrants lose their seats on 7 May they will not be counted as Marathon MPs for 2015.
This is the fourth year since the race started in 1981 that the London Marathon has taken place during a General
Election campaign, the others being 1992, 1997 and 2010. This year’s five-strong entry list is the biggest of any
of those election years.
MPs who ran in 2014
Time
Alun Cairns
Con, Vale of Glamorgan
3:34:16
Edward Timpson
Con, Crewe and Nantwich
3:42:24
Dan Jarvis
Lab, Barnsley Central
3:45:08
Sadiq KhanLab, Tooting4:19:47
Andy BurnhamLab, Leigh4:26:19
Graham Evans
Con, Weaver Vale
4:43:56
Jason McCartney
Con, Colne Valley
4:57:35
Ed Balls
Lab, Morley & Outwood
4:57:40
MPs running in 2015PB
Alun Cairns
Con, Vale of Glamorgan
3:34:16 (2014)
Richard Drax
Con, South Dorset
Debut
Graham Evans
Con, Weaver Vale
4:43:56 (2014)
Dan Jarvis
Lab, Barnsley Central
3:45:08 (2014)
Edward Timpson
Con, Crewe and Nantwich
3:42:24 (2014)
110 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
The fastest MPs
Matthew Parris
Con, Derbyshire West
2:32:57
1985
Doug Henderson
Lab, Newcastle upon Tyne North
2:52:24
1989
John McFallLab, Dumbarton3:08:241988
Rhodri MorganLab, Cardiff West3:14:441988
Paul Marsden
Lib Dem, Shrewsbury & Atcham
3:18:01
2004
Dennis CanavanLab, Falkirk West3:19:041985
Robert SpinkCon, Castle Point3:31:151995
Jim Murphy
Lab, East Renfrewshire
3:31:44
2013
Alun Cairns
Con, Vale of Glamorgan
3:34:16
2014
Chris BryantLab, Rhondda3:34:192007
Howard StoateLab, Dartford3:36:282000
Chris PondLab, Gravesham3:37:541999
Alan HowarthCon, Stratford-on-Avon3:41:411985
Edward Timpson
Con, Crewe and Nantwich
3:42:24
2014
Greg Mulholland
Lib Dem, Leeds North West
3:42:51
2012
Jonathan AitkenCon, Thanet East3:43:001982
David LockLab, Wyre Forest3:44:361998
Dan JarvisLab, Barnsley Central3:45:082014
David Heathcoat-Armory
Con, Wells3:55:451987
Jo Swinson
Lib Dem, East Dunbartonshire
3:57:00
2011
MPs by numbers
Sitting MPs who have run
28
Former MPs no longer at Westminster
26
Former MPs now peers
1
Former MP, now deceased
1
Total56
(16 Conservative, 9 Labour, 3 Liberal Democrat)
A full record of all the MPs who have run the marathon can be found in the Media Resources section of the
London Marathon website: www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com
This year’s Marathon MPs, L to R: Richard Drax, Alun Cairns,
Dan Jarvis, Edward Timpson & Graham Evans
Media Guide 2015 111
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
The Ever Presents
Fourteen of the many thousands of people who have run the London Marathon over the years have finished
every race from the first in 1981 to the 34th on 13 April last year. They are known as the ‘Ever Presents’.
This informal group was first acknowledged after the 15th London Marathon in 1995, when it numbered 42. They
were awarded with a special commemorative medal, a sweatshirt and guaranteed acceptance in future London
Marathons. They cover a whole spectrum of running backgrounds, come from all walks of life, different locations
and assorted occupations, although many are now retired.
At the top of the list is Chris Finill who received a Guinness World Record certificate in 2010 for “the most
consecutive editions of the same World Marathon Majors marathon completed in under three hours”. All but one
of the remaining 14 have broken three hours on at least one of their London Marathons. Fifteen finished the 2013
race but unfortunately 80-year-old Jeffrey Gordon did not start last year.
The Real Marathon Men: London Marathon Everpresents, written by Dale Lyons, one of the surviving 14, was
published in January 2014. As well as providing a factual record, it tells the stories of those who own and feel the
blisters – the tales of triumph and disappointment, the lives away from running, and the spirit that keeps them
going.
Below is a full list of ever-present names with their times from the 2014 race and their London PB.
More information at www.everpresent.org.uk
Name
1 Chris Finill
2 Michael Peace
3 Jeffrey Aston
4 Roger Low
5 Patrick Dobbs
6 Charles Cousens
7 Malcolm Speake
8 Terence Macey
9 David Walker
10 Stephen Wehrle
11 William O’Connor
12 David Fereday
13 Kenneth Jones
14 Dale Lyons
Age group
55-59
60-64 65-69 70+ 70+ 70+ 70+ 65-69
65-69 65-69 65-69 70+ 70+ 70+ 2014 time
3:10:14
3:53:28 4:08:07
4:18:29
4:47:19
4:48:23
4:54:40
4:55:20
5:09:46
5:25:25
5:33:13
5:41:38
6:06:28
7:12:39
London PB
2:28:27
2:38:23
2:29:34
2:33:47
2:31:38
2:55:29
2:45:10
2:58:18
2:45:48
2:59:59
2:34:29
2:44:12
2:55:38
3:06:48
Eleven made the photo call at the Green Start for the 34th London Marathon on 13 April 2014: Chris Finill, Dale Lyons, Steve
Wehrle, David Walker, Jeff Aston, Charles Cousens, David Fereday, Malcolm Speake, Bill O’Connor, Roger Low, Pat Dobbs
112 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Human Interest Stories
More than three-quarters of all runners at the London Marathon now raise money for charity, and more than
£50 million is raised every year. The event itself holds a Guinness World Record for one-day charity fundraising,
a record it has broken each year for the last eight years. The 2014 record total was £53.2 million while the total
raised over the last 34 years stands at some £716 million.
Many of those who run to raise money do so because they, or someone close to them, has experienced illness
or tragedy, and they want to honour someone’s memory, or give something back to the organisations and
charities which helped them. For many taking on the London Marathon is just one challenge in a whole host of
challenges over a period of time, or merely one stage in an ongoing fund-raising campaign. For others it’s the
climax of a personal journey.
You can find a summary of many of this year’s ‘human interest’ stories in the Media Resources section of the
London Marathon website. These are just a handful:
Laura Harvey and Paul Elliott – getting hitched
Laura, 34, and Paul, 41, are not only running, they are also following a long-established London Marathon
tradition by getting married along the route. The Londoners wanted to do something different for their wedding
day and thought it would be incredible to combine running the marathon with getting hitched.
Saying ‘I do’ is not the only inspiration for running on 26 April, however. Paul’s father died from bowel cancer 19
years ago when Paul was just 11, and although he won’t be there on the day of the wedding, the couple want
to honour his memory on their special day by raising money for Cancer Research UK, the London Marathon’s
official charity for 2015.
“We both love the London Marathon,” said Paul. “We are very grateful to Cancer Research and the London
Marathon for helping us make this happen. It is also a great opportunity to raise money for Cancer Research,
which is something we wanted to do.”
Katey Cuthbertson – 1,000 miles in 1,000 days
Katey lost both her sister and dad to cancer, and has chosen to run the London Marathon in aid of Cancer
Research UK in their memory. Katey was extremely close to her sister but sadly Fay died from pancreatic cancer
at 41 in 2013. Katey’s dad died in 2014 after a three-year battle with brain cancer.
The 30-year-old from Hampshire is now embarking on an epic challenge to complete 1,000 miles in 1,000 days
to raise £41,000 – £1,000 for every year her sister was alive. Katey’s challenge, which includes climbing the three
peaks, mud runs, half marathons and rowing marathons, will finally culminate in London on 26 April.
Katey said: “I chose the London Marathon as it is closest to home and it will be great to have so many friends
and family supporting me along the way for such a great cause.”
Claude Umuhire – running free from homelessness
Claude Umuhire is running the London Marathon for The Running Charity (TRC), which engages the UK’s
homeless and vulnerable people in regular running-based activities. It helped him turn his life around after his
family fled the Rwandan genocide.
Now 23, Claude left home at 18 to go to university but struggled to support himself financially. He became
homeless, using night buses, friends’ sofas and shelters for refuge when he wasn’t sleeping rough on the streets.
Claude joined TRC’s inaugural programme in 2012 after eight months of homelessness, and the charity helped
him take control of his life again.
“TRC helped me see a way out of my situation,” he said. “I didn’t think I’d ever get out of homelessness. Over
time I achieved a goal, for example, completing a 5k run in 20 minutes. I grew more confident in my ability and
my self-worth increased.”
For more information on these and other human interest stories go to the Media Resources section of the
London Marathon website, or contact a member of the London Marathon media team.
Media Guide 2015 113
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Runners by Age
Age Group
Men
Women
All
18-19 240 154394
20-29
5,646 5,19510,841
30-39 10,353 7,00217,355
40-49
9,790 5,52415,314
50-59 4,139 1,9746,113
60-69 1,068 3371,405
70-79 204 53257
80-89 13 417
Totals 31,453 20,24351,696
Oldest Runners
The oldest man running in 2015 is:
Paul Freedman, 90, born 15 December 1924
The oldest woman running in 2015 is:
Iva Barr, 87, born 23 October 1927
Youngest Runners
The youngest man running in 2015 is:
Jonny Innes, 18 years exactly, born 26 April 1997
The youngest woman running in 2015 is:
Paige Brown, 18 years two days, born 24 April 1997
Runners who have birthdays on race day
MenWomenTotal
13580215
Oldest & Youngest All Time
Oldest winner (men): Allister Hutton (GBR) 1990 (35)
Oldest winner (women): Joyce Smith, (GBR) 1982 (44)
Youngest winner (men): Sammy Wanjiru (KEN) 2009 (22)
Youngest winner (women): Małgorzata Sobanska (POL) 1995 (25)
Oldest finisher (men): Fauja Singh 2004 (93)
Oldest finisher (women): Jenny Wood-Allen 2002 (90)
114 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Runners by Occupation
Occupation
Accountant
Actor
Administrative and Clerical Support
Administrator
Advertising
Agriculture
Airline Cabin Crew
Airline Pilot
Ambulance Service
Analyst
Apprentice
Architect
Armed Forces
Artist
Banker
Beautician / Hairdresser
Builder/Construction
Building Society
Building Trade
Business Owner/Entrepreneur
CEO/COO
Catering
Catering - Professional
Catering - Support
Chairman / President of Company
Civil Aviation - Cabin Crew
Civil Servant
Clergy
Clerical
Communications
Construction
Consultant
Data Processing / MIS Manager
Data Processing / Systems Analyst
Data Processing Engineer
Data Processing Manager
Data Processing Programmer
Dental Assistant
Dentist
Designer
Doctor
Driver
Economist
Editor
Education - Support
Electrician
Engineer
Engineer - Civil
Engineer - Electrical
Engineer - Mechanical
Events and Operations
Film Maker
Finance and Investment - Support
Financial Analyst
Firefighter
Forestry / Game Keeping
Haulage
Health Service
Health and Fitness
Healthcare
Homemaker
Hospitality
Hotel
Hotel and Leisure Industry
Housewife
IT Professional
IT Support
Insurance
MenWomen Total
1,414 7862,200
61 45106
385
1,038
1,423
239 636875
112 75187
38 947
11
26
37
24
2
26
25
12
37
212 119331
18 523
174 37211
292
61
353
65 55120
1,035 3361,371
25
102
127
532 18550
9
10
19
281
4
285
1,002
319
1,321
135 20155
126 61187
69
61
130
12
27
39
143
13
156
13
20
33
143
118
261
23 326
35 67102
139 98237
344 23367
939 3561,295
42
6
48
93
40
133
25
2
27
61
12
73
49
6
55
0
12
12
66 59125
317 183500
408 309717
391 26417
34 640
61 56117
96
282
378
308
2310
1,092
721,164
143
13
156
154
8
162
270
14
284
41
97
138
33
7
40
175
90
265
458
149
607
330 37367
8
2
10
29 332
125
233
358
113
230
343
326 8161,132
23 433456
38 4684
61 2586
33
25
58
2 339341
998
135
1,133
134
30
164
246 116362
Media Guide 2015 115
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Investment Broker
Labourer
Lawyer/Barrister
Lecturer
Legal - Support
Legal Profession
Librarian
Local Government
Machinist
Manager
Manufacturing
Marketer
Mechanic
Media and Publishing
Military Services
Musician
Newsperson
Nurse
Other
Paramedic
Pharmacist
Photographer
Physician
Physiotherapist
Pilot
Plumber
Police
Politician
Postal Worker
Printer
Programmer
Psychiatrist
Public Relations
Public Service - Manager/Professional
Public Service - Support
Public Transport
Publishing
Radio / TV
Recreation Worker
Restaurants
Retail - Manager
Retail - Support
Retail Trade
Retired
Sales - Professional/Manager
Sales - Support
Sales Manager
Salesperson
Scientist
Secretary
Security
Self Employed
Shop Worker
Skilled Agricultural Forestry and Fishery
Social Worker
Solicitor
Sports person
Stock Exchange
Student
Surveyor
Systems Analyst
Taxi Driver
Teacher
Trade and Craft - Professional
Transportation
Travel
Travel and Tourism - worker
Unemployed
Waiter / Waitress
Web Designer/Developer
Writer / Journalist
Youth / Community Worker
Totals
116 Media Guide 2015
49
9
58
90 595
185 163348
138 117255
38
82
120
374
343
717
3 58
81
85
166
130 10140
1,021 5081,529
169 18187
566 6191,185
33 033
202
145
347
223
44
267
80 47127
33 1548
106 651757
4,570 2,7527,322
26 1238
19 2948
36 1753
1 67
37 89126
42 143
66 066
596 268864
22 325
65
13
78
21 425
42 648
6 17
98
134
232
364
263
627
148
97
245
44
9
53
45 2469
105
81
186
9
6
15
84 38122
200
92
292
120
150
270
260
186
446
579 194773
539
205
744
71
54
125
590
170
760
314 183497
297 214511
9 272281
41 748
371
271
64
35
38
73
66
12
78
26
49
75
70 62132
200
88
288
36
8
44
763 8301,593
204 40244
27
6
33
24
5
29
1,157 1,5332,690
131
25
156
160 24184
55 3691
35
46
81
101 68169
11
14
25
43
10
53
72
72
144
51
57
108
31,453 20,24351,696
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Runners by Nationality
Country
American Samoa
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Guernsey
Jersey
Barbados
Belgium
Bermuda
Botswana
Brazil
British Indian Ocean Territory
Bulgaria
Canada
Cayman Islands
Chile
China
Colombia
Costa Rica
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
French Polynesia
Germany
Gibraltar
Great Britain & Northern Ireland
Greece
Guadeloupe
Guatemala
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Ireland
Isle of Man
Israel
Italy
Japan
Kenya
Korea (Republic of)
Kuwait
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malta
Martinique
Mexico
Moldova (Republic of)
Morocco
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Code MenWomen Total
ASA
1
0
1
ARG13 6 19
AUS 94 64158
AUT33 13 46
GGY4 4 8
JEY 9 817
BAR1 1 2
BEL74 20 94
BER3 2 5
BOT1 0 1
BRA30 8 38
IOT
0
1
1
BUL2 0 2
CAN 65 63128
CAY
1
0
1
CHI17 2 19
CHN22 7 29
COL6 1 7
CRC
1
0
1
CYP1 3 4
CZE
11
1
12
DEN52 14 66
ECU1 0 1
EGY2 0 2
EST2 2 4
FRO
2
0
2
FIJ0 1 1
FIN15 7 22
FRA504 154 658
PYF
1
1
2
GER283 101 384
GIB 9 615
GBR
28,318
18,843
47,161
GRE4 1 5
GLP3 0 3
GUA10 1 11
HON1 0 1
HKG
41
11
52
HUN5 3 8
ISL18 3 21
IND15 3 18
INA10 6 16
IRL269 136 405
IMN
3
10
13
ISR13 5 18
ITA332 82 414
JPN51 34 85
KEN1 0 1
KOR
7
3
10
KUW0 4 4
LAT0 2 2
LTU1 0 1
LUX2 1 3
MKD0 1 1
MAS4 2 6
MLT2 1 3
MTQ1 0 1
MEX45 13 58
MDA
1
0
1
MAR14 9 23
NEP1 0 1
NED101 41 142
NZL
24
18
42
Media Guide 2015 117
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Reunion
Romania
Russian Federation
St Helena
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Turkey
Uganda
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Virgin Islands (British)
Wallis and Futuna
Zimbabwe
NGR1 0 1
NOR 67 34101
OMA1 0 1
PAK1 0 1
PAN1 0 1
PAR0 1 1
PER5 0 5
PHI5 3 8
POL28 14 42
POR22 4 26
PUR
1
0
1
QAT2 0 2
REU1 0 1
ROU0 1 1
RUS
21
4
25
SHE
0
1
1
KSA
3
0
3
SEN1 0 1
SRB4 0 4
SEY1 0 1
SIN17 5 22
SVK2 3 5
SLO2 1 3
RSA
81
62
143
ESP148 35 183
SWE 77 39116
SUI 90 46136
TPE1 0 1
TUR3 1 4
UGA1 0 1
UAE
20
19
39
USA
285
243
528
URU1 0 1
UZB1 0 1
VEN1 1 2
IVB
1
0
1
WLF
0
1
1
ZIM0 2 2
Totals31,453 20,243 51,696
118 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Temperature & Humidity
Temperature (°C)
Race Date
29 Mar 81
09 May 82
17 Apr 83
13 May 84
21 Apr 85
20 Apr 86
10 May 87
17 May 88
23 Apr 89
22 Apr 90
21 Apr 91
12 Apr 92
18 Apr 93
17 Apr 94
02 Apr 95
21 Apr 96 13 Apr 97
26 Apr 98
18 Apr 99
16 Apr 00
22 Apr 01
14 Apr 02
13 Apr 03
18 Apr 04
17 Apr 05
23 Apr 06
22 Apr 07
13 Apr 08
26 Apr 09
25 Apr 10
17 Apr 11
22 Apr 12
21 Apr 13
13 Apr 14
09:00
10.1
10.5
10.1
8.6
6.0
8.1
10.0
10.6
8.4
9.4
5.8
11.3
11.8
5.9
8.3
17.6 9.9
11.1
5.9
6.6
7.6 7.6
9.5
9.6
7.7
11.1
16.3
10.4
14.1
11.8
14.1
8.8
7.0
10.5
10:00
10.2
11.1
10.0
10.4
6.9
10.2
10.6
13.2
8.5
10.0
7.1
12.1
12.2
6.6
9.6
20.3 11.2
11.2
6.8
8.7
8.4
9.2
11.5
10.2
9.4
11.3
18.6
12.1
14.9
13.8
15.9
10.4
8.9
11.3
11:00
10.2
13.4
10.4
12.2
8.0
15.6 12.0
14.6
8.7
10.2
9.4
13.2
13.1
7.5
12.0
20.1 12.0
13.0
7.6
9.9
8.6
10.6
15.0
10.3
10.9
12.1
20.5
8.9
16.1
14.4
18.3
12.5
10.4
12.7
12:00
10.9
14.0
10.0
13.0
8.6
17.0
12.4
16.4
10.1
10.9
9.1
13.8
13.8
7.6
14.1
21.0
13.3
12.7
8.4
11.3
10.4
11.2
16.4
11.2
12.3
12.7
21.7
9.5
16.2
15.6
19.9
13.4
12.8
13.7
Media Guide 2015 119
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Relative Humidity (%)
Race Date
29 Mar 81
09 May 82
17 Apr 83
13 May 84
21 Apr 85
20 Apr 86
10 May 87
17 May 88
23 Apr 89
22 Apr 90
21 Apr 91
12 Apr 92
18 Apr 93
17 Apr 94
02 Apr 95
21 Apr 96 13 Apr 97
26 Apr 98
18 Apr 99
16 Apr 00
22 Apr 01
14 Apr 02
13 Apr 03
18 Apr 04
17 Apr 05
23 Apr 06
22 Apr 07
13 Apr 08
26 Apr 09
25 Apr 10
17 Apr 11
22 Apr 12
21 Apr 13
13 Apr 14
120 Media Guide 2015
09:00
89
65
87
70
75
96
65
80
92
93
62
82
81
84
78
51 58
72
83
75
68
58
77
89
64
78
48
65
55
82
68
76
67
55
10:00
91
56
87
56
74
94
61
64
88
91
58
78
82
78
72
36 56
71
74
65
63
49
69
88
54
81
43
54
49
79
58
69
55
49
11:00
94
52
87
45
68
93
56
62
88
91
50
64
73
66
61
33 47
61
65
57
80
38
55
90
46
78
35
80
46
80
51
61
46
48
12:00
94
51
79
30
65
71
50
57
75
88
51
60
64
54
54
28
43
67
57
51
46
31
50
85
44
81
30
73
42
77
44
55
51
48
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
07 VIRGIN MONEY GIVING MINI LONDON MARATHON
The Virgin Money Giving Mini London Marathon is a series of races for girls and boys aged between 11 and 17,
divided into three age categories.
It is run over the last three miles of the marathon course, starting at Old Billingsgate and finishing under the finish
gantry in The Mall. The runners race along Victoria Embankment, through Parliament Square, down Birdcage Walk,
and past Buckingham Palace.
The race started in 1986 involving children from all 33 London boroughs. In 2001, selected teams from English
counties were invited, based on their performances at the English Schools Cross Country Championships. From
2005, teams representing Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland were added.
In 2009, a new format was introduced. The English county teams were replaced by regions, while the top
finishers from the London boroughs scored points for a ‘united London team’ in the regional competition. In
2011, the races were adopted as the official British Athletics Road Running Championships for young athletes.
More than 2,000 boys and girls take part in three age groups – under 13, under 15 and under 17.
The following London boroughs compete in the London competition:
Barking & Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney,
Hammersmith & Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington & Chelsea,
Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, City of London, Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond upon
Thames, Southwark, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, City of Westminster.
The following regional teams compete in the UK Road Running Championships: East England, East
Midlands, London, North East, North West, South East, South West, West Midlands, Yorkshire & Humberside;
Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales.
Mini London Wheelchair Marathon
There are also four wheelchair races along the same course, open to youngsters aged under 14 and under 17
from all parts of the UK. They race as individuals rather than members of a team.
Future stars
Over the years the Mini Marathon has unearthed a number of stars of British athletics. A quick glance through the list
of medallists reveals some young racers who have gone on to gain major international honours:
Mo Farah, the Olympic, world and European 5000m and 10,000m champion, was a Mini Marathon winner for
Hounslow three years in a row between 1998 and 2000. He went on to win gold medals in 5000m and 10,000m at
the 2010 and 2014 European Championships, the 2012 Olympic Games and the 2013 World Championships. He
broke the English record on his London Marathon debut last year.
Scott Overall, who was third in the Mini Marathon in 2000, ran the marathon for Britain at the 2012 London
Olympics and is the leading British male competitor in this year’s London Marathon.
Freya Ross was fifth in the Mini Marathon in 2001 (as Freya Murray). She went on to represent Britain at London
2012 where she was 44th in the marathon. She ran the London Marathon in 2013.
David Weir won the Mini Wheelchair Marathon seven times in his youth, and has since won the senior London
Wheelchair Marathon six times and claimed four gold medals at the London 2012 Paralympics.
Shelly Woods won the mini event twice before rising to become senior champion in 2007 and 2012. She won a
marathon silver medal at London 2012.
Hannah Cockroft also won the event twice, in 2009 and 2010, before going on to break world and Paralympic
records on the track for T34 100m and 200m, and to win gold medals in both events at the London 2012
Paralympics.
Mickey Bushell, the Paralympic T53 100m champion won the under 14 race in 2003 and 2004 before winning
the under 17 event in 2007.
The Mini London Marathon has also been a seedbed for talented athletes who have gone on to succeed in other
sports, such as Alistair Brownlee, the Olympic triathlon champion, who ran the Mini Marathon in 2002 and
2005, his brother Jonathan Brownlee, the Olympic triathlon bronze medallist, and Non Stanford, four times a
Mini Marathon winner between 2001 and 2005, who won the 2013 world triathlon title in London’s Hyde Park.
Media Guide 2015 121
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
What Happened in 2014
Three course records were set in the Mini London Marathon last year, with Almi Nerurkar running 17:05 in
the under 13 girls’ event and Nathan Maguire and Isaac Towers both recording 12:24 in the under 17 boys’
wheelchair race. Turkay Korkmaz set a new best of 15:56 to win the under 13 boys’ race.
Almi is the daughter of Richard Nerurkar, who was fifth at the 1997 London Marathon less than a year after
finishing fifth in the 1996 Olympic Marathon. Almi proved that athletic talent runs in the family by finishing 12
seconds clear of runner-up Jasmine Cooper, representing the East Midlands, who in turn was 11 seconds ahead
of Josie Czura, Nerurkar’s fellow South East representative. The under 13 girls’ race featured the biggest field of
the day, with 291 runners.
Maguire and Towers’ neck-and-neck finish in the under 17 boys’ wheelchair event capped a cracking race that
saw third place Dillon Labrooy only five seconds behind the leaders. Maguire, who also competes in wheelchair
basketball, took the victory despite the tiny margin with Towers.
Lauren Rowles won the under 17 girls’ wheelchair race in 14:23, more than two minutes ahead of runner-up
Doaa Shaye, who was in turn well clear of third-placed Shelby Watson, who finished in 18:27. Rowles went on to
reach the final of the T54 1500m at the Commonwealth Games.
Jack Agnew and Kare Adenegan triumphed in the under 14 wheelchair races. Agnew, from Belfast, won the
boys’ race in 14:31 ahead of Graham Spencer (16:16), while Adenegan moved from second in the 2013 girls’
event to first last year in 15:22, ahead of Eden Rainbow-Cooper (17:19).
Sabrina Sinha finished top of the 283-strong field in the under 15 girls’ race. Representing Greenwich on her fifth
appearance at the event, she completed the three-mile course in 16:31, beating Kate Waugh (16:43) of the North
East into second and the East Midlands’ Lucy Jones into third.
Lydia Turner of the North East was the fastest female runner of the day, claiming victory in the under 17 event
with a stunning time of 16:05, 15 seconds clear of Harriet Knowles-Jones of the North West. Kingston upon
Thames runner Phoebe Law came third in 16:34.
Zak Miller of the North West was the under 17 boys’ champion, after finishing runner-up in 2013. He finished in
14:27, just five seconds off the course record. Iolo Hughes of Wales was just one second behind while Haringey’s
Paulos Asgodom finished third in 14:35.
Markim Lonsdale of the North East won the under 15 boys’ race in 15:05, edging out Isaac Akers of the East
Midlands and Alasdair Kinloch of the South East by three and four seconds respectively.
In the final boys’ race of the day Southwark’s Korkmaz beat the North East’s Josh Cowperthwaite by two
seconds, with the South East’s Zakariya Mahamed third in 16:06. Korkmaz broke the course record even though
he had only been running for six months.
2014 Medallists
Boys1st
U17
U15
U13
2nd
Zak Miller (North West)
14:27 Iolo Hughes (Wales)
14:28
Markhim Lonsdale (North East) 15:05 Isaac Akers (East Midlands)
15:08
Turkay Korkmaz (London)
15:56 Josh Cowperthwaite (Nth East) 15:58
3rd
Paulos Asgodom (London)
14:35
Alasdair Kinloch (South East)
15:09
Zakariya Mahamed (South East) 16:06
Girls
U17 Lydia Turner (North East)
16:05 Harriet Knowles-Jones (North West)
U15 Sabrina Sinha (London)
16:31 Kate Waugh (North East)
U13 Almi Nerurkar (South East)
17:05 Jasmine Cooper (East Mids)
16:20
Phoebe Law (London)
16:34
16:43
17:17
Lucy Jones (East Midlands)
Josie Czura (South East)
17:00
17:28
Dillon Labrooy
Kyle Brotherton
12:29
18:49
Shelby Watson
Catherine Stott (Saddleworth)
18:27
19:27
Wheelchair Boys
U17
U14
Nathan Maguire (KP Harriers)
Jack Agnew (Belfast)
12:24 Isaac Towers (Aks Lytham)
12:24
14:31 Graham Spencer (KP Harriers) 16:16
Wheelchair Girls
U17
U14
Lauren Rowles (Uni of Warwick)14:23 Doaa Shayea
Kare Adenegan (Coventry)
15:22 Eden Rainbow-Cooper
122 Media Guide 2015
16:28
17:19
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
The 2015 Races
The 2015 Mini London Marathon participants will be the first to cross the line on the morning of Sunday 26 April
giving early spectators something to shout about as they wait for further action later in the day.
Over the winter, trials have been held across 33 London boroughs and nine regions in England, Scotland,
Northern Ireland and Wales to determine age-group teams to represent each area over the three-mile races in
three age categories – under 13, under 15 and under 17. Each London borough enters 48 runners and each
region and home nation receives 36 entries. The best athletes from across the country will come together to
race each other in a fight to win the title and join legends like Mo Farah and David Weir as Mini London Marathon
victors.
The start times and t-shirt colours this year are:
08:40
wheelchair girls U17
intense pink
08:40
wheelchair boys U17
cardinal red
08:40
wheelchair girls U14
twilight green
08:40
wheelchair boys U14
cobalt blue
08:55
boys U17
black
09:02
boys U15
blue
09:09
boys U13
collegiate red
09:16
girls U17
white
09:23
girls U15
sun yellow
09:30
girls U13
Colombia blue
Current Course Records
Boys
U17
U15
U13
14:22
14:54
15:56
Robbie Farnham-Rose
Euan Gillham
Turkay Korkmaz
South East
Scotland
London
2011
2012
2014
Girls
U17
U15
U13
15:38
16:28
17:05
Jessica Judd
Annabel Mason
Almi Nerurkar
East
Yorkshire & Humberside
South East
2011
2012
2014
Wheelchair Boys
U17
12:24
U14
13:22
Nathan Maguire
Isaac Towers
Kingston & Poly Harriers
Aks Lytham
2014
2013
Wheelchair Girls
U17
12:39
U14
14:33
Jade Jones
Charlotte Moore
New Marske Harriers
Coundon Court, Coventry
2013
2013
More information and full results from past races can be found at: www.minimarathon.co.uk
Also, see the Mini London Marathon Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/VirginMoneyGivingMiniLondonMarathon
Media Guide 2015 123
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
124 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
08 THE LONDON MARATHON COURSE
The Start
Blue Start at Blackheath, Shooters Hill Road
Elite Wheelchair races - Men & Women
IPC Athletics Marathon World Championships
Elite Women
Elite Men
British Athletics & England Athletics Championships – Men & Women
Ill & Injured
UK Athletics Clubs
Ballot runners
Overseas runners
Red Start at Greenwich Park, Charlton Way
Golden & Silver Bond runners
Guaranteed runners
Fast Good for Age runners
Green Start at St. John’s Park on the edge of Blackheath
Good for Age runners
Celebrities, Politicians & Media runners
The Course
The London Marathon course is relatively flat and fast. It starts in Blackheath, heads east through Charlton
and Woolwich for three miles, turns west to pass through Greenwich and past the Cutty Sark ship between six
and seven miles. It crosses the River Thames at Tower Bridge just before half way then loops around the east
end of London, through Mudchute and Docklands, before heading west again along The Highway and Victoria
Embankment to Parliament Square, Birdcage Walk and the final corner in front of Buckingham Palace.
The first London Marathon finished on Constitution Hill between Green Park and Buckingham Palace. From 1982
until 1993 the race finished on Westminster Bridge. But in 1994 repair work to the bridge meant the finish line
was moved to The Mall where it has remained ever since.
In 2005 the course was altered just after 22 miles to avoid the cobbled area near the Tower of London, and the
route around the Isle of Dogs between 14 and 21 miles was switched from clockwise to anti-clockwise. In 2011
runners did not pass Cutty Sark at six miles due to restoration work following a fire. The traditional route was
restored in 2012. This year a section of the usual route near Canary Wharf is out of use, so runners will instead
climb up to the roundabout at Westferry Circus between 18 and 19 miles, and briefly run on Aspen Way before
they reach Poplar High Street between 19 and 20 miles (see the attached map).
An Historical Jog Around London’s 26.2 Miles
Mile 3 The runners pass the Woolwich Royal Artillery Barracks which has the longest Georgian facade
in Britain. This was one of three 2012 Olympic Games venues in Greenwich borough.
Mile 6 On the runners’ left is Inigo Jones’ Queen’s House built in 1616 for Anne of Denmark, James
I’s wife. On their right is Christopher Wren’s spectacular architectural creation, the Royal Naval
Hospital. Runners pass prime meridian in front of the National Maritime Museum, which was the
start line for the Tour de France in July 2007.
Mile 6.5 The runners loop around the Cutty Sark, the famous tea clipper built in 1869, which held the
record for the fastest loaded voyage from Australia to London carrying wool.
Mile 8.5 The runners reach Surrey Docks and, for the first time, the London Docklands area. This was the
only dock complex built south of the river Thames. The first dock opened in the early 1700s and
several more were built between 1807 and 1926. Only two of the docks survived a programme
of in-filling in the 1970s before the Docklands Development Corporation was set up in 1981. The
Surrey Quays Shopping Centre opened in 1988 next to Canada Water, followed by a new station
on the Jubilee Line.
Media Guide 2015 125
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Mile 9.5-10 The route passes Greenland Dock and new residential areas, as well as the Surrey Docks City
Farm and the four star Holiday Inn. This is next to Nelson House, built in 1740 as the home of a
wealthy ship-builder.
Mile 10.5 The route passes within 250 metres of the Mayflower public house. It was here that the Pilgrim
Fathers originally assembled to set sail for America. They ran out of money and the ship was
moved to Plymouth to avoid mooring dues.
Mile 12
As the runners approach Tower Bridge they pass by Butlers’ Wharf, an old warehouse converted
into business offices, apartments, Sir Terence Conran’s ‘Gastrodrome’ and the Design Museum.
Tower Bridge was built in 1894. All the original machinery for raising and lowering the drawbridge
is still in place. It has never once failed to raise the 1,000 ton bascules.
Miles 13-14
Once over Tower Bridge, the course turns eastwards along The Highway towards Docklands,
passing St George-in-the-East (built as a result of the 1711 Coal Tax and designed by Nicholas
Hawksmoor). The Highway was formerly known as the Ratcliffe Highway and was inhabited by
sailors. The literary figure Thomas de Quincey wrote in 1827 that the Ratcliffe Highway was a
“public thoroughfare in the most chaotic quarter of eastern, or nautical, London”.
Mile 14
The route passes near the western entrance of the mile-long Limehouse Link Road Tunnel
(opened May 1993), built by the London Docklands Development Corporation under Limehouse
Basin, home of the Cruising Association. It links through to the Isle of Dogs. The herring gull
sculpture on Narrow Street is by artist Jane Ackroyd. To the right is the Grapes pub, a listed
building constructed in 1720 which was originally a tavern serving the workers on the Limehouse
basin. There are unsavoury stories about the antics of watermen in the pubs along this stretch.
As a child, the author Charles Dickens was made to stand on tables and sing to the customers.
Mile 15 Runners pass under Westferry Circus and on to Westferry Road which takes them down to the
tip of the Isle of Dogs peninsular, originally known as Stepney Marsh. The earliest reference to
the area as the Isle of Dogs is on a map of 1588. It was given the name because King Henry VIII
kept his hunting dogs there. Dykes and windmills were constructed by Dutch engineers in the
17th century to drain the marsh.
Mile 16
East Ferry Road is on an area of the peninsular called Mudchute, formed in the 1840s from the
spoils of the Millwall dock excavation. Silt from its channels and waterways was dumped on
nearby land, creating a “Mudchute”. It is now home to the biggest inner city farm in Europe.
Mile 18
Competitors passing by the former City Pride pub, sadly now demolished, can see runners
still heading east three miles behind them on the other side of the road. This year runners will
continue at this point and run up to Westferry Circus before turning right to pass through the
Canary Wharf Estate.
Mile 19
Runners pass the base of the 800ft tower, One Canada Square, sited at the centre of Canary
Wharf, one of the largest single business developments in the world. Built into the West India
Dock, which opened in 1802, the estate covers 97 acres and consists of 34 office buildings
and some 16 million square feet of office space. More than 105,000 people work on the estate,
including approximately 7,500 people in the main tower itself. More than 3,000 shops, bars and
restaurants are now open in three retail malls.
Mile 20
When the East India Dock Road was built, Poplar High Street became a little-used back street
– “a quaint straggling length of gabled houses, many built of wood, little gardens and trees in
front of many of them, almost every second house an inn, beer house or place of refreshment”.
In the High Street was St Matthias Church, the old East India Company chapel, and also “a
quaint building, Poplar Hospital, a home of refuge or hostel for the East India Company’s aged
seamen”. Much later, at the narrow end of the street, was the Queens Theatre, a very popular
music hall and one of the last old theatre buildings to survive in east London.
Mile 21
Commercial Road was constructed in 1802/04 to link the East and West India Docks with
the City. St Mary & St Michael is a Catholic church of 1856 built to serve the Irish navvies and
dock workers. The health centre is in the premises of the former East End Maternity Hospital.
126 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Mile 22
Runners pass St Katharine’s Dock, with wonderful views of Thomas Telford’s 1828 warehouses,
and the Tower of London, the turreted castle-cum-prison founded in 1066 by William the
Conqueror and now officially known as Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress.
Mile 23-24
Into the City of London, past Billingsgate Market, no longer the fish market of London but still
retaining three feet of perma frost created by centuries of cold stores on the site. Since 2008 this
area has been where the Mini London Marathon starts.
Mile 24
Cleopatra’s Needle, one of a pair that originally stood at Heliopolis in Egypt. Its twin stands in
Central Park, New York, just a few feet from the New York Marathon course. Neither of them
has any connection with Cleopatra. On the opposite side of the Thames, runners can see the
Southbank Centre, including Festival Hall, the National Theatre, Haywards Gallery and the
National Film Theatre. Further on is County Hall, once home of the Greater London Council, and
the London Eye.
Mile 25
Up ahead is Parliament Square and Big Ben, a sign that the race is almost over. There is now
just a mile to go as runners turn right into Great George Street and Birdcage Walk.
Mile 26
The runners turn past Buckingham Palace to reach the finish in London’s great ceremonial
avenue, The Mall.
Course Pace Guide
Mile
Location
Road
1st IPC WC 1st IPC
Elite Elite 3:30 Pace 4:30 Pace 6:00 Pace Road
Closes
Wheelchair
W Champs
Women
MenOpens
Pace per mile
00:03:26
00:05:32 00:05:21 00:04:46 00:08:00
00:10:17 00:13:43
0
Start
07:00 09:00:00 09:05:00 09:20:0010:10:00 10:10:00
10:10:00 10:10:00
1
Shooters Hill Road
07:00
09:03:26
09:10:32 09:25:21 10:14:46 10:18:01
10:20:17 10:23:43
14:00
2
Ha Ha Road
07:00
09:06:52
09:16:04 09:30:41 10:19:32 10:26:02
10:30:34 10:37:26
14:00
3
John Wilson Street
07:00
09:10:18
09:21:36 09:36:02 10:24:18 10:34:03
10:40:51 10:51:09
14:00
5km
07:00 09:10:40 09.22:1009:36:3510:24:5010:34:50 10:42:0010:52:40
4
Woolwich Road
07:00 09:13:44 09:27:0809:41:2210:29:0410:42:04 10:51:0811:04:52 14:00
5
Woolwich Road
07:00 09:17:10 09:32:4009:46:4310:33:5010:50:05 11:01:2511:18:35 14:00
6
Trafalgar Road
07:00 09:20:36 09:38:1209:52:0410:38:3610:58:06 11:11:4211:32:08 14:00
10km
07:00 09:21:26 09:39:2009:53:1010:39:4010:59:40 11:14:0011:35:20
7
Creek Road
07:00 09:24:02 09:43:4409:57:2410:43:2211:06:07 11:21:5911:45:48 14:00
8
Evelyn Street
08:00 09:27:28 09:49:1610:02:4510:48:0811:14:08 11:32:1611:59:32 14:00
9
Surrey Quays Road
08:00
09:30:54
09:54:48 10:08:05 10:52:54 11:22:09
11:42:33 12:13:15
16:00
15km
08:00 09:32:00 09:56:3010:09:4510:54:3011:24:30 11:46:0012:18:00
10 Salter Road
08:00 09:34:20 10:00:2010:13:2610:57:4011:30:10 11:52:5012:26:58 16:00
11 Brunel Road
08:00 09:37:46 10:05:5210:18:4711:02:2611:38:11 12:03:0712:40:41 16:00
12 Jamaica Road
08:00 09:41:12 10:11:2410:24:0711:07:1211:46:12 12:13:2412:54:24 16:00
20km
08:00 09:42:40 10:13:4010:26:2011:09:2011:49:20 12:18:0013:00:40
13 The Highway
08:00 09:44:38 10:16:5610:29:2811:11:5811:54:13 12:22:4113:08:07 19:00
13.1
Half way08:00
09:45:00 10:17:3010:30:0011:12:3011:55:00 12:25:0013:10:00
14 The Highway
08:00 09:48:04 10:22:2810:34:4811:16:4412:02:14 12:32:5813:21:50 19:00
15 Westferry Road
08:00 09:51:30 10:28:0010:40:0911:21:3012:10:15 12:43:1513:35:33 19:00
25km
08:00 09:53:20 10.30:5010:42:5511:24:1012:14:10 12:50:0013:43:20
16 Westferry Road
08:00 09:54:56 10:32:3210:45:3011:26:1612:18:16 12:53:3213:49:16 19:00
17
East Ferry Road
08:00
09:58:22
10:39:04 10:50:50 11:31:02 12:26:17
13:03:49 14:02:59
19:00
18 Marsh Wall
08:00 10:01:48 10:44:3610:56:1111:35:4812:34:18 13:14:0614:16:42 19:00
30km
08:00 10:04:00 10:48:0010:59:3011:39:0012:39:00 13:22:0014:26:00
19 North Colonnade
08:00 10:05:14 10:50:0811:01:3111:40:3412:42:19 13:24:2314:30:25 19:00
20
Poplar High Street
08:00
10:08:40
10:55:40 11:06:52 11:45:20 12:50:20
13:34:40 14:44:08
19:00
21 The Highway
08:00 10:12:06 11:01:1211:12:1311:50:0612:58:21 13:44:5714:57:51 19:00
35km
08:00 10:14:40 11:05:1011:16:0511:53:5013:03:50 13:54:0015:08:40
22 The Highway
08:00 10:15:32 11:06:4411:17:3311:54:5213:06:22 13:55:1415:11:34 19:00
23
Lower Thames Street
07:00
10:18:58
11:12:16 11:22:54 11:59:38 13:14:23
14:05:31 15:25:17
19:00
24 Upper Thames Street07:0010:22:24 11:17:48
11:28:14
12:04:2413:22:2414:15:4815:39:0019:00
40km
07:00 10:25:20 11:22:2011:32:4012:08:4013:28:40 14:26:0015:51:20
25 Victoria Embankment 07:00 10:25:50 11:23:2011:33:3512:09:1013:40:25 14:26:0515:52:43 19:00
26 Birdcage Walk
07:00 10:29:16 11:28:5211:38:5612:13:5613:38:26 14:36:2216:06:26 19:00
26.2
Finish
10:30:00 11:30:00 11:40:0012:15:00 13:40:00
14:40:00 16:10:00
(1:30 pace) (2:25 pace) (2:20 pace) (2:05 pace) (3:30 pace) (4:30 pace) (6:00 pace)
Media Guide 2015 127
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Lines, Times & Drinks Stations
The Blue Line
The London Marathon has a number of tight corners and winding sections of road. It is essential, therefore,
that leading runners know where to run to complete the shortest possible route. A dashed blue line is put down
before the race by a professional road marking company – Wilson & Scott (Highways) Ltd. It takes five to six
hours of intensive work to paint the line in its correct place and it can be only be done at night and when the
roads are dry.
The paint – Tempro – has to dry almost instantly and has to be stable enough to last for three days without
fading. To satisfy police and local highway authorities, it also has to be quickly removed. Tempro can be washed
off the road with a special non-polluting solvent and gallons of water. The removal team takes about six hours to
wash off the paint. By 19:00 on race day, all traces of the blue line are gone.
Mile & Kilometre Markers
There are digital clocks set on seven-foot stands at all the mile points, at every 5km mark and at half way: 35
double-sided clocks in all. All the clocks around the course will be started at precisely 09:20 for the elite women
and again at 10:10 for the elite men, the UK championship races and the massed runners of the London
Marathon. Official timing is provided by Timex.
Time Keeping
The London Marathon uses ‘Ipico Timing Tag’ technology to time all runners in the race, including the wheelchair
and IPC athletes, and competitors in the Mini London Marathon.
All runners will be issued with an Ipico tag, a transponder they attach to their running shoe. This chip is read
each time the runner passes over strategically placed mats at 5km, 10km, 15km, 20km, half way, 25km, 30km,
35km, 40km and at the finish line. These times are instantly relayed using an integrated communications system
developed by Marathon ITS, the marathon’s information services provider, to BBC Sport for immediate on-screen
display. The same information is also delivered to the marathon’s race day press centre to provide an instant
resource for the world’s media.
There are also official time keepers at the 30km mark to time runners in both the men’s and women’s races for
30km record validation purposes.
All results will be posted on the London Marathon website on race day.
Drinks & Drinks Stations
Dehydration is the biggest problem most marathon runners have to overcome. In a hard race on a hot and humid
day, up to four litres of fluid can be lost through sweating and exhalation. It is important for runners to keep well
hydrated.
Water supplied by Buxton Natural Mineral Water is available at every mile point starting from mile three with the last
water available at 25 miles. Around 750,000 25cl plastic bottles of water have been supplied to meet the needs of
the marathon.
In addition to water, Lucozade Sport is available at the start and at 5, 10, 15, 19 and 23 miles. Lucozade Sport
comes in 380ml 100 per cent recyclable bottles. Lucozade also supplies Lucozade Sport Gels at 14 and 21
miles.
Many of the elite runners prefer to drink their own special drinks during the race. These pre-prepared bottles are
collected on Saturday night and kept in secure and cool conditions overnight. On race day they are taken to
the appropriate 5km points. At these feeding stations, eight in all, there will be four numbered tables allocated
between the various elite athletes from which they will collect their special drinks bottles.
128 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
09 THE PAST RACES
What Happened in 2014
Record crowds roar Kenyans home
Record crowds witnessed two course records and one world record at the 34th Virgin Money London Marathon
on 13 April as Kenyans Wilson Kipsang and Edna Kiplagat won two thrilling elite races in the glorious London
sunshine, while Tatyana McFadden and Marcel Hug raced to victory in the wheelchair events.
London 2012 rowing champions Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins set 36,337 runners on their way from
Greenwich after 36,621 had registered to run by close of play on Saturday at the Marathon Expo. By 6pm on
race day 35,868 runners had crossed the finish line on The Mall after passing more than three quarters of a
million spectators along the route.
Wilson Kipsang
Fastest on the day was marathon world record holder Wilson Kipsang who ran a perfectly judged race to win the
men’s title in 2:04:29, beating his countryman Stanley Biwott by 26 seconds and slicing Emmanuel Mutai’s threeyear-old course record by 11 seconds.
“It’s really great to win the London Marathon again,” said Kipsang, who also won in 2012. “I feel I performed very
well here today. There were a lot of strong guys in the field, but my plan worked well.”
Never among the pre-race favourites, Biwott surprised everyone to place second, clocking 2:04:55 to ensure two
men ran sub-2:05 in London for the first time.
Mo Farah’s much-anticipated marathon debut ended in disappointment as the double world and Olympic track
champion failed in his bid to break the long-standing British record. Finishing tired and drained in eighth place,
Farah’s time of 2:08:21 was more than a minute outside his target, although it was an English record.
There was another Kenyan one-two in the women’s race where Edna Kiplagat made it third-time lucky after
being runner-up for the last two years. She ran the fastest marathon by a 34-year-old to finish in 2:20:21, just
three seconds ahead of her namesake, the unrelated Florence Kiplagat, after a sprint finish down The Mall. It was
the closest finish since 1997 when another Kenyan, Joyce Chepchumba, outsprinted Britain’s Liz McColgan to
win by a single second.
The winner revealed afterwards that she’d adjusted her training because she knew a strong kick would be
needed in the closing stages. “I focused on speedwork in training, because I thought I might need a good sprint
finish to win today and at long last that’s what I’ve done,” she said.
Media Guide 2015 129
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Edna & Florence Kiplagat
Florence Kiplagat finished second in 2:20:24, while Ethiopian track star Tirunesh Dibaba was third on her
marathon debut after dropping her drinks bottle at the 30km mark. Dibaba lost touch with the Kiplagats when
she stopped to pick it up, but hung on to clock an impressive 2:20:35.
Defending champion McFadden proved that she is still the dominant force in women’s wheelchair racing as she
retained the crown with ease, smashing her course record in 1:45:12 to win by nearly a minute. World champion
Manuela Schär was second for Switzerland on her London debut, just ahead of Japan’s former London
champion Wakako Tsuchida. Britain’s Shelly Woods was ninth.
Switzerland’s Marcel Hug won the men’s wheelchair contest denying Britain’s David Weir in his bid for a record
seventh title. After placing second three times in London, the Swiss racer got it right at last as he crossed the line
one second clear of Weir in 1:32:41.
El Amin Chentouf was again the first athlete home in the IPC Athletics Marathon World Cup, the Moroccan world
champion defending his T11-13 title in 2:25:07, while Spain’s Maria Paredes Rodriguez smashed the world
record she set a year before to retain the women’s T11-13 title in 2:59:22.
Britain’s Richard Whitehead delighted the London crowds as he cruised around the course in 3:42:04 to win the
T42 race.
Behind the stars, thousands of runners chased times and fundraising targets, turning the streets of London into a
colourful parade as club runners, fun runners, celebrities and Guinness World Record chasers enjoyed their day
in the sun.
Former Team Sky cyclist Chris Newton put in an impressive performance to lead the celebrity runners home in
2:45:10, while ex-England footballer Michael Owen finished an hour later in 3:45:43.
Game of Thrones actress Natalie Dormer was one of the fastest female celebrities in 3:50:57, while shadow
chancellor Ed Balls achieved his goal of a sub-five-hour marathon when he finished in 4:57:40, beating his
previous best by more than 15 minutes.
Conservative Alun Cairns was fastest of the eight MPs, running his best time of 3:34:16 to beat Labour’s Dan
Jarvis who also set a PB of 3:45:08.
Nineteen Guinness World Records were broken, including fastest marathon dressed as a baby by Ali King in
2:51:18, and fastest as a playing card by Lisa Wright in 4:23:57.
130 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Elite Races 1981-2014
Full race reports and results are available on the
website: www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com
29 March 1981
9 May 1982
Men: A fitting finish
Men: British firsts
It wasn’t the first marathon to be held in London, but
it was the biggest. Conditions were warm and humid
and the race was an unqualified success, won in the
true spirit of the event by American Dick Beardsley
and Inge Simonsen from Norway who ran through the
finish line holding hands in 2:11:48. British Olympian
Trevor Wright was more than a minute behind in third.
=1
=1
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Inge Simonsen
Dick Beardsley
Trevor Wright
Mike Kearns
Graham Laing
Brian Cole
Jim Dingwall
Keith Penny
Paul Eales
Don Faircloth
NOR
USA
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
2:11:48
2:11:48
2:12:53
2:13:37
2:13:59
2:14:01
2:14:54
2:15:31
2:15:55
2:16:36
Hugh Jones led from start to finish to reduce his
personal best by 77 seconds to 2:09:24, the fastest
time recorded in the UK, which ranked him ninth in the
world all-time. Norwegian Oyvind Dahl was second,
almost three minutes behind, while Mike Gratton,
destined to win 12 months later, was third.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Hugh Jones
Oyvind Dahl
Mike Gratton
Jeff Wells
Kevin McCarey
Phil Coppess
Dave Clarke
Sven Pederson
William Glad
Don Faircloth
GBR
NOR
GBR
USA
USA
USA
GBR
NOR
USA
GBR
2:09:24
2:12:21
2:12:30
2:13:33
2:13:47
2:13:57
2:15:28
2:15:41
2:15:45
2:15:50
Women: Smith sets UK record
Beardsley & Simonsen
Joyce Smith, unchallenged as Britain’s number
one, again lowered her best and the UK record to
2:29:43. This time her winning margin was more than
six minutes over the woman in second place, New
Zealander Lorraine Moller, who, 10 years later, was to
win bronze at the Barcelona Olympic Games.
London became the biggest marathon in the world,
its 15,116 finishers – 198 inside 2:30 – put it ahead
of New York, whose race director Fred Lebow was
among the London runners. There was an extremely
low drop out rate of just 3.6 per cent.
Women: Smith dips under 2:30
Joyce Smith won the women’s race in 2:29:57 – the
first time she had gone under 2:30 – some nine
minutes ahead of her nearest rival, Gillian Drake. Then
little known, Veronique Marot was ninth in 2:46:51.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Joyce Smith
Gillian Drake
Gillian Adams
Kathleen Molitor
Sally Strauss
Karen Goldhawk
Susan Hassan
Julie Barleycorn
Veronique Marot
Margaret Lockley
GBR
NZL
GBR
USA
USA
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Joyce Smith
Lorraine Moller
Judith Hine
Bev Shingles
Libby Pfeiffer
Jean Lochhead
Margaret Lockley
Winnie Ng
Carol Rodgers
Christine Burden
GBR
NZL
NZL
NZL
GBR
GBR
GBR
HKG
GBR
NZL
2:29:43
2:36:15
2:41:49
2:43:34
2:45:52
2:46:04
2:46:04
2:47:04
2:47:08
2:47:57
(mixed race)
2:29:57
2:38:57
2:40:44
2:42:26
2:42:42
2:43:28
2:43:38
2:45:33
2:46:51
2:47:29
(mixed race)
Media Guide 2015 131
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
17 April 1983
13 May 1984
Men: Gratton tough enough
Men: Spedding on the Olympic trail
In an intriguing race, Mike Gratton proved tough
enough to withstand the challenge of an inspired Gerry
Helme and win in 2:09:43. The two had reached the
front after making their way through the pack in the
early stages of the race and were shoulder to shoulder
as they reached the Tower of London. When Gratton
sensed that Helme was suffering, he made his move,
opening a lead that was never reduced. Helme, with
a personal best of 2:14:51 before the race, finished
second in 2:10:12. Third was Henrik Jorgensen from
Denmark, a winner in the making.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Mike Gratton
GBR
Gerry Helme
GBR
Henrik Jorgensen
DEN
Kebede Balcha
ETH
Jim Dingwall
GBR
Ricardo Ortego Sanchez ESP
Martin J McCarthy
GBR
Emiel Puttemans
BEL
Trevor Wright
GBR
Oyvind Dahl
NOR
2:09:43
2:10:12
2:10:47
2:11:32
2:11:44
2:11:51
2:11:54
2:12:27
2:12:29
2:12:43
Women: A fine Waitz debut
Grete Waitz, the world’s finest woman marathon
runner, made her London debut and won easily in
2:25:29. It lasted as a world best for less than 24
hours as American Joan Benoit ran even faster in
Boston the following day. Two women to make their
mark a year later – Sarah Rowell and Priscilla Welch –
were ninth and 10th respectively.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Grete Waitz
Mary O’Connor
Glynis Penny
Karolina Szabo
Jillian Colwell
Antonia Ladanyi
Deirdre Nagle
Kathy Binns
Sarah Rowell
Priscilla Welch
(mixed race)
132 Media Guide 2015
NOR
NZL
GBR
HUN
AUS
HUN
IRL
GBR
GBR
GBR
2:25:29 (WR)
2:28:20
2:36:21
2:36:22
2:37:12
2:37:32
2:37:42
2:38:11
2:39:11
2:39:29
The London Marathon, now sponsored by Mars, was
the Olympic trial for British runners. But it was two
Tanzanians, Juma Ikangaa and Zakaria Barie, who
took an early lead forcing Gateshead clubmates
Charlie Spedding and Kevin Forster to play a waiting
game. The Tanzanians’ huge lead was reduced little
by little as they suffered from the scorching early
pace. Spedding and Forster reaped the benefits.
They caught them at 16 miles and Spedding took the
initiative, setting out on a lonely run for the finish.
Spedding crossed the line in 2:09:57, tired but elated
with his second marathon victory in two attempts. He
went on to win a bronze medal at the Los Angeles
Olympics. Forster was second over a minute behind.
Ikangaa was sixth; Barie 51st.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Charlie Spedding
Kevin Forster
Denis Fowles
Oyvind Dahl
Jorn Lauenborg
Juma Ikangaa
Jimmy Ashworth
Malcolm East
Chris Bunyan
Svend Kristensen
GBR
GBR
GBR
NOR
DEN
TAN
GBR
GBR
GBR
DEN
2:09:57
2:11:41
2:12:12
2:12:19
2:12:21
2:12:35
2:13:49
2:14:01
2:14:03
2:14:22
Women: Record for Kristiansen
At 20 miles Spedding caught Norway’s Ingrid
Kristiansen, who was on her way to winning the
women’s race after a 10-minute start on the men.
Kristiansen’s winning time was 2:24:26, a European
record. Priscilla Welch was second, Sarah Rowell
third, and they joined Joyce Smith on Britain’s Olympic
women’s team.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Ingrid Kristiansen
Priscilla Welch
Sarah Rowell
Veronique Marot
Kersti Jacobsen
Bente Moe
Julie Barleycorn
Margaret Lockley
Gillian Horovitz
Lone Dybdal
NOR
GBR
GBR
GBR
DEN
NOR
GBR
GBR
GBR
DEN
2:24:26
2:30:06
2:31:28
2:33:52
2:34:53
2:35:28
2:35:53
2:36:06
2:37:10
2:39:39
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
21 April 1985
20 April 1986
Men: Jones wins epic duel
Men: Seko battles the wind
Steve Jones had won the 1984 Chicago Marathon in
a world best time of 2:08:05 and came to London as
favourite, although he faced the 1984 champion and
Olympic bronze medallist Charlie Spedding. The race
turned out to be a duel in the sun.
By 15 miles there were six in the leading pack and
by 20 miles just Jones and Spedding remained. At
the Tower of London, Jones stopped off briefly to rid
himself of stomach cramps. But just as Spedding
thought he had made the decisive break, Jones
was back alongside and past him. His winning time
of 2:08:16 remained the course record until 1997.
Spedding in second place secured the English record
with 2:08:33, which still stands. Allister Hutton in third
improved his personal best by almost seven minutes.
Henrik Jorgensen was fifth.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Steve Jones
Charlie Spedding
Allister Hutton
Christoph Herle
Henrik Jorgensen
Pat Petersen
Bogumil Kus
Oyvind Dahl
Erik Berg
Mark Burnhope
GBR
GBR
GBR
FRG
DEN
USA
POL
NOR
NOR
GBR
2:08:16
2:08:33
2:09:16
2:09:23
2:09:43
2:11:23
2:11:43
2:12:57
2:13:00
2:13:54
Women: Kristiansen records again
Ingrid Kristiansen benefited from a mixed field – the
1984 experiment of having women start 10 minutes
ahead of the men was abandoned – and she proved
that the London course was fast by recording a world
best 2:21:06, a record which stood for 13 years. In a
fabulous women’s race, Sarah Rowell captured the UK
record with 2:28:06 in second while Sally-Ann Hales
ran 2:28:38 for third, a personal best by more than 11
minutes.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Ingrid Kristiansen
Sarah Rowell
Sally-Ann Hales
Ann Ford
Mary O’Connor
Kathy Schilly
Linda Bain
Sally McDiarmid
Veronique Marot
Caroline Horne
NOR
GBR
GBR
GBR
NZL
USA
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
Toshihiko Seko was only ever headed by one man and
that was pacemaker Steve Anders. By the time they
turned off Tower Bridge into the East End, Seko was
away and gone. He passed half way in 63:30, his pace
relentless until the 18th mile when he turned into a
strong wind. Then the strain showed and he eventually
crossed Westminster Bridge in 2:10:02. Hugh Jones
was a minute behind – the ninth occasion he had run
inside 2:12 – while Allister Hutton was almost a further
minute behind him in third.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Toshihiko Seko
Hugh Jones
Allister Hutton
Pat Petersen
Mehmet Terzi
Yutaka Kanai
Henrik Albahn
Ieuan Ellis
Geir Kvernmo
Cidalio Caetano
JPN
GBR
GBR
USA
TUR
JPN
DEN
GBR
NOR
POR
2:10:02
2:11:42
2:12:36
2:12:56
2:13:02
2:13:42
2:14:34
2:14:38
2:14:48
2:14:57
Women: Waitz blows to PB
Despite the strong winds, Waitz recorded 2:24:54
– a lifetime best – winning by six minutes from Mary
O’Connor of New Zealand.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Grete Waitz
Mary O’Connor
Ann Ford
Sylvie Bornet
Paula Fudge
Kersti Jakobsen
Julia Gates
Glynis Penny
Jacqueline Hulbert
Deborah Butterfield
NOR
NZL
GBR
FRA
GBR
DEN
GBR
GBR
GBR
USA
2:24:54
2:30:52
2:31:40
2:31:43
2:32:25
2:32:53
2:36:31
2:38:47
2:39:26
2:41:11
(mixed race)
2:21:06 (WR)
2:28:06
2:28:38
2:31:19
2:32:35
2:33:20
2:33:38
2:34:58
2:35:12
2:37:26
(mixed race)
Media Guide 2015 133
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
10 May 1987
17 May 1988
Men: Taniguchi wins fierce contest
Men: Jorgensen at last
This was one of the most fiercely contested of all
London Marathons but it was again a man from Japan
who crossed the line first. Hiromi Taniguchi broke clear
of the pack in the final stages of the race to win in
2:09:50 while Britain’s Hugh Jones, running as well
as ever, battled it out with Nechadi El Mostafa of
Morocco, Gianni Poli of Italy and Geir Kvernmo of
Norway for the runner-up spot. Coming on to
Westminster Bridge, it was the Moroccan who held off
Jones’ finishing sprint. Another former winner, Charlie
Spedding, was eighth.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Hiromi Taniguchi
Nechadi El Mostafa
Hugh Jones
Gianni Poli
Geir Kvernmo
Mehmet Terzi
Boguslaw Psujek
Charlie Spedding
Dave Edge
Jean Paumen
JPN
MAR
GBR
ITA
NOR
TUR
POL
GBR
CAN
BEL
2:09:50
2:10:09
2:10:11
2:10:15
2:10:17
2:10:25
2:10:26
2:10:32
2:11:51
2:12:15
Women: Kristiansen makes it three
Ingrid Kristiansen returned for her third London title,
this time in 2:22:48. She made an attempt on her
own world best but left herself too much to do in the
second half of the race. Veronique Marot, a future
winner, was third, as Priscilla Welch took the UK
record down to 2:26:51 in second place.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Ingrid Kristiansen
Priscilla Welch
Veronique Marot
Paula Fudge
Karolina Szabo
Misako Miyahara
Agnes Spika
Angela Pain
Sissel Grottenberg
Valentina Bottarelli
(mixed race)
NOR
GBR
GBR
GBR
HUN
JPN
HUN
GBR
NOR
ITA
2:22:48
2:26:51
2:30:15
2:32:28
2:32:48
2:33:41
2:34:37
2:34:47
2:35:53
2:35:57
Britons battling for a place in the Olympic team were
upstaged first by Henrik Jorgensen of Denmark, who
beat them all, and then by Belayneh Densimo from
Ethiopia who ran a world best 2:06:50 to win in
Rotterdam on the same day.
In a fascinating race, Jorgensen burst from the pack
at the Tower of London to win at last in London. Kevin
Forster made up for his disappointment at missing
out on Olympic selection four years earlier by coming
second in the race to secure his place in the team for
Seoul. Hugh Jones was fourth while Charlie Spedding,
who badly misjudged the race, was 10th.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Henrik Jorgensen
Kevin Forster
Kudo Kazuyoshi
Hugh Jones
David Long
Allister Hutton
Herbert Steffny
Cai Shangyan
John Wheway
Charlie Spedding
134 Media Guide 2015
2:10:20
2:10:52
2:10:59
2:11:08
2:11:33
2:11:42
2:11:54
2:11:58
2:12:13
2:12:13
Women: Kristiansen at a canter
Ingrid Kristiansen notched up a fourth triumph in the
women’s race, recording 2:25:41 with Britain’s best,
Ann Ford, almost five minutes behind in second.
Susan Tooby, on her marathon debut, was fourth
behind Sweden’s super-veteran Evy Palm.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Ingrid Kristiansen
Ann Ford
Evy Palm
Susan Tooby
Susan Crehan
Tove Schultz-Loretzen
Jaqueline Gareau
Angela Pain
Rosemary Ellis
Wang Qinguan
(mixed race)
Hiromi Taniguchi &
Ingrid Kristiansen
(Reuters)
DEN
GBR
JPN
GBR
GBR
GBR
FRG
CHN
GBR
GBR
NOR
GBR
SWE
GBR
GBR
DEN
CAN
GBR
GBR
CHN
2:25:41
2:30:38
2:31:35
2:32:09
2:35:10
2:35:52
2:36:04
2:36:11
2:37:10
2:37:42
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
23 April 1989
22 April 1990
Men: World champion wins
Men: Hutton hangs on
The finest field so far assembled for the 1989 postOlympic race, now sponsored by ADT. Five of the top
eight from the Seoul Olympics were on the start line
but it was the enigmatic Kenyan Douglas Wakiihuri,
the world champion, who took the title. The only time
he led the race was on Westminster Bridge when
he sprinted away from Steve Moneghetti of Australia
and Ahmed Salah of Djibouti. The three had been
together since the Embankment and while Moneghetti
and Salah had done their best to drop the Kenyan,
their efforts were to no avail. Wakiihuri, who lived
and trained in Japan, won in 2:09:03. The top British
performance came from Tony Milovsorov who ran a
personal best of 2:09:54 for sixth.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Douglas Wakiihuri
Steve Moneghetti
Ahmed Salah
Manuel Matias
Suleiman Nyambui
Tony Milovsorov
Pat Petersen
Wodajo Bulti
Takao Nakamura
Zhang Guowei
KEN
AUS
DJI
POR
TAN
GBR
USA
ETH
JPN
CHN
2:09:03
2:09:06
2:09:09
2:09:43
2:09:52
2:09:54
2:10:04
2:10:32
2:11:51
2:12:03
Women: Marot makes her lasting mark
At last Britain had another winner as Veronique
Marot timed her race to perfection to overhaul Aurora
Cunha of Portugal, who had set off far too quickly.
Marot recorded a UK record and claimed the biggest
win of her career with 2:25:56. At the age of 33, eight
years after finishing that first London Marathon in ninth
place, Marot was a champion. Her record stood until
2002 when Paula Radcliffe celebrated her debut with a
sensational women only world record of 2:18:56.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Veronique Marot
Wanda Panfil
Aurora Cunha
Dorte Rasmussen
Raisa Smekhnova
Evy Palm
Angela Pain
Lynn Harding
Charlotte Teske
Conceicao Ferreira
(mixed race)
GBR
POL
POR
DEN
URS
SWE
GBR
GBR
FRG
POR
2:25:56
2:27:05
2:28:11
2:29:34
2:30:15
2:31:05
2:31:06
2:31:45
2:32:34
2:32:50
The 10th London Marathon saw the first British men’s
winner since 1985 when 35-year-old Allister Hutton
left a quality field far behind after dispensing with
pacemaker Bill Reifsnyder of USA at 14 miles. In poor
weather, reminiscent of 1986, Hutton maintained his
form to the line, winning in 2:10:10. It was his first
marathon win, but he was in such good shape that he
even asked the early pacemaker Nick Rose to speed
things up after 10km.
The real race was among the chasing pack but Italian
Salvatore Bettiol and Spaniard Juan Romera proved
stronger than the rest to finish second and third.
Romera set a new Spanish record with 2:10:48. Prerace favourite Belayneh Densimo, the world record
holder from Ethiopia, dropped out after 14 miles.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Allister Hutton
Salvatore Bettiol
Juan Romera
Jose Montiel
Mike O’Reilly
Yakov Tolstikov
Ed Eyestone
Reiner Wachenbrunner
Tomoyuki Taniguchi
Don Janicki
GBR
ITA
ESP
ESP
GBR
URS
USA
GDR
JPN
USA
2:10:10
2:10:40
2:10:48
2:11:04
2:11:05
2:11:07
2:12:00
2:12:02
2:12:22
2:12:25
Women: Panfil proves her point
Olympic champion Rosa Mota made a brief
appearance, running the first half of the course for
charity, but it was Poland’s Wanda Panfil, second
in 1989, who won a scintillating women’s race. She
cruised to victory in a personal best 2:26:31 while
Americans Francie Larrieu-Smith and Lisa Weidenbach
fought a cat and mouse race behind her. The first five
women all finished under 2:30.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Wanda Panfil
Francie Larrieu-Smith
Lisa Weidenbach
Zhao Youfeng
Yekaterina Khramenkova
Xie Lihua
Dorte Rasmussen
Irina Bogacheva
Francoise Bonet
Antonella Bizioli
POL
USA
USA
CHN
URS
CHN
DEN
URS
FRA
ITA
2:26:31
2:28:01
2:28:16
2:29:35
2:29:45
2:30:18
2:30:34
2:30:38
2:31:20
2:31:34
(mixed race)
Media Guide 2015 135
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
21 April 1991
12 April 1992
Men: Soviet steals the show
Men: Debut win for Pinto
London hosted the IAAF/ADT World Marathon Cup,
the first time that an IAAF championship had been
incorporated with an “existing mass participation”
race. The result was one of the finest in-depth fields
ever assembled for a marathon outside a major
championship.
The relatively unknown Soviet Yakov Tolstikov stole
the show by breaking away from a huge leading pack
at 14 miles. He won in 2:09:17, a personal best. The
team title went to the hosts, Great Britain.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Yakov Tolstikov
Manuel Matias
Jan Huruk
Dave Long
Joaquim Pinheiro
Alfredo Shahanga
Steve Brace
Peter Maher
Jean Luc Assemat
Salvatore Bettiol
URS
POR
POL
GBR
POR
TAN
GBR
CAN
FRA
ITA
2:09:17
2:10:21
2:10:21
2:10:30
2:10:38
2:11:20
2:11:45
2:11:46
2:11:49
2:11:53
Women: Mota motors to title
Rosa Mota, the reigning world and Olympic champion,
won the women’s race in 2:26:14. The Soviet Union
won the women’s team title.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Rosa Mota
Francie Larrieu-Smith
Valentina Yegorova
Katrin Dorre
Maria Rebello Lelut
Renata Kokowska
Ramilya Burangulova
Naomi Watanabe
Tatyana Zuyeva
Anna Villani
136 Media Guide 2015
POR
USA
URS
GER
FRA
POL
URS
JPN
URS
ITA
2:26:14
2:27:35
2:28:18
2:28:57
2:29:04
2:30:12
2:30:41
2:31:23
2:31:23
2:31:26
In almost perfect conditions, former racing cyclist
Antonio Pinto of Portugal (below) won his first major
title in his first London Marathon. He fended off
the challenge of Thomas Robert Naali of Tanzania,
originally in the race as a pacemaker, and Tena Negere
of Ethiopia, to win in 2:10:02. Jan Huruk of Poland
made his usual late burst to finish runner-up.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Antonio Pinto
Jan Huruk
Thomas Robert Naali
Tena Negere
Paul Evans
Yakov Tolstikov
Thabisco Moqhali
Zerihun Gizaw
Leszek Beblo
Maurillo Castillo
POR
POL
TAN
ETH
GBR
URS
LES
ETH
POL
MEX
2:10:02
2:10:07
2:10:08
2:10:10
2:10:36
2:10:49
2:10:55
2:11:25
2:11:28
2:12:02
Women: … and Dorre
Reigning women’s champion Rosa Mota never made
it to the finish line, dropping out in the Docklands with
a repeat of the stomach problem which had ruined her
World Championship race in Tokyo the previous year.
Her title went to Germany’s Katrin Dorre in a slowish
time of 2:29:39.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Katrin Dorre
Renata Kokowska
Andrea Wallace
Janette Mayal
Jackie Hallam
Marian Sutton
Lydia Camberg
Karolina Szabo
Griselda Gonzalez
Angelica De Ameida
GER
POL
GBR
BRA
AUS
GBR
POL
HUN
ARG
BRA
2:29:39
2:29:59
2:31:33
2:34:02
2:34:29
2:34:38
2:34:39
2:35:21
2:37:21
2:37:40
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
18 April 1993
17 April 1994
Men: Sweet win for Martin
Men: Ceron defies the winds
Eamonn Martin, a Ford worker from Basildon, provided
England with its first winner since 1984 in a race which
welcomed NutraSweet as its latest sponsor. In his
debut at the distance, the Commonwealth 10,000m
champion ran a beautifully judged race to outsprint
Mexican Isidro Rico on Westminster Bridge. He
crossed the line in 2:10:50. Earlier in the week, Martin
had become the proud father of Eamonn junior.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Eamonn Martin
Isidro Rico
Grzegorz Gajdus
Salvatore Bettiol
Frank Bjorkli
Dave Buzza
Seung-Do Beak
Ahmed Salah
Juan Torres
Steve Brace
GBR
MEX
POL
ITA
NOR
GBR
KOR
DJI
ESP
GBR
2:10:50
2:10:53
2:11:07
2:11:55
2:12:23
2:12:24
2:12:34
2:12:40
2:13:44
2:14:00
Women: Perfection for Dorre
It was the women’s race which attracted all the
publicity, with Scotland’s Liz McColgan matched
against Lisa Ondieki of Australia and Katrin Dorre,
the reigning champion from Germany. Despite all the
pre-race hype, and a war of words between McColgan
and Ondieki, it was Dorre who stole the show when
she judged her run to perfection to win in 2:27:09.
Ondieki, lost for a finishing kick, was runner-up in
2:27:27, while McColgan was well-beaten in third in
2:29:37 – the first defeat of her marathon career.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Katrin Dorre
Lisa Ondieki
Liz McColgan
Renata Kokowska
Lorraine Moller
Anna Rybicka
Ritva Lemettinen
Alina Ivanova
Galina Zhulieva
Gillian Horovitz
GER
AUS
GBR
POL
NZL
POL
FIN
RUS
UKR
GBR
2:27:09
2:27:27
2:29:37
2:32:30
2:32:56
2:34:21
2:34:44
2:37:21
2:41:50
2:42:14
Dionicio Ceron of Mexico produced what many people
considered to be the finest run in the race’s history
when he defied high winds – which forced him to
scrap a world record attempt – to win in 2:08:53. In
kinder conditions, it was estimated, the time would
have been at least a minute quicker.
Ceron clinched his victory with a stunning 14:41 split
between 35 and 40 kilometres. Abebe Mekonnen of
Ethiopia finished second as the first five broke 2:10.
Eamonn Martin, the defending champion, was the top
Briton in eighth place with 2:11:05.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Dionicio Ceron
Abebe Mekonnen
German Silva
Salvatore Bettiol
Grzegorz Gajdus
Martin Pitayo
Tena Negere
Eamonn Martin
Rolando Vera
Carlos Patricio
MEX
ETH
MEX
ITA
POL
MEX
ETH
GBR
ECU
POR
2:08:53
2:09:17
2:09:18
2:09:40
2:09:49
2:10:58
2:10:59
2:11:05
2:11:15
2:11:42
Women: Dorre’s hat-trick
The women did not deal so well with the conditions.
Katrin Dorre won for the third successive year but her
2:32:34 was the slowest winning time in London’s
history. Lisa Ondieki finished second again.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Katrin Dorre
Lisa Ondieki
Janette Mayal
Sally Ellis
Sally Eastall
Hayley Nash
Zina Marchant
Julie Coleby
Linda Rushmere
Suzanne Rigg
GER
AUS
BRA
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
2:32:34
2:33:17
2:34:21
2:37:06
2:37:08
2:39:04
2:40:09
2:40:31
2:40:46
2:41:03
Media Guide 2015 137
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
2 April 1995
21 April 1996
Men: Ceron seals second win
Men: Three out of three for Ceron
Dionicio Ceron retained his title after an enthralling
race in which he and Australian Steve Moneghetti
came from a minute down with five miles to go to
pass Antonio Pinto of Portugal in the closing stages.
Ceron and Moneghetti ran together to The Mall where
the Mexican surged to an unprecedented second
victory in 2:08:30 – only 14 seconds slower than
Steve Jones’ course record. Moneghetti lost by three
seconds for the second time. Paul Evans ran 2:10:31
for fifth, the best of the year by a Briton.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Dionicio Ceron
Steve Moneghetti
Antonio Pinto
Xolile Yawa
Paul Evans
Joaquim Pinheiro
Willie Mtolo
Luigi Di Lello
Joahannes Mabitle
Zachariah Nyambaso
MEX
AUS
POR
RSA
GBR
POR
RSA
ITA
RSA
KEN
2:08:30
2:08:33
2:08:48
2:10:22
2:10:31
2:10:35
2:11:35
2:11:36
2:11:39
2:11:56
Women: Sobanska sneaks home
The women’s race was equally nail-biting. Three were
together in the closing stages with favourite Manuela
Machado of Portugal making much of the running.
But it was unfancied Malgorzata Sobanska of Poland
who gained a 10-second lead which Machado, the
European champion, was unable to close. Ritva
Lemettinen of Finland finished seven seconds behind
Machado who was crowned world champion later
in the year. Liz McColgan was first Briton in fifth, still
feeling her way back to full fitness after nearly three
years of injury problems.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Malgorzata Sobanska
Manuela Machado
Ritva Lemettinen
Renata Kokowska
Liz McColgan
Kim Jones
Katrin Dorre
Nyla Carroll
Kerryn McCann
Anita Hakenstad
POL
POR
FIN
POL
GBR
USA
GER
NZL
AUS
NOR
2:27:43
2:27:53
2:28:00
2:30:35
2:31:14
2:31:35
2:32:16
2:33:19
2:33:23
2:33:56
Flora’s first year as sponsor was the hottest so far
(21°C at the finish) and the times reflected it. Carlos
Patricio ushered the leading men around the first 13
miles at close to world record pace but when he left
the course, the mile splits quickly dropped to more
than five minutes.
Dionicio Ceron secured his third successive win – a
feat never achieved before or since – when he pulled
away from 19-year-old Jackson Kabiga of Kenya
who had raised the pace at 35km. Belgium’s Vincent
Rousseau had spent long periods at the front of
the pack and he shook off Britain’s Paul Evans and
passed Kabiga for second. Then it was Evans’ turn
to get the better of the young Kenyan. The Belgrave
Harrier staged his finishing effort as they passed
Buckingham Palace and rocked and rolled down The
Mall for a home crowd-pleasing third place.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
MEX
BEL
GBR
KEN
ESP
POR
BEL
KEN
GBR
NOR
2:10:00
2:10:26
2:10:40
2:10:43
2:10:55
2:11:12
2:11:53
2:12:43
2:12:54
2:14:37
Women: Patience pays off for McColgan
Norway’s Anita Hakenstad, chasing a 2:30 Olympic
qualifying time, formed an early breakaway with
Russia’s Firaya Sultanova and Estonia’s Jane Salumae
and the trio left the women’s elite pack far behind.
Hakenstad forged ahead in mile 10 and passed half
way alone in a personal half-marathon best of 73:31,
two minutes clear of Liz McColgan.
Chasing hard, McColgan did not gain sight of the
fleeing Norwegian until 30km but the Scot quickly
closed the gap and by the finish was over two minutes
clear of the emerging Kenyan, Joyce Chepchumba.
Defending champion, Malgorzata Sobanska from
Poland, salvaged something from a lack-lustre run by
taking third from Angelina Kanana. Despite suffering in
the closing miles, the bold Hakenstad was rewarded
with a PB in fifth.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
138 Media Guide 2015
Dionicio Ceron
Vincent Rousseau
Paul Evans Jackson Kabiga
Antonio Serrano
Domingos Castro
Eddy Hellebuyck
Benson Masya
Gary Staines Tesfaye Bekele
Liz McColgan Joyce Chepchumba
Malgorzata Sobanska
Angelina Kanana
Anita Hakenstad
Alina Ivanova
Renata Kokowska
Firaya Sultanova
Jane Salumae
Yelena Mazovka
GBR
KEN
POL
KEN
NOR
RUS
POL
RUS
EST
RUS
2:27:54
2:30:09
2:30:17
2:30:25
2:31:07
2:32:09
2:32:46
2:32:50
2:33:18
2:33:58
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
13 April 1997
26 April 1998
Men: Pinto snatches victory and record
Men: Anton is able
Steve Jones’ 12-year-old course record was finally
eclipsed by Antonio Pinto, one of the world’s most
consistent marathoners, but it took a race of the
highest quality in which the winner was in doubt until
the final strides. Pinto came from way back over the
final miles to snatch a two-second victory from 1996
world half marathon champion Stefano Baldini. After
26 miles both runners displayed incredible reserves
of strength as they sprinted for the line with the 1992
champion proving both faster and stronger.
Olympic champion Josiah Thugwane was third, two
seconds in front of Erick Kimaiyo as the first four all
beat Jones’ record. Baldini – who had been in the
driving seat from 18 miles – set a national record,
Thugwane missed his country’s mark by two seconds,
and Kimaiyo removed 1:39 from his best. Richard
Nerurkar was the first Briton after running with the
leading trio until the closing stages. Eight of the first
10 set personal bests.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Antonio Pinto
Stefano Baldini
Josiah Thugwane
Erick Kimaiyo
Richard Nerurkar
Steve Moneghetti
Lawrence Peu
Paul Evans
Jose Garcia Stephane Franke
POR
ITA
RSA
KEN
GBR
AUS
RSA
GBR
ESP
GER
2:07:55
2:07:57
2:08:06
2:08:08
2:08:36
2:08:45
2:09:10
2:09:18
2:09:30
2:11:26
Women: Chepchumba gets her revenge
Joyce Chepchumba won another glorious scrap in
The Mall with Liz McColgan to take the women’s title.
Kenyan pacemaker Lornah Kiplagat led to half way in
1:13:30 when the 11-strong lead pack was tested by
Sonja Krolik, a convert from triathlon. The 24-year-old
German opened a gap of 52 seconds by 20 miles, but
by 21 it was down to 28 and with about three to go
Chepchumba and Lidia Simon passed her.
At this point McColgan looked laboured and destined
for third place at best. But the Scot fought her way
up to Chepchumba and started a long drive for
home. She entered The Mall with a slight lead but
Chepchumba managed to reach the line one second
in front. Six of the top 10 women ran PBs.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Joyce Chepchumba
Liz McColgan
Lidia Simon
Sonja Krolik
Ramilya Burangulova
Manuela Machado
Christine McNamara
Renata Kokowska
Yelena Mazovka
Helen Kimaiyo
KEN
GBR
ROU
GER
RUS
POR
USA
POL
BLR
KEN
2:26:51
2:26:52
2:27:11
2:28:02
2:28:07
2:28:12
2:28:18
2:29:06
2:29:06
2:29:45
Six miles from home in the men’s race, 33-1 outsider
Abdelkader El Mouaziz looked set for a surprise victory
when he broke away and established a 40-metre lead.
The Moroccan gradually ran out of steam and was
overhauled inside the last mile by world champion
Abel Anton of Spain, who cost himself a $25,000
course record bonus by waving at the crowd as he
came down The Mall, thus missing Antonio Pinto’s
1997 record by two seconds. Pinto was third.
Jon Brown was Britain’s best, finishing eighth in
2:11:10 after suffering in the closing stages. Paul
Evans failed to finish (stomach cramps), along with
Olympic champion Josiah Thugwane (hamstring) and
third favourite Elijah Lagat (back).
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Abel Anton
Abdelkader El Mouaziz
Antonio Pinto
Julio Rey
Abebe Mekonnen
Robert Stefko
Diego Garcia Jon Brown
Steve Moneghetti
Kenjiro Jitsui
ESP MAR
POR
ESP
ETH
SVK
ESP
GBR
AUS
JPN
2:07:57
2:08:07
2:08:13
2:08:33
2:09:52
2:09:54
2:10:36
2:11:11
2:11:41
2:12:47
Women: McKiernan times it right
Like Anton, Ireland’s Catherina McKiernan also timed
her run to perfection. McKiernan was favourite after
recording the fastest ever debut in Berlin in September
1997, but she was 90 seconds down at one point on
Adriana Fernandez.
Approaching 17 miles, the 29-year-old Dublin-based
runner broke away from defending champion Joyce
Chepchumba and 1996 winner Liz McColgan to
launch her pursuit. Four miles later she overhauled
second-placed Lidia Simon of Romania, then passed
Fernandez and surged on unchallenged to win ahead
of McColgan and Chepchumba.
1
2
3
4 5
6
7
8
9
10
Catherina McKiernan
Liz McColgan
Joyce Chepchumba
Marleen Renders
Lidia Simon
Sonja Oberem
Adriana Fernandez
Wang Yanrong
Malgorzata Sobanska
Marian Sutton
IRL
GBR
KEN
BEL
ROU
GER
MEX
CHN
POL
GBR
2:26:26
2:26:54
2:27:22
2:27:30
2:28:41
2:29:39
2:29:46
2:30:47
2:32:02
2:32:14
Media Guide 2015 139
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
18 April 1999
16 April 2000
Men: El Mouaziz motors home
Men: Pinto pinches it again
The previous year’s surprise package, Abdelkader El
Mouaziz won by more than a minute in a personal best
after taking advantage of the pacemakers to open an
early gap. The large chasing pack included Britain’s
Jon Brown, world record holder Ronaldo da Costa,
Olympic silver medallist Lee Bong-ju, 1997 winner
Antonio Pinto, reigning champion Abel Anton, and
Olympic champion Josiah Thugwane.
El Mouaziz ploughed a lonely furrow, at one point more
than two-and-a-half minutes ahead, before Pinto
attacked at 24 miles leaving the others floundering.
But Pinto’s fierce pace was not enough and El
Mouaziz came home with over a minute to spare. Like
Anton in 1998, the Moroccan missed out on a course
record bonus by two seconds when he indulged in
some extravagant waving in The Mall.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Abdelkader El Mouaziz
Antonio Pinto
Abel Anton Jon Brown
Josephat Kiprono
Giacomo Leone
Alberto Juzdado
Domingos Castro
Simon Mphulazane
Yasuaki Yamamoto
MAR
POR
ESP
GBR
KEN
ITA
ESP
POR RSA
JPN
2:07:57
2:09:00
2:09:41
2:09:44
2:09:49
2:10:03
2:10:08
2:10:24
2:10:56
2:11:13
Women: Chepchumba surges to record
In his pre-race press conference, world record holder
Khalid Khannouchi predicted the London course was
worth 2:06. He was proved correct. But unfortunately
for the Moroccan he was not the one to do it, as
Antonio Pinto stole the show, beating his own course
record and compatriot Carlos Lopes’ European record.
The Portuguese wine grower made his move in the
18th mile and continued to draw away from defending
champion Abdelkader El Mouaziz. Khannouchi had
been having a bad time but managed to raise himself
from eighth to third in the final stages.
Britain’s young pretender Mark Steinle ran a lonely
race picking off the occasional runner until he came
home in 2:11:18, well inside the Olympic qualifying
time. Keith Cullen also dipped under the qualifying
time on his debut and was later added to the team.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Antonio Pinto
Abdelkader El Mouaziz
Khalid Khannouchi
William Kiplagat
Hendrick Ramaala
Stefano Baldini
Mathias Ntawulikura Josiah Thugwane
Mohammed Nazipov
Danilo Goffi
POR
MAR
MAR
KEN
RSA
ITA
RWA
RSA
RUS
ITA
2:06:36
2:07:33
2:08:36
2:09:06
2:09:43
2:09:45
2:09:56
2:10:29
2:10:35
2:10:55
Joyce Chepchumba put on a display of aggressive
running and was rewarded with a course record
and a bonus for beating the world best for womenonly races. She closed a 50-metre gap to Adriana
Fernandez after 17 miles and surged off in search
of records in mile 21, her final effort taking her two
seconds under Lidia Simon’s time in 2:23:22.
Women: Loroupe leaves the rest behind
Behind them, Manuela Machado, at the age of 35, set
a short-lived world veteran best of 2:25:09 for third,
while Nicole Carroll removed exactly a minute from her
best time in fourth and fellow Australian, the diminutive
Kerryn McCann, sliced almost five minutes from her
best in seventh.
Loroupe took charge of the race on the carpeted
cobbles at the Tower of London, drawing away with
only Simon for company and leaving Chepchumba,
who had been fighting a sore throat all week,
struggling in arrears. Emerging from the shadows of
Blackfriars underpass with less than three miles to go,
Loroupe opened a gap on the Romanian which she
maintained to the finish, proving she could be a great
competitor as well as a great record breaker.
1
2
3
4 5
6
7
8
9
10
Joyce Chepchumba
Adriana Fernandez
Manuela Machado
Nicole Carroll
Elana Meyer
Taeko Terauchi
Kerryn McCann
Angelina Kanana
Viviany De Oliveira
Guadelupe Loma
140 Media Guide 2015
KEN
MEX
POR
AUS
RSA
JPN
AUS
KEN
BRA
MEX
2:23:22
2:24:06
2:25:09
2:25:52
2:27:18
2:28:31
2:28:44
2:29:47
2:32:17
2:36:42
World record holder Tegla Loroupe overcame a hip
injury and the strongest field so far to beat Lidia Simon
and Joyce Chepchumba in a tactical battle after
Kerryn McCann had failed to break them with a series
of surges. McCann ended up fifth with her second
personal best in succession.
1
2
3
4 5
6
7
8
9
10
Tegla Loroupe
Lidia Simon
Joyce Chepchumba
Adriana Fernandez
Kerryn McCann
Derartu Tulu
Maria Guida
Lyubov Morgunova
Manuela Machado
Svetlana Zakharova
KEN
ROU
KEN
MEX
AUS
ETH
ITA
RUS
POR
RUS
2:24:33
2:24:46
2:24:56
2:25:42
2:25:59
2:26:09
2:26:13
2:26:32
2:26:41
2:28:10
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
22 April 2001
Men: El Mouaziz regains his crown
The 1999 winner, Abdelkader El Mouaziz, regained his
crown thanks to a second and decisive increase in pace
that took him away from his rivals, Antonio Pinto, Paul
Tergat, Japhet Kosgei, and the Ethiopian pair Tesfaye
Tola and Tesfaye Jifar. Only Tergat had the strength
to chase him, but a five-yard gap stubbornly refused
to close and from then on it was El Mouaziz against
the clock. He missed the course record but crossed
the line in a personal best of 2:07:11, and kissed the
ground beyond the finish gantry.
Tergat maintained his form for second ahead of
Pinto, while Britain’s favourite, Jon Brown, dropped
out, reduced training, a hip problem and recent
illness proving too much of a burden. However, Mark
Steinle provided a heartening result for home fans
with his sixth place in 2:10:46, continuing a steady
improvement and assuring himself a place in that
year’s World Championship team for Edmonton.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Abdelkader El Mouaziz
Paul Tergat
Antonio Pinto
Tesfaye Jifar
Japhet Kosgei Mark Steinle
Takayuki Inubushi
Abel Anton
Hendrick Ramaala
Gert Thys
MAR
KEN POR
ETH
KEN
GBR
JPN
ESP
RSA
RSA
2:07:11
2:08:15
2:09:36
2:09:45
2:10:45
2:10:46
2:11:42
2:11:57
2:12:02
2:12:11
Women: Tulu takes the title
Double Olympic track champion Derartu Tulu became
the first – and so far only – Ethiopian winner of the
women’s race when she outfoxed a large pack in the
closing stages of a tactical race to break her personal
best, dodging the malign intentions of two interlopers
in the finishing straight as she did so.
Svetlana Zakharova, a pacemaker two years before,
improved her best by three minutes to take second
while Joyce Chepchumba was third with her fifth
sub-2:25 clocking in six races, preserving her London
top-three finish streak ahead of Lidia Simon.
World record holder Tegla Loroupe provided early
drama when she came to a halt during the second
mile. She restarted 50 seconds behind the lead pack,
caught them at 22 miles, and finished eighth.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Derartu Tulu Svetlana Zakharova Joyce Chepchumba Lidia Simon
Elfenesh Alemu
Nuta Olaru Alina Ivanova Tegla Loroupe
Adriana Fernandez Madina Biktagirova ETH
RUS
KEN
ROU
ETH
ROU
RUS
KEN
MEX
RUS
2:23:57
2:24:04
2:24:12
2:24:15
2:24:29
2:25:18
2:25:34
2:26:10
2:26:22
2:27:14
Abdelkader El Mouaziz
(Reuters)
Media Guide 2015 141
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
14 April 2002
Men: Khannouchi claims world record
Moroccan-born US citizen Khalid Khannouchi shaved
four seconds from his own world record to win a
fascinating race from Paul Tergat and Haile
Gebrselassie after the three had raced together down
the Embankment.
Tergat finally vanquished his nemesis Gebrselassie
to claim second, six seconds outside the old world
record, while Gebrselassie made an amazing debut
of 2:06:35 (pushing deposed course record holder
Antonio Pinto down to fourth on the London all-time
list).
Defending champion Abdelkader El Mouaziz fell at
20km but recovered to reduce his best to 2:06:52,
good enough for fourth. Behind him, South Africa’s Ian
Syster hacked more than six minutes from his previous
best and moved into world class, 23 seconds in front
of European champion Stefano Baldini who in turn set
a personal best, as did Britain’s Mark Steinle in eighth.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Khalid Khannouchi USA
Paul Tergat KEN
Haile Gebrselassie
ETH
Abdelkader El Mouaziz MAR
Ian Syster
RSA
Stefano Baldini ITA
Antonio Pinto
POR
Mark Steinle GBR
Tesfaye Jifar ETH
Mohammed El Hattab MAR 
Paula Radcliffe &
Khalid Khannouchi
(Reuters)
142 Media Guide 2015
2:05:38 (WR)
2:05:48
2:06:35
2:06:52
2:07:06
2:07:29
2:09:10
2:09:17
2:09:50
2:11:50
Women: Radcliffe races to record
debut
Paula Radcliffe ran solo on her marathon debut
to erase every women’s record on the books bar
Catherine Ndereba’s world mark of 2:18:47, which
was set in a mixed race in Chicago. The Briton
comprehensively destroyed a talent-packed field after
breaking away in the ninth mile, with injections of sub5:10 miles in the second half of the race.
Radcliffe won by nearly four minutes but the next four
runners all posted personal bests: Svetlana Zakharova
bustled her way to second place in 2:22:31, a Russian
record, beating her countrywoman Lyudmila Petrova
by two seconds; Reiko Tosa achieved her aim of
beating 2:23; and Susan Chepkemei overcame
sickness to clock 2:23:19.
Radcliffe’s run included an 11th mile of 5:17, a 15th
mile in 5:08, and 24th and 25th miles ticked off in 5:09
and 5:06. That the mixed-race world record survived
took nothing away from Radcliffe’s effort: in a womenonly race it was intrinsically superior. Indeed, her time
beat the English qualifying standard for the men’s
team for the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Paula Radcliffe Svetlana Zakharova Lyudmila Petrova Reiko Tosa Susan Chepkemei Joyce Chepchumba Silvia Skvortsova Zinaida Semenova Derartu Tulu Shitaye Gemechu GBR
RUS
RUS
JPN
KEN
KEN
RUS
RUS
ETH
ETH
2:18:56
2:22:31
2:22:33
2:22:46
2:23:19
2:26:53
2:27:07
2:27:45
2:28:37
2:28:58
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
13 April 2003
Women: Radcliffe rewrites the records
Men: Abera triumphs in sprint finish
The 24-year-old Ethiopian Gezahegne Abera came to
London as the only runner ever to hold the world and
Olympic titles simultaneously and with a reputation
for winning close finishes. It was a reputation he
confirmed with a brilliant sprint victory in the final 400
metres over four runners, including the man who was
to succeed him as Olympic champion less than 18
months later, Stefano Baldini.
Abera, Baldini, Kenyans Joseph Ngolepus and Paul
Tergat, and Abdelkader El Mouaziz of Morocco were
running abreast as they came up The Mall. Baldini made
a dash for the title but his moment of glory was shortlived as Abera shortened his stride to sprint past. They
were both given the same time, while Ngolepus was
just a second back with Tergat fourth.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Gezahegne Abera
Stefano Baldini
Joseph Ngolepus
Paul Tergat
Samson Ramadhani
Abdelkader El Mouaziz
Lee Bong-Ju
Hendrick Ramaala
Ian Syster
Javier Cortes
ETH
ITA
KEN
KEN
TAN
MAR
KOR
RSA
RSA
ESP
2:07:56
2:07:56
2:07:57
2:07:59
2:08:01
2:08:03
2:08:10
2:08:58
2:09:18
2:10:39
Running with the help of two male pacemakers,
perfect temperatures and a south-easterly breeze,
Paula Radcliffe rewrote the record books with a
sensational world record of 2:15:25, knocking an
astonishing one minute 53 seconds from the time she
set in Chicago the previous October.
Radcliffe’s preparations had been anything but perfect
as she dislocated her jaw colliding with a cyclist while
training in Albuquerque. But she made her intentions
clear from the start with an electric third mile of 4:57
and rattled off mile after mile at an average pace of
around 5:14. She passed half way in 68:02, 30km
in a new world best of 1:36:39, 20 miles in 1:43:34,
another world best, and sprinted across the line four
and a half minutes (almost a mile) ahead of Catherine
Ndereba.
The Kenyan sparked into life at the halfway mark,
overtook the long-time chaser Constantina TomescuDita and went on to claim second. Deena Drossin
(later Kastor) took third in 2:21:16, breaking Joan
Benoit’s 1985 US record, while three other athletes
– Susan Chepkemei, Lyudmila Petrova and TomescuDita – ducked under 2:24.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Paula Radcliffe
Catherine Ndereba
Deena Drossin
Susan Chepkemei
Lyudmila Petrova
Constantina Tomescu-Dita
Jelena Prokopcuka
Elfenesh Alemu
Mihaela Botezan
Derartu Tulu
GBR
KEN
USA
KEN
RUS
ROU
LAT
ETH
ROU
ETH
2:15:25 (WR)
2:19:55
2:21:16
2:23:12
2:23:14
2:23:43
2:24:01
2:24:56
2:25:32
2:26:33
(mixed race)
Paula Radcliffe
(Reuters)
Media Guide 2015 143
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
18 April 2004
Women: Okayo completes Kenyan
double
Men: Rutto cruises home
Evans Rutto cruised to victory in 2:06:18, the second
fastest time in the world in 2004, despite blustery
wind, wet roads and a slithering fall on the rain-swept
roadway by the Tower of London.
Rutto came home 30 seconds ahead of Sammy
Korir, the second fastest ever, who also fell, as did
world champion Jaouad Gharib, who was third.
The Moroccan had only just recovered from a bout
of bronchitis while Olympic champion Gezahegne
Abera had been carrying a left Achilles injury, and he
withdrew before the six-mile mark.
The first British runner home was Jon Brown, who
finished 15th in 2:13:39 just 14 seconds ahead of the
second Briton, Dan Robinson. Both athletes achieved
the Olympic qualifying time and therefore earned
selection for the Games.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Evans Rutto
Sammy Korir
Jaouad Gharib
Stefano Baldini
Tesfaye Tola
Benoit Zwierzchiewski
Abdelkader El Mouaziz
Lee Troop
John Yuda
Joseph Kadon
KEN
KEN
MAR
ITA
ETH
FRA
MAR
AUS
TAN
KEN
2:06:18
2:06:48
2:07:12*
2:08:37
2:09:07
2:09:35
2:09:42
2:09:58
2:10:13
2:11:30
* Note: Gharib’s time was originally recorded as 2:07:02 but a
re-examination of the race video, by statistician Mark
Butler and others, shows that his time was 2:07:12. This
has now been accepted and officially verified by the chief
timekeeper Dave Wilson.
Margaret Okayo
(Reuters)
144 Media Guide 2015
Margaret Okayo completed a Kenyan double after
coming from 100 metres down on Constantina
Tomescu-Dita in the second half of the race. The
Romanian couldn’t hang on to second as Russia’s
Lyudmila Petrova picked her off to take the runner-up
spot almost three and a half minutes behind Okayo.
Tomescu-Dita finished another 50 seconds behind.
The race was run in three stages with Okayo leading
from mile three till the 11th mile when Tomescu-Dita
took over. Okayo never lost touch and she drew
alongside the Romanian in the tunnel before sweeping
past. Having belted out the first five miles in 25:51, an
average of 5:10, Okayo reined in the pace and each
of her last six miles was outside 5:30. Her finishing
time was 2:22:35, the fastest in the world that year,
although it didn’t compare with Radcliffe’s feats at the
past two London Marathons.
In Radcliffe’s absence, the first British woman home
was Tracey Morris, who placed 10th in an Olympic
qualifying time of 2:33:52. Morris, a contact lens
technician from Leeds, was running only her second
marathon and knocked more than an hour from her
previous time.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Margaret Okayo
Lyudmila Petrova
Constantina Tomescu-Dita
Albina Ivanova
Joyce Chepchumba
Svetlana Zakharova
Sun Yingjie Alina Ivanova
Svetlana Dimidenko
Tracey Morris
KEN
RUS
ROU
RUS
KEN
RUS
CHN
RUS
RUS
GBR
2:22:35
2:26:02
2:26:52
2:27:25
2:28:01
2:28:10
2:28:32
2:28:48
2:33:06
2:33:52
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
17 April 2005
Women: London belongs to Paula
Men: Lel pushes past his fear
Martin Lel overcame a fear of leading to win his first
London Marathon in 2:07:26, 23 seconds ahead
of world champion Jaouad Gharib with Hendrick
Ramaala third, 43 seconds later.
Morocco’s two-time London winner Abdelkader El
Mouaziz picked off the fading Kenyans, Paul Tergat
and Sammy Korir – the two quickest ever – to take
fourth spot in 2:09:03, while Olympic champion
Stefano Baldini and Britain’s Jon Brown also came
through in the closing stages for fifth and sixth, Brown
setting a lifetime best of 2:09:31.
The race followed a similar pattern to recent years
with a large and extremely talented pack prowling
behind the pacemakers until well past the halfway
mark. Evans Rutto indulged in bursts of pace which
eventually reduced the pack to six. Then Lel began to
set the rhythm, killing off Rutto and Korir before putting
Tergat in trouble. At 20 miles Tergat told Lel to “Push,
push”, and that is what he did over the last 5km. “I
used to fear going in front,” he said. “But my workouts
indicated I would make a best time. It was high time
for me.”
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Martin Lel
Jaouad Gharib
Hendrick Ramaala
Abdelkader El Mouaziz
Stefano Baldini
Jon Brown
Toshinari Suwa
Paul Tergat
Sammy Korir
Evans Rutto
KEN
MAR
RSA
MAR
ITA
GBR
JPN
KEN
KEN
KEN
2:07:26
2:07:49
2:08:32
2:09:03
2:09:25
2:09:31
2:10:23
2:11:38
2:12:36
2:12:49
Paula Radcliffe’s performance in 2005 was every
bit as dominating as the previous two, banishing
any lingering doubts after her 2004 Olympic
disappointment. Her record in London reads: three
starts, three wins, three world records.
Having asked to be paced through the half-marathon
mark in 68:30, Radcliffe dispensed with pacemakers
in the fifth mile and passed half way alone in 68:27.
For once she failed to run a negative split but still
came home in the third fastest time ever, a womenonly record of 2:17:42, improving the time she’d set in
2002 by 74 seconds.
What’s more, she did so despite losing around 15
seconds in the 23rd mile when she stopped to relieve
herself. Only she has run faster, when setting two
world records aided by male pacemakers.
Behind her, Constantina Tomescu-Dita passed Kenyan
duo Susan Chepkemei and Margaret Okayo to take
second, albeit five minutes adrift of the Briton.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Paula Radcliffe
Constantina Tomescu-Dita
Susan Chepkemei
Margaret Okayo
Lyudmila Petrova
Benita Johnson
Joyce Chepchumba
Sonia O’Sullivan
Mulu Seboka
Mara Yamauchi
GBR
ROU
KEN
KEN
RUS
AUS
KEN
IRL
ETH
GBR
2:17:42
2:22:50
2:24:00
2:25:22
2:26:29
2:26:32
2:27:01
2:29:01
2:30:54
2:31:52
Martin Lel
(Reuters)
Media Guide 2015 145
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
23 April 2006
Men: Classic thrills to the last stride
Felix Limo deposed reigning champion Martin
Lel by two seconds after a classic duel along the
Embankment. Lel cut 45 seconds from his best while
Hendrick Ramaala also ran faster than ever to clock
2:06:55 in third. Khalid Khannouchi finished fourth,
Stefano Baldini fifth, in a lifetime best of 2:07:22,
Rodgers Rop sixth and Hicham Chatt seventh, all
under 2:08. Haile Gebrselassie finished a sad ninth
in 2:09:05 after suffering with tight hamstrings and
calves.
The Ethiopian was among the leading seven with 7km
left, but dropped back before Lel made the decisive
move at 24 miles, followed by Rop, Ramaala and
Limo. Lel led from the Blackfriars underpass, but he
kept glancing over his shoulder for his friend, Limo,
knowing together they could get away. And so it
proved. Lel inched in front as Buckingham Palace
came into view but it was Limo who jumped to the
front as the pair turned the final bend, and he crossed
the line first in 2:06:39.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Felix Limo
Martin Lel
Hendrick Ramaala
Khalid Khannouchi
Stefano Baldini
Rodgers Rop
Hicham Chatt
Jaouad Gharib
Haile Gebrselassie
Evans Rutto
KEN
KEN
RSA
USA
ITA
KEN
MAR
MAR
ETH
KEN
2:06:39
2:06:41
2:06:55
2:07:04
2:07:22
2:07:34
2:07:59
2:08:45
2:09:05
2:09:35
Women: Kastor dominates for US
record
Deena Kastor ran two identical halves of 69:48 to
break her own US record and take her second big
city win in 2:19:36. It was a relentless, dominating
performance from the American who eased away from
Kenyans Salina Kosgei and Susan Chepkemei in the
second half.
The next five all set personal bests, although the
closest was nearly two minutes adrift. That was
Lyudmila Petrova, who broke the Russian record in
second, while Chepkemei was rewarded for her front
running as she hung on for third. Kosgei faded to
eighth while in sixth place Mara Yamauchi moved to
second on the British all-time list.
Kastor’s race plan was to pass half way in 70 minutes
and then push for her first sub-2:20 clocking. By
the second mile she, Chepkemei and Kosgei, had a
14-second gap on the rest, which was 50 seconds by
mile eight. Kosgei lost touch in mile 12 while Kastor
began to ease away from Chepkemei shortly after
half way. Her relentless pace took her past 30km in
1:39:08 and, despite a tumble at a drinks station, she
drove on hard through the rain towards The Mall.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Deena Kastor
Lyudmila Petrova
Susan Chepkemei
Berhane Adere
Galina Bogomolova
Mara Yamauchi
Constantina Tomescu-Dita
Salina Kosgei
Margaret Okayo
Eri Hayakawa
(mixed race)
Deena Kastor
(Reuters)
146 Media Guide 2015
USA
RUS
KEN
ETH
RUS
GBR
ROU
KEN
KEN
JPN
2:19:36
2:21:29
2:21:46
2:21:52
2:21:58
2:25:13
2:27:51
2:28:40
2:29:16
2:31:41
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
22 April 2007
Women: Zhou wins first for China
Men: Lel regains his crown
Martin Lel regained his title in style, inflicting revenge
on his compatriot Felix Limo. The Kenyan won a
four-man sprint for the line in 2:07:41, three seconds
ahead of Morocco’s Abderrahim Goumri with Limo
third, and double world champion Jaouad Gharib
fourth.
In the hot conditions, Paul Tergat’s world record of
2:04:55 was never going to be threatened but the
presence of the great Kenyan, plus Ethiopia’s Haile
Gebrselassie, and Italy’s Olympic champion Stefano
Baldini made it a fantastic prospect.
Baldini dropped out after 28km with cramp, while
Gebrselassie pulled up at 30km holding his stomach.
It turned out later that he was allergic to London’s
pollen. Tergat dropped away in the final mile with the
South African Hendrick Ramaala soon following. Lel
kicked for home as the remaining quartet began their
final sprint. Goumri went with Lel, but he was never
going to catch the Kenyan.
In the absence of Jon Brown, who withdrew with
illness on the morning of the race, Dan Robinson, the
Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, became
Britain’s leading man. He finished ninth in 2:14:14
having run alone for most of the morning.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Martin Lel
Abderrahim Goumri
Felix Limo
Jaouad Gharib
Hendrick Ramaala
Paul Tergat
Ryan Hall
Marilson Gomes dos Santos
Dan Robinson
Andi Jones
KEN
MAR
KEN
MAR
RSA
KEN
USA
BRA
GBR
GBR
2:07:41
2:07:44
2:07:47
2:07:54
2:07:56
2:08:06
2:08:24
2:08:37
2:14:14
2:17:49
Zhou Chunxiu became the first Chinese athlete to win
the London Marathon with a run of meticulous timing
that, 16 months before the Olympic Games in Beijing,
introduced the sport to a new star.
Wearing a white peaked-cap to protect her from
temperatures that rose during the morning from 16.3
at the start to 21.7°C at midday, Zhou was the one
athlete who never looked troubled during a gripping
race. The 28-year-old won in 2:20:38, having taken
control after 22 miles, with Ethiopia’s Gete Wami
second in 2:21:45 and the Romanian Constantina
Tomescu-Dita third in 2:23:55.
Zhou was the only competitor in the field to have
broken 2:20, having won in Seoul in September 2006
in 2:19:51, but this field was the toughest she had
ever faced.
After leading five over Tower Bridge and past half
way in 69:58, Zhou settled the race after 22 miles,
increasing the pace slightly in mile 23, clipped off in
5:27, before adding a punishing 24th mile in 5:09 that
left her in the lead. Wami indicated the game was
up when she glanced behind her and Zhou reached
Birdcage Walk without a challenge before crossing the
line just outside the 2:20 barrier.
Mara Yamauchi was sixth with Liz Yelling eighth in a
personal best of 2:30:44, just inside the 2:31 qualifying
time for Beijing.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Zhou Chunxiu Gete Wami
Constantina Tomescu-Dita
Salina Kosgei
Lornah Kiplagat
Mara Yamauchi
Benita Johnson
Liz Yelling
Inga Abitova
Berhane Adere
CHN
ETH
ROU
KEN
NED
GBR
AUS
GBR
RUS
ETH
2:20:38
2:21:45
2:23:55
2:24:13
2:24:46
2:25:41
2:29:47
2:30:44
2:34:25
2:39:11
Zhou Chunxiu
Media Guide 2015 147
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
13 April 2008
Women: Mikitenko makes them pay
Men: Lel takes third in thriller
On the 100th anniversary of marathon running, Martin
Lel won his third London Marathon title and led
three men under 2:06. In the city where the modern
marathon distance was first established at the 1908
Olympics, Lel joined Mexico’s Dionicio Ceron and
Antonio Pinto of Portugal as a triple London winner,
retaining his crown and breaking the six-year-old course
record in 2:05:15.
In the closing stages of one of the quickest races in
history, Lel somehow found the energy for a flying
sprint finish. He needed it, for his young compatriot
Sammy Wanjiru and Abderrahim Goumri, the
Moroccan who’d finished second the previous year,
stuck with him through the final wet and gruelling
miles.
The Kenyan pulled away over the last quarter of a mile
to break his personal best by almost a minute and a
half. His final 385 yards was timed at 57 seconds. In
only his second full marathon, Wanjiru was second
in 2:05:24, clipping 75 seconds from his best, while
Goumri was third, two minutes 14 seconds inside his
PB.
With Emmanuel Mutai clocking 2:06:15 in fourth, Ryan
Hall fifth in 2:06:17, and Deriba Merga sixth in 2:06:38,
all PBs, it was the first time six men have run under
2:07.
Afterwards Lel learned that he’d sealed selection for
Beijing while Wanjiru’s performance was an ominous
sign of what he would produce in China. The first three
home set the fifth, sixth and seventh quickest times
ever, while Lel was now fourth on the world all-time
list.
Further back, world champion Luke Kibet finished
11th in 2:12:13, and Olympic champion Stefano
Baldini out-battled Britain’s Dan Robinson for 12th, a
bad day for the Italian. Robinson clinched his spot in
Britain’s Olympic team finishing 13th in a personal best
of 2:13:10.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Martin Lel
Samuel Wanjiru
Abderrahim Goumri
Emmanuel Mutai
Ryan Hall
Deriba Merga
Yonas Kifle
Felix Limo
Aleksey Sokolov
Hendrick Ramaala
148 Media Guide 2015
KEN
KEN
MAR
KEN
USA
ETH
ERI
KEN
RUS
RSA
2:05:15
2:05:24
2:05:30
2:06:15
2:06:17
2:06:38
2:08:51
2:10:34
2:11:41
2:11:44
Irina Mikitenko sprung a shock to win the women’s
race in only her second marathon, beating the muchfancied Ethiopian pair of Gete Wami and Berhane
Adere and lowering her personal best by 37 seconds.
After starting in calm, cool sunshine, Mikitenko battled
through wind and rain in the closing stages to become
the first German winner in London since Katrin Dorre
took the third of her trio of titles in 1994. Leading for
much of the race, the 35-year-old shrugged off Wami
and Russia’s Svetlana Zakharova over the last three
miles to cross the line in 2:24:14.
The 37-year-old Zakharova finished second for the
third time in her first London Marathon for four years,
while Wami overcame a dramatic fall at 30km to finish
third. Zakharova, in only her second race since giving
birth a year before, was rewarded with news of her
selection for the Olympic Games.
The race was fraught with misfortune, first when nine
runners were diverted to avoid a gas leak on The
Highway, and then when Wami fell as the runners
approached the 30km drinks station near Canary
Wharf. Algerian Souad Ait Salem tripped in front of
the Ethiopian who hit her face, hands and knee on
the tarmac. She lost 100 metres and 30 seconds
on the leaders but soon made up the ground to join
Zakharova and Mikitenko in a breakaway.
At 35km, as the rain began to fall, Mikitenko put in
another effort. Running 5:13 for mile 24, she finally got
away leaving Zakharova and the bruised Wami in her
wake.
Liz Yelling finished ninth in 2:28:33, a personal best by
exactly two minutes and a ticket to China with Britain’s
Olympic team. Hayley Haining also broke her PB in
12th, clocking 2:29:18.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Irina Mikitenko Svetlana Zakharova
Gete Wami
Salina Kosgei
Lyudmila Petrova
Souad Aït Salem
Berhane Adere
Constantina Dita
Liz Yelling
Adriana Pirtea
GER
RUS
ETH
KEN
RUS
ALG
ETH
ROU
GBR
ROU
2:24:14
2:24:39
2:25:37
2:26:30
2:26:45
2:27:41
2:27:42
2:27:45
2:28:33
2:28:52
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
26 April 2009
Men: Wanjiru wins in course record
Olympic champion Sammy Wanjiru broke the injured
Martin Lel’s one-year-old course record to win in
2:05:10 after a gripping duel with Ethiopia’s Tsegaye
Kebede who finished 10 seconds behind. It was the
three Olympic medallists who took the podium places
as Jaouad Gharib, the silver medallist in Beijing,
followed bronze medallist Kebede home, smashing
his PB by more than a minute and a half.
The first three were even faster than in 2008, but crazy
early speed put paid to Wanjiru’s hopes of a world
record as the pacemakers sped through half way in
61:35 after setting off inside two-hour pace. For the
Eritrean debutant Zersenay Tadese it was a baptism
of fire. The three-times world half marathon champion
found the going too tough at the full distance and
dropped out at 35km.
Wanjiru’s win came via two bursts, the first as they
headed towards Canary Wharf, followed immediately
by Kebede and Gharib, and the second shortly after
mile 20, when he defied the swift early pace and
kicked ahead. Kebede gave chase but the Kenyan led
by 20 metres along the Embankment. Glancing back,
he turned the corner at the Houses of Parliament and
put in another burst up Birdcage Walk.
Wanjiru’s victory was the sixth in a row for Kenya and
made the east African nation the most successful in
London Marathon history with one more winner than
Great Britain. Andi Jones was the first Briton home,
13th in 2:15:20.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Samuel Wanjiru
Tsegaye Kebede
Jaouad Gharib
Emmanuel Mutai
Hendrick Ramaala
Abderrahim Goumri
Yonas Kifle
Atsushi Sato
Meb Keflezighi
Felix Limo
KEN
ETH
MAR
KEN
RSA
MAR
ERI
JPN
USA
KEN
2:05:10
2:05:20
2:05:27
2:06:53
2:07:44
2:08:25
2:08:28
2:09:16
2:09:21
2:09:47
Women: Mikitenko makes it two in a
row
Irina Mikitenko became the first woman since Paula
Radcliffe in 2003 to retain the London Marathon
title as she held off a spirited challenge from Mara
Yamauchi to win her third marathon. The 36-year-old
produced a commanding performance as she broke
away from the field after 20 miles and crossed the line
in 2:22:11, improving on her 2008 time by more than
two minutes.
Yamauchi gave the record crowds much to cheer
as she finished second in 2:23:12, taking nearly two
minutes from her best, while the European 5000m
record holder Liliya Shobukhova of Russia produced a
debut run to remember, finishing third in 2:24:24.
Mikitenko, who was forced to miss the 2008 Olympic
Games with a back problem, destroyed all three
Beijing medallists. Olympic champion Constantina
Dita had a day to forget. Running her eighth London
Marathon, the Romanian dropped out at half way
with a pain in her liver and breathing problems.
Beijing silver medallist Catherine Ndereba again let
the leaders get too far ahead and finished seventh.
And Zhou Chunxiu, third in Beijing, struggled in the
closing stages. She finished 12th after running with the
leaders for the first 17 miles.
Mikitenko made her first push for victory at 30km
(1:41:14) but Yamauchi clung to her like an owner to
an untamed dog. Each time the German opened a
small gap, the Briton dragged her back until Mikitenko
kicked in a 20th mile of 5:24. After a 21st mile of 5:25
the champion and favourite was away and gone. She
joined an illustrious group of double London winners,
including Joyce Smith, Ingrid Kristiansen, Katrin Dorre
and Radcliffe.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Irina Mikitenko
Mara Yamauchi
Liliya Shobukhova
Svetlana Zakharova
Berhane Adere
Inga Abitova
Catherine Ndereba
Tomo Morimoto
Gete Wami
Lyudmila Petrova
GER
GBR
RUS
RUS
ETH
RUS
KEN
JPN
ETH
RUS
2:22:11
2:23:12
2:24:24
2:25:06
2:25:30
2:25:55
2:26:22
2:26:29
2:26:54
2:27:42
Irina Mikitenko
(Reuters)
Media Guide 2015 149
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
25 April 2010
Women: Shobukhova is first for Russia
Men: Kebede ends Kenya’s domination
Tsegaye Kebede turned silver to gold as the 2009
runner-up took the men’s title in 2:05:19, just nine
seconds outside the one-year-old course record. The
Olympic and world bronze medallist took his victory
in style, crossing the line with more than a minute to
spare to become the first non-Kenyan winner since his
fellow Ethiopian Gezahegne Abera in 2003. Kenya’s
world silver medallist Emmanuel Mutai was second
again, while the evergreen Moroccan Jaouad Gharib
was third for the second year in a row.
Defending champion Sammy Wanjiru had said just
two days before the race that if he didn’t retain the title
Kebede was the man to watch. In the event, Wanjiru
provided the day’s big shock when he dropped out at
27km. The Olympic champion had won four out of five
marathons and never finished lower than second, but
he was forced to pull out around mile 17 with a sore
right knee.
After sharing the lead with Abel Kirui, Kebede kicked
away after a swift 20th mile to build an unassailable
lead. He crossed the line as the third quickest ever
over the London course, missing his PB by just one
second. Behind him, Kirui was passed by Mutai, who
improved from fourth in 2008 and 2009. Abderrahim
Bouramdane smashed his PB for fourth, while Kirui
limped home fifth, and Zersenay Tadese claimed a
first marathon finish – seventh place in 2:12:03 – just
ahead of the first Briton, Andrew Lemoncello.
Kebede earned $130,000 for his efforts. Just four
years earlier he was helping his father sell firewood in
Addis Ababa to feed his 12 siblings.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Tsegaye Kebede
Emmanuel Mutai
Jaouad Gharib
Abderrahim Bouramdane
Abel Kirui
Marilson dos Santos
Zersenay Tadese
Andrew Lemoncello
Yonas Kifle
Andi Jones
ETH
KEN
MAR
MAR
KEN
BRA
ERI
GBR
ERI
GBR
2:05:19
2:06:23
2:06:55
2:07:33
2:08:04
2:08:46
2:12:03
2:13:40
2:14:39
2:16:38
Liliya Shobukhova became the first Russian to win the
women’s race after dominating a field packed with
talent, including the reigning champion Irina Mikitenko,
who dropped out with a shin injury after 11 miles, and
Britain’s Mara Yamauchi, second in 2009, who finished
10th (later promoted to ninth), the trials of a six-day
journey to London taking its toll.
By contrast, Shobukhova never looked troubled.
She pulled away from her compatriot Inga Abitova
in the final mile to win in 2:22:00, a personal best by
two minutes 24 seconds. Abitova finished second in
2:22:19, beating her PB by more than three minutes,
although her result was later annulled when she was
suspended for failing a drugs test. World bronze
medallist Aselefech Mergia of Ethiopia was third
across the line (later promoted to second), nearly two
and a half minutes inside her previous best.
Many had tipped Shobukhova following her impressive
win over Mikitenko in Chicago the previous October,
and the tall Russian ran with real intent, her compact
style and low stride taking her smoothly away from
Mergia, Bezunesh Bekele and Abitova over the final
miles. She turned off the Embankment with a 30m
lead and strode on to become the first Russian to win
in London since Yakov Tolstikov took the men’s title in
1991 for the Soviet Union.
After finishing third 12 months before, Shobukhova
completed a wonderful first year as a marathon runner
with her second World Marathon Majors victory.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Liliya Shobukhova
Aselefech Mergia
Bezunesh Bekele
Askale Tafa
Yukiko Akaba
Bai Xue
Kim Smith
Mari Ozaki
Mara Yamauchi
Svetlana Zakharova
RUS
ETH
ETH
ETH
JPN
CHN
NZL
JPN
GBR
RUS
2:22:00*
2:22:38**
2:23:17
2:24:39
2:24:55
2:25:18
2:25:21
2:25:43
2:26:16
2:31:00
* Liliya Shobukhova (RUS) was banned from competition for a
doping violation, announced in April last year, and her case is
currently under investigation awaiting a hearing at the Court of
Arbitration for Sport (CAS). If the case is confirmed, her results
from 2010 and 2011 will be annulled.
** Inga Abitova (RUS) was initially second in 2:22:19 but that
result has been annulled following her suspension for a doping
violation.
150 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
17 April 2011
Women: Incredible Keitany cracks 2:20
Men: Mutai record leads Kenyan sweep
Emmanuel Mutai smashed the course record as
Kenya swept all three medals. In 2010 Mutai made a
late surge to finish second, but this time he left little to
chance, bursting clear after 20 miles to win in 2:04:40,
half a minute quicker than Sammy Wanjiru’s 2009
record. His victory by a minute and five seconds was
the biggest winning margin since Japan’s Toshihiko
Seko beat Hugh Jones in 1986.
Three-time London winner Martin Lel made a
remarkable return to marathon running after nearly
three years of injuries to finish second with a sprint
finish ahead of Patrick Makau, thus completing the
first national medal sweep since Britain filled the top
three spots in 1985.
It was an unexpected performance from Lel as he was
added to the entries just three weeks before the race
and hadn’t run a marathon since the 2008 Olympics.
As for 2010 champion Tsegaye Kebede, he had to be
satisfied with fifth after Mutai ground his dreams of a
world record into the London dust. Mutai became the
ninth man to break 2:05, recording his fifth sub-2:07
time, the fifth quickest marathon ever.
Behind him, Lel unleashed a furious sprint to beat
Makau who had fallen just after half way and almost
dropped out. Marîlson dos Santos smashed his PB
by more than two minutes to finish fourth in 2:06:34,
just 29 seconds outside Ronaldo da Costa’s Brazilian
record, while the crest-fallen Kebede jogged home
fifth. Dmitriy Safronov of Russia was first European in
eighth; Lee Merrien first Briton, 14th in 2:14:27.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Emmanuel Mutai
Martin Lel
Patrick Makau
Marîlson dos Santos
Tsegaye Kebede
Jaouad Gharib
Abderrahime Bouramdane
Dmitriy Safronov
Bat-Ochir Serod
Mike Shelley
KEN
KEN
KEN
BRA
ETH
MAR
MAR
RUS
MGL
AUS
2:04:40
2:05:45
2:05:45
2:06:34
2:07:48
2:08:26
2:08:42
2:09:35
2:11:35
2:11:38
Mary Keitany produced a devastating performance
to win the women’s race in a time only world record
holder Paula Radcliffe has ever beaten on the London
course. The Kenyan made a dramatic burst after 15
miles to leave defending champion Liliya Shobukhova
and a clutch of highly talented rivals in her shadow.
The 29-year-old strode home alone in 2:19:19 to move
alongside Irina Mikitenko as the equal fourth fastest
woman in history.
After smashing the world half marathon record
earlier in the year, Keitany announced herself on the
marathon stage, improving her lifetime best by nearly
10 minutes to become the 10th woman to break 2:20.
Shobukhova rallied in the final stages to take second
in 2:20:15, slicing 10 seconds from her Russian
record. Edna Kiplagat finished in 2:20:46, nearly five
minutes inside her PB and the best ever for third.
Keitany had been disappointed to finish third on her
marathon debut in New York the previous November,
and was clearly in no mood for a repeat. With barely
a glance at her opponents, she put her foot down
between miles 15 and 16 and kicked away within one
blistering five-minute mile. She ran the next three miles
in under 5:10 and sprinted for the line to record the
quickest time in the world since Radcliffe enjoyed her
third victory here in 2005.
Bezunesh Bekele was fourth for the second year in a
row, with Atsede Baysa fifth. Yukiko Akaba claimed
a spot on Japan’s World Championships team as
she came sixth. Jo Pavey was first Briton home in
18th (later promoted to 17th after Inga Abitova’s
disqualification) – a successful debut in 2:28:24, inside
UK Athletics’ World and Olympic qualifying standards.
A record 22 women finished in 2 hours 30 or better,
obliterating the previous record of 15.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Mary Keitany
Liliya Shobukhova
Edna Kiplagat
Bezunesh Bekele
Atsede Baysa
Yukiko Akaba
Irina Mikitenko
Jessica Augusto
Aberu Kebede
Mariya Konovalova
KEN
RUS
KEN
ETH
ETH
JPN
GER
POR
ETH
RUS
2:19:19
2:20:15*
2:20:46
2:23:42
2:23:50
2:24:09
2:24:24
2:24:33
2:24:34
2:25:18
* Liliya Shobukhova (RUS) was banned from competition for a
doping violation, announced in April last year, and her case is
currently under investigation awaiting a hearing at the Court of
Arbitration for Sport (CAS). If the case is confirmed, her results
from 2010 and 2011 will be annulled.
Media Guide 2015 151
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
22 April 2012
Women: Keitany clocks Kenyan record
Men: Kipsang surges to debut title
Wilson Kipsang took the men’s title with the
second fastest time ever over the London course, a
performance that secured his place at the London
2012 Olympics.
Already the second fastest man in history, Kipsang
stamped his authority on a heavily loaded field with
two bold surges in the second half of the race. He
broke free after 20 miles and crossed the line more
than two minutes clear in 2:04:44 missing Emmanuel
Mutai’s course record by four seconds.
“I am sorry I didn’t ditch the record but winning is the
most important thing for me,” said Kipsang.
Martin Lel, the three-times champion, repeated his
runner-up place from 2011. He crossed the line in
2:06:51, winning a sprint finish by a second from
Ethiopia’s Tsegaye Kebede. It was yet another
remarkable run from the 33-year-old who had not
been shortlisted by the Kenyan Olympic selectors after
dropping out of the Dubai Marathon that January.
As for Mutai he was seventh in 2:08:01, his lowest
finish in five London appearances, perhaps affected by
the bout of typhoid he suffered a month before.
Abel Kirui was a place ahead of him. Second at 40km,
the double world champion faded in the closing stages
and crossed the line in 2:07:56. It was a bad day
for the then world record holder Patrick Makau too.
He dropped out at 10 miles with a hamstring injury,
scuppering his Olympic hopes.
Lee Merrien was the first Briton for the second year in
a row. He ran a PB of 2:13:41 to finish 17th and was
selected for the London Olympic team.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Wilson Kipsang
Martin Lel
Tsegaye Kebede
Adil Annani
Jaouad Gharib
Abel Kirui
Emmanuel Mutai
Marîlson dos Santos
Samuel Tsegay
Feyisa Lilesa
152 Media Guide 2015
KEN
KEN
ETH
MAR
MAR
KEN
KEN
BRA
ERI
ETH
2:04:44
2:06:51
2:06:52
2:07:43
2:07:44
2:07:56
2:08:01
2:08:03
2:08:06
2:08:20
Mary Keitany retained her title on a brilliant morning,
smashing the Kenyan and African record to become
the third fastest woman in history as she led the first
ever national medal-sweep in the women’s race.
Keitany kicked away from her compatriots in the last
four miles to clock 2:18:37, 10 seconds quicker than
Catherine Ndereba’s 11-year-old mark. She was
more than a minute ahead of world champion Edna
Kiplagat, who broke 2:20 for the first time in second
place, with world silver medallist Priscah Jeptoo third
and two more Kenyans, Florence Kiplagat and Lucy
Kabuu, fourth and fifth.
“I’m so delighted to win for the second time in
London,” said Keitany. “I knew I could run 2:18 but to
break Catherine’s national record is special for me.”
Keitany threw down the gauntlet in the second half,
running 67:44 to make this one of the quickest
marathon finishes ever seen. Kiplagat challenged
the champion until 23 miles and maintained her form
over the closing stages to cross the line in 2:19:50, a
personal best by nearly a minute. There was a PB for
Jeptoo too, the world silver medallist running 2:20:14.
Only Ethiopia’s Aberu Kebede could stay with the
quintet of Kenyans after half way, and at the end she
was the first non-Kenyan across the line in sixth place.
Germany’s Irina Mikitenko was the first European in
seventh while there was good news for Britain as
Claire Hallissey finished 11th in a PB of 2:27:44 to win
her Olympic place. Scot Freya Murray (now Ross) was
just a stride or two behind, clocking 2:28:04 on her
debut.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Mary Keitany
Edna Kiplagat
Priscah Jeptoo
Florence Kiplagat
Lucy Kabuu
Aberu Kebede
Irina Mikitenko
Jessica Augusto
Atsede Baysa
Jelena Prokopcuka
KEN
KEN
KEN
KEN
KEN
ETH
GER
POR
ETH
LAT
2:18:37
2:19:50
2:20:14
2:20:57
2:23:12
2:24:04
2:24:53
2:24:59
2:25:59
2:27:04
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
21 April 2013
Women: Jeptoo leads a Kenyan 1-2
Men: Kebede comes from behind
Tsegaye Kebede ran a perfectly judged race to win
the men’s title with a thrilling finish. The Ethiopian
held enough back to surge past course record holder
Emmanuel Mutai in the final half-mile of the race.
Kebede came from nearly a minute behind the leaders
at 35km to regain the crown he won three years
before. He crossed the line in 2:06:04 with his hand
on his chest in memory of the victims of the Boston
Marathon bombings. Mutai hung on for second in
2:06:33 while Kebede’s training partner Ayele Abshero
was third in 2:06:57, giving Ethiopia two on the
podium for the first time.
With the ‘greatest field ever assembled’ setting
off from Blackheath, the first half of the race was
dominated by talk of a world record. All the favourites
were in the mix, including Kebede, Olympic champion
Stephen Kiprotich, defending champion Wilson
Kipsang, world record holder Patrick Makau, course
record holder Mutai and London debutant Abshero.
Among them was Britain’s Mo Farah, running the first
half as a test for his 2014 debut. He dropped out as
planned just before half way, passed in 61:34, and the
lead group gradually whittled down until Mutai hit the
front alone passing the Tower of London at mile 22.
The Kenyan, running his 13th marathon, seemed to
have timed his effort to perfection, but Kebede, who
had dropped off the leaders at half-way, surged back
into contention. By mile 24, he was just 28 seconds
back and with a mile to go the gap was down to 12.
These two turned past Big Ben together at almost
exactly midday. Mutai had nothing left and Kebede
powered past and cruised into the finishing straight to
claim his second London victory.
“I could feel myself getting closer and closer and that
made me stronger” said Kebede. “It was a great day
to run the London Marathon and even better to win.”
Scott Overall dropped out of the race at 25km, leaving
Derek Hawkins to come through as first Briton. He
crossed the line 13th in 2:16:51.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Tsegaye Kebede
Emmanuel Mutai
Ayele Abshero
Feyisa Lilesa
Wilson Kipsang
Stephen Kiprotich
Yared Asmerom
Stanley Biwott
Hafid Chani
Ayad Lamdassem
ETH
KEN
ETH
ETH
KEN
UGA
ERI
KEN
MAR
ESP
2:06:04
2:06:33
2:06:57
2:07:46
2:07:47
2:08:05
2:08:22
2:08:39
2:09:11
2:09:28
Priscah Jeptoo led a Kenyan one-two to add the
women’s London Marathon crown to he world and
Olympic silvers. She powered home ahead of world
champion Edna Kiplagat while Yukiko Akaba came
from behind to claim Japan’s first London podium
place in third.
But while it was another day of joy for Kenya, there
was disaster for Ethiopia’s Olympic champion Tiki
Gelana who collided with wheelchair racer Josh
Cassidy at a feeding station near the 15km mark.
Battered and bruised, Gelana kept going to finish
16th, more than 16 minutes after Jeptoo strode across
the line in 2:20:15, a second outside her personal
best. “I knew this morning I was going to run well,”
said Jeptoo. “But there was such a good field it wasn’t
until around 25 miles that I felt I could win.”
Gelana had fallen in the Olympic race too, but
then she had picked herself up to beat Jeptoo in
the pouring rain. Conditions couldn’t have been
more different this time as the women set off under
cloudless skies in still conditions.
At first Gelana seemed to recover well, and she was
one of five who passed half-way in 1:11:33 only to
lose touch again in the 14th mile. By 30km Jeptoo and
Kiplagat were alone in front. At first Kiplagat seemed
to have the initiative, but Jeptoo was determined not
to play the bridesmaid’s role again.
Her style is all elbows and knees compared to
Kiplagat’s smoother gait, yet it was she who proved
to be stronger as they turned west and ran towards
Westminster. She opened a stride’s gap, which
slowly grew to two, then five, before the elastic finally
snapped and Kiplagat settled for second.
Jeptoo took the tape in comfortable isolation well over
a minute ahead. Akaba overtook Florence Kiplagat,
Atsede Baysa and Meselech Melkamu to claim third
while Gelana struggled home in 2:36:55.
It was a better day for Britain’s Susan Partridge.
The Scot ducked inside the World Championships
qualifying time, finishing ninth in 2:30:46.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Priscah Jeptoo
Edna Kiplagat
Yukiko Akaba
Atsede Baysa
Meselech Melkamu
Florence Kiplagat
Mai Ito
Alevtina Biktirimova
Susan Partridge
Irvette van Zyl
KEN
KEN
JPN
ETH
ETH
KEN
JPN
RUS
GBR
RSA
2:20:15
2:21:32
2:24:43
2:25:14
2:25:46
2:27:05
2:28:37
2:30:02
2:30:46
2:31:26
Media Guide 2015 153
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
13 April 2014
Men: Kipsang claims the course record
Wilson Kipsang broke the course record to regain
his London Marathon men’s title on a glorious day,
sprinting away from fellow Kenyan Stanley Biwott in
the final mile and a half of the race.
On the start line he was full of beans, tugging proudly
on his British vest and bouncing up and down as he
waved to the massive crowds, his first coach, school
sports teacher Alan Watkinson, watching from the
start-line grandstand.
The two had pulled clear of a large pack around
Canary Wharf, and Kipsang shrugged off his
compatriot as they approached Westminster Bridge
to win by 26 seconds in 2:04:29, beating Emmanuel
Mutai’s three-year-old London best.
Farah is already a legend of British distance running,
but it was the global legend, Haile Gebrselassie, who
led off the first group containing the best marathon
men in the world, the athletes relishing the nearperfect conditions of warm sunshine and gentle winds.
It was an impressive effort from the 32-year-old who
added a second London title to his world record
victory at the Berlin Marathon the previous September.
It was his seventh win in 10 career marathons and the
10th London Marathon victory by a Kenyan man.
Alongside Gebrselassie and his Kenyan co-pacers,
Edwin Kiptoo and Richard Sigei, were four of the
fastest 10 men in history. As well as Kipsang and
Biwott the group contained two other Kenyans, course
record holder Mutai and his namesake, the two-times
New York champion Geoffrey Mutai. Kebede, Abshero
and Mekonnen were also in the leading pack.
In 2012 Kipsang crossed the line more than two
minutes clear of the field after dominating the race. But
last year he bided his time, kicking away from a pack
of eight with a burst that only Biwott could match.
The two ran shoulder-to-shoulder for 10km, past the
Tower of London and on to the Embankment, before
Kipsang made his move with just over 2km left. From
then on he was never in trouble, and made up for a
poorly-paced first half by sprinting down The Mall to
cross the line with arms outstretched.
“It’s really great to win the London Marathon again,
and I hope to do it again very soon,” said Kipsang.
“It was around 31km that I decided to push harder
as I felt very comfortable and strong. I pushed again
towards the finish line and that’s when I broke away.”
Never among the pre-race favourites, Biwott was a
surprise in second, clocking 2:04:55 to ensure 2014
will be remembered as the first time in 34 London
Marathons that two men have broken 2:05.
They clicked off the traditionally fast first mile in 4:36,
15 seconds quicker than Mutai’s 2011 London record,
and reached 5km in 14:21, way inside world record
pace. Gebrselassie had been asked to take the
leaders through half way in 61:45, just on world record
schedule, but by the time they reached 10km they
were five seconds quick at 29:11.
Gebrselassie had talked about the heavy responsibility
of pacing such an illustrious field and, as it turned
out, he was right to be concerned. By 15km, he
had already done too much too early, and soon after
passing that check point in 44:06 he stepped aside,
just half way to his intended distance.
Sigei was left as sole pacemaker and inevitably the
tempo dropped until they reached half way in 62:30,
45 seconds slower than planned. It was too slow for
Kipsang, and the world record holder made his first
move, swiftly transforming the group into a line.
There was some consolation for Kenya’s great east
African rivals Ethiopia as they filled the next three
places. Defending champion Tsegaye Kebede,
prominent for much of the race, had to be satisfied
with third, his fifth podium finish in six London
Marathons. Kebede outsprinted Abshero Ayele to
cross the line a second ahead in 2:06:30, while the
18-year-old Dubai champion, Tsegaye Mekonnen, was
fifth in 2:08:06.
Behind them, Farah had lost touch with his pacemaker
and, after dropping his drink at the 20km feeding
station, was now stranded and without replenishment.
As for Britain’s Mo Farah, his much-anticipated debut
ended in disappointment as the double world and
Olympic track champion failed to break the longstanding British record, finishing eighth in 2:08:21,
more than a minute outside his target. “I just had a
bad day at the office,” he said.
By contrast, Kipsang looked utterly at ease. After his
earlier burst, he had briefly settled back to wait for
his moment and that came as they twisted around
the tight corners of Canary Wharf. Surprisingly, it was
Biwott who went with him as Kebede and Geoffrey
Mutai rapidly lost ground.
It wasn’t all bad news for Farah, though, as he took 12
seconds from Charlie Spedding’s English record, set
here in 1985.
The two leaders clicked off the 20th and 21st miles
in 4:39 and 4:40, and suddenly had the streets to
themselves. Now heading towards Westminster they
hit 35km in 1:43:34, a 5km split of 14:33. With Mutai,
Kebede and Mekonnen 27 seconds adrift, now it was
just a question of who would be stronger over the
drawn-out finish.
Farah had set off with the slightly slower, second
group, paced by Cyprian Kotut, brother and former
gardener of the three-times London winner, Martin Lel.
154 Media Guide 2015
Up front, four Kenyans and four Ethiopians emerged
onto the long loop around London’s Isle of Dogs.
Kebede took them through 25km in 1:13:58, after
a 14:42 5km stretch, and 30km in 1:29:01 where
Emmanuel Mutai began to struggle.
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
In 2012, Kipsang had run this section in isolation;
this time he was stride-for-stride with the 2012 Paris
champion. They sped past through the 40km point in
1:58:12 (a 14:38 5km) at which point Kipsang finally
broke clear, his low swinging arms working hard to
shake off his shadow. He strode down The Mall to
stop the clock 11 seconds quicker than anyone else,
earning a $25,000 bonus for the record.
Biwott finished comfortably in second, lowering his
personal best by 17 seconds with the fourth fastest
time in London. As for Kebede, third was a remarkable
result for a man who’d been fighting typhoid just a
month before.
Behind them Farah worked hard to the end, but this
had been a 26.2-mile baptism of fire for the Briton. At
least he beat Uganda’s world and Olympic champion
Stephen Kiprotich, who finished 12th in 2:11:37, one
place behind the second Briton, Chris Thompson, who
clocked 2:11:19.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Wilson Kipsang
Stanley Biwott
Tsegaye Kebede
Ayele Abshero
Tsegaye Mekonnen
Geoffrey Mutai
Emmanuel Mutai
Mo Farah
Feyisa Lilesa
Ryan Vail
KEN
KEN
ETH
ETH
ETH
KEN
KEN
GBR
ETH
USA
2:04:29
2:04:55
2:06:30
2:06:31
2:08:06
2:08:18
2:08:19
2:08:21
2:08:26
2:10:57
Women: Third time lucky for Kiplagat
Edna Kiplagat ran a perfectly judged race to finally
win the London Marathon after finishing runner-up in
the previous two years. She ran the last seven miles
a step behind her fellow Kenyan and namesake,
Florence Kiplagat, before sprinting clear on The Mall to
cross the finish line three seconds clear in 2:20:21.
“I’m very happy to win today because I haven’t
managed to the last three times,” said the champion,
who was also third in 2011. “I focused on speed in
training because I thought I might need a good sprint
finish to win today. At long last that’s what I’ve done.”
Three Ethiopians followed the Kiplagats home, led by
Tirunesh Dibaba in 2:20:35, a fine debut for the track
star who lost touch with the two Kenyans when she
dropped her drinks bottle around the 30km mark.
Feyse Tadese finished strongly to come fourth in
2:21:42, with Atsede Kebede fifth in 2:23:21.
In contrast to the men, the women started at a
relatively conservative pace, with eight front runners
choosing to ignore the tempo set by the Kenyan
pacers Josephine Chepkoech and Joyce Chepkirui,
who had been asked to go through half way in 69:15.
Reigning champion Priscah Jeptoo ran alongside the
two Kiplagats while Olympic champion Tiki Gelana
was present early on next to Dibaba, Tadese and
Kebede, while Ukraine’s Tetyana Gamera gave the
group a European edge.
Stanley Biwott & Wilson Kipsang
Media Guide 2015 155
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
After her collision in 2013, Gelana was hoping for
better fortunes this time, but she again provided the
first drama of the day when she began to struggle
at the 10km point. A fast seventh mile of 5:07 saw
Tadese and Kebede lose contact too, leaving Jeptoo
to lead the way with the Kiplagats and Dibaba behind
her.
Dibaba was putting in a sterling effort but made up
little ground and the Kiplagats were locked together as
they turned away from the River Thames and passed
Big Ben. With the finish in sight, Florence made
another bid for glory, but Edna simply stuck to her
heels up Birdcage Walk towards Buckingham Palace
and into The Mall.
Jeptoo stayed at the front, looking imperious as the
four women pushed on behind the pacemakers,
who took them through half way bang on schedule
at 69:15. Tadese and Kebede were 40 seconds
back, with Gamera and Gelana together two minutes
behind.
On the final turn, Florence took a racing line to cut
Edna off but the double world champion found
another gear as the road opened up, sprinting away to
break the tape, delighted that her determination had
finally paid off.
The leading four went through 25km in 1:22:19
looking comfortable on 5:20-mile pace. But with only
three medals up for grabs, something had to give, and
that something turned out to be Jeptoo.
Without warning, the champion stopped suddenly
17 miles into the race and stepped off the course,
leaving the two Kiplagats somewhat puzzled to find
themselves alone with Dibaba as they approached the
30km mark.
Then, like Mo Farah in the men’s race, Dibaba showed
her marathon inexperience by dropping her drinks
bottle. Sensibly, she stopped to pick it up but the
Kenyan pair sensed an opportunity. Exchanging a
glance, they swiftly picked up the pace, putting in a
5:16 mile to open a gap. Florence led through 35km in
1:56:07 with Dibaba 12 seconds back, neither closing
nor losing touch completely as the Kenyans worked
together to maintain their advantage.
Florence lifted her pace for a few strides at the 22-mile
mark to test her opponent, but Edna responded and
the pair were still stride for stride as they raced along
the sun-bathed Embankment and through 40km in
2:13:02.
A disappointed Dibaba followed Florence home,
saying later, “I’m happy to be on the podium today but
I was disappointed to drop my drinks bottle. I came
third today and I like to win.”
“Tirunesh is a great track runner but I didn’t feel
any extra pressure,” said Edna K. “The marathon
is different from other races; you need to have
experience and prepare well.”
Gelana finished a disappointing ninth, while Amy
Whitehead was the first Briton to cross the line in
2:34:19, just inside the 2:35 qualifying time for the
Commonwealth Games. Emma Stepto, the 44-yearold who only took up running in her 30s, was close
behind in an impressive 2:36:03.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Edna Kiplagat
KEN
Florence Kiplagat
KEN
Tirunesh Dibaba
ETH
Feyse Tadese
ETH
Atsede Baysa
ETH
Jessica Augusto
POR
Tetyana Gamera-Shmyrko UKR
Ana Dulce Félix
POR
Tiki Gelana
ETH
Lyudmila Kovalenko
RUS
2:20:21
2:20:24
2:20:35
2:21:42
2:23:21
2:24:25
2:25:30
2:26:46
2:26:58
2:31:31
Edna Kiplagat
(Reuters)
156 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Wheelchair Races 1983-2014
17 April 1983
Men: Perry takes first honours
Organised by BSAD (the British Sports Association for
the Disabled), the first London Wheelchair Marathon
involved 19 competitors, 17 of whom survived the rain
to reach the finish in Westminster.
Despite starting behind the main field and having to
follow a control car for the first four miles, the winner,
Gordon Perry, recorded a respectable time of 3:20:07,
almost five minutes ahead of Joe Fletcher.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Gordon Perry
Joe Fletcher
Tim Marshall
Leroy Dobson
Charles Raymond
Ertie Gomec
James Gilham
Shahriar Esfandiari
Stuart Anderson
Graham Young
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
-
GBR
-
GBR
GBR
3:20:07
3:25:03
3:26:15
3:27:40
3:52:55
3:55:50
3:56:57
4:08:16
4:29:03
4:35:11
Women: Smith is just in time
The first woman home was Denise Smith in 4:29:03.
She crossed the line with just 10 minutes to spare
before the scheduled presentation by Ken Livingstone,
leader of Greater London Council.
Women: McShane begins her reign
Kay McShane, also from Ireland, was the first woman
home in 3:10:04, placing sixth overall of the 26
racers, 19 of whom set PBs. McShane’s time was a
British all-comers’ record. Denise Smith was second,
disappointed to lose her title but glad to finish after
racing on a punctured tyre for more than half the race.
1
2
3
Kay McShane
Denise Smith
Joanne Roberts
IRL
GBR
GBR
3:10:04
3:57:52
4:05:52
21 April 1985
Men: Thrilling win for Hallam
Following Steve Jones’ win in the main event, Chris
Hallam made it a Welsh double by taking the men’s
wheelchair race after a 26-mile, wheel-to-wheel battle
with Irishman Gerry O’Rourke. The 22–year-old from
Gwent knocked 20 minutes from the British record
and 24 from his own personal best in 2:19:53.
13 May 1984
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Men: Breen leads Irish double
Women: McShane retains the title
1
2
Denise Smith
Joanne Roberts
GBR
GBR
4:29:03
6:09:03
Records fell in the second London Wheelchair
Marathon as organisers allowed the competitors to
‘front start’. Kevin Breen, a 29-year-old from Dublin,
clipped his personal best by four seconds to win the
men’s race in 2:38:40, beating Mick Karaphillides who
broke the British record with 2:44:31. Karaphillides’
chair broke at 11 miles but he still defeated defending
champion Gordon Perry who was third, 41 seconds
behind.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Kevin Breen
Mick Karaphillides
Gordon Perry
Joseph Fletcher
Arthur Walton
Andrew D’Costa
Leroy Dobson
Ric Casell
John Naude
Shahriar Esfandiari
IRL
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
-
GBR
GBR
GBR
-
2:38:40
2:44:31
2:45:12
2:51:55
2:59:10
3:10:10
3:15:03
3:18:49
3:26:39
3:32:06
Chris Hallam
Gerry O’Rourke
Mike Bishop
Kevin Breen
John Grant
Joseph Fletcher
Gerry Kinsella
Gordon Perry
Mark Agar
Steven Baumber
GBR
IRL
GBR
IRL
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
2:19:53
2:19:55
2:26:52
2:31:44
2:38:54
2:38:58
2:44:57
2:48:31
2:51:59
2:52:39
Ireland’s Kay McShane retained the women’s title,
improving her best by almost a minute as she beat
20-year-old Josie Cichockyj in 2:47:12. Twenty-five of
the 33 finishers set new PBs.
1
2
3
4
5
Kay McShane
Josie Cichockyj
Denise Smith
Karen Davidson
Joanne Roberts
IRL
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
2:47:12
2:55:44
3:21:19
3:27:09
4:00:47
Media Guide 2015 157
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
20 April 1986
Men: O’Rourke makes amends
Women: British best for Davidson
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1
2
3
Gerry O’Rourke made amends for his narrow defeat
in 1985 by dominating the men’s wheelchair race, his
fluent, economical style proving too much for Mike
Bishop and Chris Hallam who were second and third.
The disappointed Hallam was fighting a virus and he
suffered a mechanical problem early in the race.
Gerry O’Rourke
Mike Bishop
Chris Hallam
Terje Roel
Kevin Breen
Michael Cunnham
John Naude
Graham Stones
Gerry Kinsella
Chas Sadler
IRL
GBR
GBR
-
IRL
-
GBR
GBR
IRL
GBR
2:26:38
2:29:14
2:30:59
2:36:13
2:43:52
2:50:52
2:50:59
2:51:04
2:55:46
2:57:01
The 1986 runner-up Karen Davidson went one
better to win the women’s race in 2:45:30, finishing
well ahead of seasoned competitor Denise Smith.
Davidson’s time eclipsed Kay McShane’s course
record and was a new British best into the bargain.
Teenager Deborah Beales was third.
Karen Davidson
Denise Smith
Deborah Beales
GBR
GBR
GBR
2:45:30
3:53:46
4:09:18
17 May 1988
Men: Vince sets record roll
Women: Three from three for McShane
Course records rolled again as Ted Vince held off Mike
Bishop and Chris Hallam to win the men’s race. Vince,
from Canada, sprinted clear of Bishop on Westminster
Bridge to win in 2:01:37. Bishop was just five seconds
behind with Hallam third, all three inside the old course
record.
1
2
3
4
10 May 1987
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Men: Hallam breaks course record
Women: Record two for Davidson
Fellow Dubliner Kay McShane completed a hat-trick
by winning the women’s race for the third year, this
time defeating Karen Davidson, a world record holder
for 100m, 400m, 1500m and shot put. Forty-three
athletes started the race.
Kay McShane
Karen Davidson
Denise Smith
Sheila Watkins
IRL
GBR
GBR
GBR
3:02:40
3:24:53
4:07:57
5:58:30
Racing in headband, sunglasses and bright trousers,
Chris Hallam led the men’s wheelchair marathon
from start to finish to break the course record in
2:08:34. Swede Jan Ove-Mattson benefited from the
absence of Mike Bishop and defending champion
Gerry O’Rourke to finish second, almost 15 minutes
behind.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Chris Hallam
Jan Ove-Mattson
Kevin Breen
Patrick Bailey
John Harris
Ton Bente
John Naude
Wimk Zwanepol
David Todd
Chas Sadler
158 Media Guide 2015
GBR
SWE
IRL
GBR
GBR
NED
GBR
-
GBR
GBR
2:08:34
2:23:15
2:26:28
2:28:53
2:34:50
2:38:30
2:40:15
2:40:50
2:43:51
2:46:51
Ted Vince
Mike Bishop
Chris Hallam
Kevin Breen
Ivan Newman
David Todd
Ton Bonte
John Harris
Colin Price
Mark Agar
CAN
GBR
GBR
IRL
GBR
GBR
NED
GBR
GBR
GBR
2:01:37
2:01:42
2:04:39
2:21:44
2:22:58
2:25:06
2:26:17
2:27:51
2:32:26
2:32:39
Karen Davidson retained her women’s title with a
British record. Davidson was steady throughout and
won unthreatened in 2:41:45. She was well ahead of
Josie Cichockyj and 19th home overall.
1
2
3
Karen Davidson
Josie Cichockyj
Collette Rush
GBR
GBR
GBR
2:41:45
3:13:27
3:25:49
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
23 April 1989
Men: Holding on for victory
At 20, David Holding may have been the youngest
starter in the wheelchair race, but inexperience was
no barrier as the young Englishman defeated the
defending champion Ted Vince and previous victor
Chris Hallam.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
David Holding
Ted Vince
Chris Hallam
Scott Paterson
Lex de Turck
Andy Haynes
Ian Thompson
Ivan Newman
Kevin Breen
Kevin Doran
GBR
CAN
GBR
CAN
NED
GBR
GBR
GBR
IRL
GBR
1:59:31
1:59:32
1:59:33
1:59:39
2:08:12
2:09:55
2:11:24
2:16:30
2:16:35
2:22:04
Women: Cichockyj moves up a gear
Josie Cichockyj moved from runner-up to winner
of the women’s race in 3:03:54, defeating reigning
champion Karen Davidson who failed to finish.
1
dnf
Josie Cichockyj
Karen Davidson
GBR
GBR
3:03:54
-
22 April 1990
Men: Rainy record for Ericsson…
Twice London Marathon winner Joyce Smith set more
than 60 competitors on their way as the rain made
wheel-grip difficult. Sweden’s 21-year-old Hakan
Ericsson reached Parliament Square with German
Wolfgang Peterson and the two were barely separated
on the line. The Swede won in 1:57:12 by just one
second as both smashed the course record by some
two minutes. Chris Hallam, the 1985 and 1987 winner,
was the first Briton home in sixth place in 2:10:05.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Hakan Ericsson
Wolfgang Peterson
Jean-Francois Poitevin
Farid Amarouch
Lex de Turck
Chris Hallam
Ian Thompson
David Todd
Ivan Newman
Jens Anderson
SWE
GER
FRA
FRA
NED
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
DEN
1:57:12
1:57:13
1:58.24
1:58:35
2:03:21
2:10:05
2:15:58
2:17:07
2:18:03
2:22:02
Women: … and Hansen
Connie Hansen easily triumphed in the women’s race
in 2:10:25. The 29-year-old occupational therapist,
a multi-medallist from the Seoul Paralympic Games,
smashed the old course record by 31 minutes.
1
2
3
4
Connie Hansen
Ingrid Lauridsen
Rose Hill
Tanni Grey
DEN
DEN
GBR
GBR
2:10:25
2:26:15
2:49:46
2:49:54
21 April 1991
Men: Flying Frenchman first
Farid Amarouch broke the course record to win with
a sprint over the last 200m that took him clear of four
rivals. Amarouch beat fellow Frenchman Jean Francois
Poitevin, two Swedes Bo Lindkvist and Hakan
Ericsson, and Canadian Daniel Wesley.
David Holding was the first Briton in sixth, having
lost touch with the leaders at 18 miles. Lindkvist was
runner-up, just two seconds ahead of Poitevin, with
Wesley fourth, 15 minutes quicker than his previous
best.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Farid Amarouch
Bo Lindkvist
Jean Francois Poitevin
Daniel Wesley
Hakan Ericsson
David Holding
Christian Pickernell
Doug Gray
Ivan Newman
Rob Wickham
FRA
SWE
FRA
CAN
SWE
GBR
AUS
GBR
GBR
ZIM
1:52:52
1:52:55
1:52:57
1:52:59
1:53:02
1:54:39
2:04:11
2:04:51
2:04:55
2:05:01
Women: Hansen proves her class
Connie Hansen retained the women’s title. The Dane
was again in a class of her own and broke her own
one-year-old course record.
1
2
3
4
5
Connie Hansen
Rose Hill
Tanni Grey
Tracy Lewis
Yvonne Holloway
DEN
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
2:04:40
2:21:49
2:38:42
2:45:33
2:51:47
Media Guide 2015 159
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
12 April 1992
Men: Wesley wins tight contest
Canadian Daniel Wesley won a five-way battle over
the last mile and a half. Wesley outsprinted the 1989
champion David Holding in the last few metres, with
Switzerland’s world record holder Heinz Frei third and
Sweden’s Bo Lindkvist fourth. All four broke the old
course record.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Daniel Wesley
David Holding
Heinz Frei
Bo Lindkvist
Ivan Newman
Ian Thompson
Doug Gray
Simon Barnes
Huub Vautier
Karl Nicholson
CAN
GBR
SUI
SWE
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
FRA
GBR
1:51:42
1:51:53
1:51:58
1:52:07
1:52:48
1:57:30
1:57:34
1:57:35
1:59:32
2:01:20
Women: Surprise win for Grey
A diminutive Welsh student called Tanni Grey emerged
as a surprise winner of the women’s race beating her
close rival and British record holder Rose Hill after they
had been locked together for much of the race.
1
2
3
4
5
Tanni Grey
Rose Hill
Tracy Lewis
Yvonne Holloway
Patricia Chapman
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
2:17:23
2:17:46
2:24:13
2:30:09
3:39:10
18 April 1993
Men: Vandamme’s the man
Georges Vandamme of Belgium shattered the course
record by seven minutes 32 seconds to win the men’s
race. Vandamme dictated the pace from the start
as his rivals, David Holding, Ivan Newman, Hakan
Ericsson and Ian Thompson, struggled to stay in
touch. Only Newman held on to half way, but even he
couldn’t stay with the Belgian who raced alone for the
last 10 miles.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Georges Vandamme
Ivan Newman
David Holding
Hakan Ericsson
Huub Nelisse
Diet Van Dijk
Ian Thompson
Daniel Wesley
David Todd
Iranilson Da Silva
160 Media Guide 2015
BEL
GBR
GBR
SWE
NED
NED
GBR
CAN
GBR
BRA
1:44:10
1:46:15
1:51:22
1:55:24
1:55:34
1:56:15
1:57:24
1:59:10
1:59:14
1:59:30
Women: Hill is London’s Rose
Rose Hill beat the two fancied racers – Lily Anggreny
of Germany and reigning champion Tanni Grey – to
win the women’s race in a course record of 2:03:05.
1
2
3
Rose Hill
Lily Anggreny
Tanni Grey
GBR
GER
GBR
2:03:05
2:09:16
2:12:25
17 April 1994
Men: Holding holds his nerve
David Holding regained the title becoming the second
man to win two London Wheelchair Marathons after
battling with Ivan Newman in The Mall.
Shortly after half way Holding dropped the 1990
winner, Hakan Ericsson, only to find Newman covering
his break. Newman entered The Mall with a few
metres lead and looked a likely winner but Holding
had other ideas and the Kettering accountant pulled
clear in the last 10 metres to win by two seconds.
Holding joined Chris Hallam as a double winner, while
the 41-year-old Newman had to be satisfied with his
second runner-up spot in two years.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
7
9
10
David Holding
Ivan Newman
Hakan Ericsson
Jack McKenna
Ian Thompson
Chris Madden
John Van Buren
Huub Nelisse
David Todd
Chris Hallam
GBR
GBR
SWE
GBR
GBR
GBR
NED
NED
GBR
GBR
1:46:06
1:46:08
1:50:22
1:55:06
1:55:14
1:55:15
1:58:47
1:58:47
2:01:11
2:05:45
Women: Grey outsprints Hill
Tanni Grey won her second title but the Welshwoman’s triumph did not come without a fight as
reigning champion Rose Hill battled all the way to the
line. The two entered The Mall together but with 200
metres to go Grey, a four-times Paralympic champion,
showed her track speed to win by four seconds.
1
2
3
Tanni Grey
Rose Hill
Tracy Lewis
GBR
GBR
GBR
2:08:26
2:08:30
2:38:34
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
2 April 1995
21 April 1996
Men: Frei smashes course record
Men: Third time for Holding
Pre-race favourite Heinz Frei gave an outstanding
demonstration of wheelchair racing to win in a course
record by almost four minutes. The Swiss racer was
comfortable in a group of five including Jean-Marc
Berset, also of Switzerland, George Shrattenecker
of Austria, two-time winner David Holding, and Jack
McKenna. On the Isle of Dogs, Frei increased his
speed to gain a 30-second advantage that grew over
the rest of the race.
Holding and Shrattenecker entered The Mall together
before the Briton produced his famous sprint finish to
take the runner-up spot. McKenna was fourth and Ivan
Newman retained the veterans’ title.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Heinz Frei
David Holding
George Shrattenecker
Jack McKenna
Ivan Newman
Huub Nelisse
Ian Thompson
Chris Madden
Theo Geeve
John Van Buren
SUI
GBR
AUT
GBR
GBR
NED
GBR
GBR
NED
NED
1:39:14
1:47:36
1:47:41
1:48:58
1:53:18
1:53:44
1:53:46
1:53:47
1:57:37
1:57:38
Women: Hill takes her chance
Rose Hill had an easy ride to the women’s title, thanks
in part to Tanni Grey’s decision to swap the hard roads
for a place in the commentary booth. Runner-up in
1994, Hill won in 2:17:02 to regain the title she first
won in 1993.
1
Rose Hill
GBR
2:17:02
David Holding became the first man to win the London
Wheelchair Marathon three times as he used his finishing
speed to defeat the Pole Bogdan Krol in The Mall.
In the end it was a convincing victory, but until 23
miles Holding had been locked together with Krol and
Jack McKenna having dropped Ivan Newman and
Chris Madden at 17 miles. Holding tried to pull away
from the Pole with three miles left but to no avail. The
pair vied for supremacy in Birdcage Walk until Holding
finally edged ahead to record his fastest time on the
London course.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
David Holding
Bogdan Krol
Jack McKenna
Ivan Newman
Huub Nelisse
Chris Madden
Richie Powell
Theo Geeve
Ian Thompson
John Vink
GBR
POL
GBR
GBR
NED
GBR
GBR
SWE
GBR
NED
1:43:48
1:43:54
1:45:18
1:47:09
1:51:56
1:51:57
1:54:32
1:55:40
1:56:14
1:59:40
Women: … and Grey
Despite the heat, Tanni Grey took an early lead in
the women’s race, stormed away from her rivals
and dominated to the finish where she set a new
course record. It was Grey’s third victory in five years,
an achievement to place alongside her numerous
Paralympic medals and add to her already glowing
reputation.
1
2
3
4
5
Tanni Grey
Rose Hill
Sophie Dettman
Fiona Neale
Karen Dark
GBR
GBR
-
GBR
GBR
2:00:10
2:10:09
2:12:46
2:23:07
2:31:24
Tanni Grey
(Reuters)
Media Guide 2015 161
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
13 April 1997
26 April 1998
Men: Holding on for fourth
Men: Frei dominates again
David Holding notched up his fourth victory in 1:42:15,
the second quickest ever on the course, beating the
1990 winner Hakan Ericsson of Sweden by just one
second with Ivan Newman only two seconds further
adrift.
It was a tough race with 10 still in contention at half
way when a few testing surges from Holding reduced
the leading group to five. With 300 metres to go there
were still four in the hunt, but as they entered The Mall
Holding gradually opened a gap on Ericsson which he
maintained to the line.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
David Holding
Hakan Ericsson
Ivan Newman
Bogdan Krol
Stephane Abando
Ian Thompson
D Sadler
Jurgen de Heve
Chris Madden
Richie Powell
GBR
SWE
GBR
POL
FRA
GBR
GBR
BEL
GBR
GBR
1:42:15
1:42:16
1:42:18
1:42:44
1:42:56
1:45:06
1:47:58
1:47:59
1:50:55
1:52:00
Women: Wetterstrom wheels away
Swede Monica Wetterstrom was a late entry for the
women’s race, but she was far from a late finisher as
she obliterated the field to win in 1:49:09, a course
record by a massive 11 minutes. She took the lead
early and even clung on to the leading men until half
way. She eventually finished ninth overall.
Defending champion Tanni Grey was left some 11
minutes adrift and had to be satisfied with second
place and her own London best of 2:00:06. Rose Hill
was third. The race was organised by Disability Sports
Events, the new name for the BSAD.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Monica Wetterstrom
Tanni Grey
Rose Hill
Yvonne Looys
Karen Dark
Tracey Gill
Susan White
162 Media Guide 2015
SWE
GBR
GBR
NED
GBR
GBR
GBR
1:49:09
2:00:06
2:03:56
2:39:22
2:41:11
3:28:45
3:32:04
World record holder Heinz Frei broke his own course
record by almost four minutes to regain the title. The
Swiss racer made his intentions clear from the start
as he went away like a sprinter. By half way he had an
unassailable three-minute lead over the chasing pack
which he extended to more than seven minutes.
Claude Issorat of France, a multi track gold medallist at
the Atlanta Paralympics, demonstrated his racing range
by taking second with his countryman Denis Lemeunier
third. David Holding, a four-times winner, was again
the first Briton home in fourth, while the veteran Ivan
Newman was fifth.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Heinz Frei
Claude Issorat
Denis Lemeunier
David Holding
Ivan Newman
Jurgen de Heve
Bogdan Krol
George Shrattenecker
Chris Madden
John Buren
SUI
FRA
FRA
GBR
GBR
BEL
POL
AUT
GBR
NED
1:35:18
1:42:43
1:44:03
1:46:04
1:46:07
1:46:01
1:46:13
1:49:15
1:51:38
1:55:12
Women: Grey takes number four
Tanni Grey won her fourth London Marathon title in
seven years to add another honour to her many track
titles from three Paralympic Games.
Following her to the line this year was Nicola Jarvis,
a 19-year-old who became the first racer to graduate
from the Mini Wheelchair Marathon to a podium place
in the senior race.
1
2
3
4
5
dnf
Tanni Grey
Nicola Jarvis
Fiona Neale
Mary Rice
Tracy Gill
Rose Hill
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
2:02:01
2:22:54
2:38:40
3:22:04
3:34:59
-
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
18 April 1999
16 April 2000
Men: Heinz Frei drei
Men: Papworth’s surprise
These two pulled away from the pack at the start,
leaving Britons David Holding, Kevin Papworth,
Tushar Patel and Chris Madden, plus Frenchman
Denis Lemeunier, in their wake. They entered The
Mall together and at the line Frei triumphed by just
one second from Jeannot, crossing the line only nine
seconds outside his own course record.
Four-time winner David Holding had been dropped
early and he was left to chase the leaders along with
two youngsters, Tushar Patel and David Weir, both
graduates from the mini-wheelchair race, Weir having
won it seven times. Holding edged ahead to take third
place, though Weir was given the same time.
Heinz Frei successfully defended his London Marathon
title and notched up his third victory. After winning by
eight minutes in 1998, Frei demonstrated his versatility
with a sprint finish that left London first-timer Joel
Jeannot of France in second.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Heinz Frei
Joel Jeannot
David Holding
Denis Lemeunier
Kevin Papworth
Tushar Patel
Chris Madden
Jurgen de Heve
Bogdan Krol
John Fulham
SUI
FRA
GBR
FRA
GBR
GBR
GBR
BEL
POL
GBR
1:35:27
1:35:28
1:45:28
1:45:32
1:48:12
1:48:21
1:50:25
1:50:26
1:50:29
2:00:51
Women: Return of the speedy Swede
Monica Wetterstrom regained the title in 1:57:38,
again beating Tanni Grey. Wetterstrom had been
forced to train on rollers because of snow on the
roads around Stockholm which restricted her outdoor
preparation. Not that it seemed to affect her stamina
for she was a comfortable winner.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Monica Wetterstrom
Tanni Grey
Patrice Dockery
Karen Dark
Mary Rice
Deborah Brennan
Kate Cugley
SWE
GBR
IRL
GBR
IRL
GBR
GBR
1:57:38
2:11:10
2:14:53
2:39:51
2:47:51
2:49:16
3:09:33
Kevin Papworth was the surprise winner when he
sprinted away from South Africa’s Ernst van Dyk in
the final stretch. The South African took the lead with
a mile to go but Papworth, a mountain climber, found
the strength to pull away as they passed Buckingham
Palace. Van Dyk was three seconds back at the finish.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Kevin Papworth
Ernst van Dyk
David Holding
David Weir
Tushar Patel
Bogdan Krol
Chris Madden
John Hanks
Richie Powell
John Vink
GBR
RSA
GBR
GBR
GBR
POL
GBR
GBR
GBR
NED
1:41:50
1:41:53
1:47:11
1:47:11
1:47:15
1:47:16
1:52:01
2:02:21
2:03:27
2:04:39
Women: Piercy picks up historic win
Nineteen-year-old Sarah Piercy made the most of
Tanni Grey-Thompson’s early puncture to become the
first athlete to win a senior London wheelchair race
after previously taking the tape in the mini event.
Piercy crossed the line in a personal best 2:23:30.
1
2
Sarah Piercy
GBR
Tanni Grey-Thompson GBR
2:23:30
2:34:53
Kevin Papworth
(Reuters)
Media Guide 2015 163
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
22 April 2001
14 April 2002
Men: Lemeunier leads them home
Men: Weir the winner
Fluent Frenchman Denis Lemeunier won the men’s
race by two minutes from defending champion Kevin
Papworth after the two led from the start.
David Weir beat Tushar Patel in a sprint finish to take
third while Chris Madden, a master of ultra long
distance racing, was fifth. Bogdan Krol of Poland
retained the veterans’ prize, finishing seventh.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Denis Lemeunier
Kevin Papworth
David Weir
Tushar Patel
Chris Madden
Richie Powell
Bogdan Krol
Edward Grazier
Mark Telford
John Hanks
FRA
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
POL
GBR
GBR
GBR
1:42:37
1:44:54
1:50:55
1:50:56
1:53:23
2:02:31
2:06:47
2:08:01
2:08:08
2:09:52
Women: Tanni records easy success
Tanni Grey-Thompson led from start to finish to claim
her fifth victory in 11 starts. She was carrying a camera
to give the BBC close-up views of the race and the
quadruple Paralympic champion found the weight of
the battery tired her in the closing stages, although the
pictures enhanced the profile of wheelchair sport.
She finished more than 20 minutes ahead of Deborah
Brennan but slower than in previous years because of
a first-half headwind and a slow puncture.
1
2
3
Tanni Grey-Thompson GBR
Deborah Brennan
GBR
Mary Rice
IRL
2:13:55
2:36:50
3:14:37
David Weir became the first male winner of the
London Mini Wheelchair Marathon to triumph at the
full distance when he pulled away from a group of
eight after half way.
Frenchman Pierre Fairbank, the fastest in the field and
favourite, lost his advantage when he had an accident
at a small traffic island. Weir used the opportunity to
test the field and soon opened a gap that grew to
more than a minute and a half. He knocked seven
minutes 16 seconds from his previous best.
Tushar Patel won the sprint for second ahead of
2001 winner Denis Lemeunier and Sydney Marathon
champion Paul Nunnari.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
164 Media Guide 2015
GBR
GBR
FRA
AUS
GBR
GBR
FRA
GBR
FRA
GBR
1:39:44
1:41:17
1:41:17
1:41:17
1:55:57
1:56:49
1:57:48
2:01:39
2:01:41
2:01:45
Women: Tanni takes sixth
Tanni Grey-Thompson won her sixth London Marathon
just nine weeks after giving birth to Carys, her first
child. She was followed home by promising newcomer
Michelle Lewis, the youngest MBE in the country for
60 years, who produced a personal best.
Civil servant Paula Craig also recorded a personal
best. She had run the marathon six times and had a
PB of 2:57, so she was pleased to beat her running
time with 2:48:53. Craig was knocked off her bicycle
in May 2001 while training for a triathlon.
1
2
3
David Weir
(Reuters)
David Weir
Tushar Patel
Denis Lemeunier
Paul Nunnari
Chris Madden
Jason Gill
Pierre Fairbank
John Hanks
Gregory Leray
Richie Powell
Tanni Grey-Thompson GBR
Michelle Lewis
GBR
Paula Craig
GBR
2:22:51
2:37:07
2:48:53
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
13 April 2003
18 April 2004
Men: Course record for Jeannot
Men: Mendoza defies the rain
Jeannot pulled away to win by more than two minutes
while Weir defeated Lemeunier in a sprint as both also
went under the old course record, Weir reducing his
PB by five minutes. A third Frenchman, Charles Tolle,
finished fourth making up for 2002 when he lost a
wheel. Tushar Patel finished a creditable fifth having just
recovered from a wrist injury.
Another London debutant, Frenchman Alain Fuss,
was third, while Tushar Patel, the popular and always
smiling British athlete, suffered a puncture at 21 miles.
Canadian Jeff Adams was fifth, but some 30 minutes
outside his best time in 1:59:07.
Joel Jeannot beat the course record by more than
three minutes to triumph over defending champion
David Weir and 2001 champion Denis Lemeunier just
a week after winning the Paris Marathon where he also
broke the course record.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Joel Jeannot
David Weir
Denis Lemeunier
Charles Tolle
Tushar Patel
Paul Nunnari
Kenny Herriot
David Holding
Kevin Papworth
Ebbe Blichfeldt
FRA
GBR
FRA
FRA
GBR
AUS
GBR
GBR
GBR
DEN
1:32:02
1:34:48
1:34:50
1:41:17
1:42:56
1:43:07
1:45:01
1:46:20
1:46:49
1:52:40
Women: Porcellato pinches the title
Italian Francesca Porcellato defeated six-times
champion Tanni Grey-Thompson after the two had
been together until the troublesome cobbles at the
Tower of London.The Italian opened a gap which she
increased to more than 30 seconds by the finish while
Grey-Thompson was satisfied with her performance –
almost 20 minutes faster than in 2002.
Paula Craig, in third, was the most improved
wheelchair athlete of the day.
1
2
3
4
5
Francesca Porcellato
Tanni Grey-Thompson
Paula Craig
Rachel Potter
Deborah Brennan
ITA
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
2:04:21
2:04:54
2:06:54
2:12:16
2:17:32
Saul Mendoza marked his first appearance in London
with one of the easiest victories in the history of the
race. The Mexican ‘athlete of the 20th century’ added
to his record of more than 200 wheelchair wins as he
beat David Weir by almost six minutes despite very
wet and unfavourable conditions.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Saul Mendoza
David Weir
Alain Fuss
Tushar Patel
Jeff Adams
Jason Richards
Andrew Cheek
Daniel Kukla
Steve Williamson
Geof Allen
MEX
GBR
FRA
GBR
CAN
GBR
GBR
SLV
GBR
GBR
1:36:56
1:42:50
1:45:25
1:51:03
1:59:07
2:00:11
2:03:31
2:05:02
2:18:42
2:21:44
Women: Porcellato retains her crown
Francesca Porcellato retained the title, just a few
seconds slower than in 2003 despite the wet
conditions.
The ever-improving Paula Craig was second, and
“really chuffed” to beat pre-race favourite Gunilla
Wallengren of Sweden who was below par.
1
2
3
4
Francesca Porcellato
Paula Craig
Gunilla Wallengren
Michelle Lewis
ITA
GBR
SWE
GBR
2:04:58
2:07:52
2:14:13
2:52:27
Francesca Porcellato
(Reuters)
Media Guide 2015 165
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
17 April 2005
23 April 2006
Men: Mendoza makes it two from two
Men: Weir wins again
Jeff Adams tried to break the pack with four miles to go,
but he had to be satisfied with the runner-up spot just
three seconds back. David Weir outsprinted his training
partner Tushar Patel and Eric Teurnier for third as all
three recorded the same time.
Weir, a world 100m record holder, took the lead early
on, pulling double champion Saul Mendoza clear of
the bunch as former winners Ernst Van Dyk and Denis
Lemeunier crashed at a roundabout after three miles.
Weir tested Mendoza at seven miles, and by the 15mile mark was some five minutes clear. He crossed
the line two minutes 14 inside the old record and eight
minutes ahead of Mendoza who had arrived in London
only nine hours before the start time.
Saul Mendoza retained his title after bursting out of a
pack of seven in Birdcage Walk with just 800 metres
to go. Just 13 seconds separated the top seven after
one of the most thrilling races in London’s history.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Saul Mendoza
Jeff Adams
David Weir
Tushar Patel
Eric Teurnier
Denis Lemeunier
Alain Fuss
Kenny Herriot
Rawat Tana
Supachai Koysap
MEX
CAN
GBR
GBR
FRA
FRA
FRA
GBR
THA
THA
1:35:51
1:35:54
1:36:03
1:36:03
1:36:03
1:36:04
1:36:04
1:41:58
1:46:10
1:49:41
Women: Porcellato hat-trick
Francesca Porcellato completed the first hat-trick
since Kay MacShane won three London titles between
1984 and1986. The Italian had a battle on her hands,
though, as Britain’s 18-year-old rising star Shelly
Woods stayed in contention until the last 400 metres
when Porcellato used her experience to pull away for
victory.
These two had raced together with crowd-favourite
and six-times winner Tanni Grey-Thompson until 15
miles when Grey-Thompson began to lose touch.
Woods, a double mini-marathon winner, was making
her full marathon debut and did well to finish only three
seconds behind the Italian.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Francesca Porcellato
Shelly Woods
Tanni Grey-Thompson
Gunilla Wallengren
Deborah Brennan
Michelle Lewis
Sarah Piercy
David Weir
(Reuters)
166 Media Guide 2015
ITA
GBR
GBR
SWE
GBR
GBR
GBR
1:57:00
1:57:03
2:02:39
2:16:03
2:18:42
2:32:32
2:48:23
David Weir won his second title, defying the wet
conditions and a stinking cold to break the course
record in 1:29:48 so becoming the first racer to dip
under one hour 30 on the difficult London course.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
David Weir
Saul Mendoza
Alain Fuss
Eric Teurnier
Brian Alldis
Jeff Adams
Jason Richards
Shaho Qadir
Jason Gill
Steve Willliamson
GBR
MEX
FRA
FRA
GBR
CAN
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
1:29:48
1:37:52
1:39:37
1:43:52
1:47:34
1:53:24
1:53:29
2:00:52
2:02:47
2:03:23
Women: Four from four for Porcellato
Francesca Porcellato won the women’s race for the
fourth year in a row despite suffering a puncture five
miles from the finish. The expected battle with Shelly
Woods didn’t materialise, however, as the young
Briton was suffering from a cold and not at her best.
“The weather was not good today but I just love the
London course,” said Porcellato. “I am really chuffed
to win again, especially as I raced on a flat tyre for the
last seven kilometres.”
1
2
3
4
Francesca Porcellato
Shelly Woods
Deborah Brennan
Sarah Piercy
ITA
GBR
GBR
GBR
1:59:57
2:04:37
2:21:02
2:39:10
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
22 April 2007
13 April 2008
Men: Weir wins number three
Men: Weir sprints to three-year
hat-trick
For the first time since 2002, Britain produced both
winners as David Weir retained his men’s title and
Shelly Woods won the women’s.
Weir defeated Paralympic champion Kurt Fearnley
of Australia by just one second to chalk up his third
London victory. The pair went through half way in
43:10 more than 1:27 ahead of their rivals, and as
they reached Big Ben Weir turned to Fearnley, shook
his hand and said, “Well done, great race.” Then both
athletes slowed before turning into The Mall. Weir
unleashed his phenomenal sprint to cross the line in
1:30:49, the second fastest time on the course.
Fearnley was disappointed to suffer his first defeat
in eight marathons since October 2006 but he paid
respect to his conqueror. Saul Mendoza won a
desperate sprint finish with Ernst van Dyk for the
bronze medal as both athletes clocked the same time.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
David Weir
Kurt Fearnley
Saul Mendoza
Ernst Van Dyk
Choke Yasuoka
Brian Alldis
Mark Telford
Andrew Cheek
Paul Rea
Wayne Phillips
GBR
AUS
MEX
RSA
JPN
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
CAN
1:30:49
1:30:50
1:33:46
1:33:46
1:33:50
1:44:31
1:54:18
1:58:14
2:05:07
2:15:49
Women: Woods wins with promise
Twenty-year-old Shelly Woods lived up to the potential
she had shown as a teenager to beat the world record
holder and four-time champion Francesca Porcellato
of Italy in 1:50:40, the second fastest ever on the
course.
Woods, who led from the start, was just 1:31
outside the course record set by Sweden’s Monica
Wetterstrom in 1997 while Porcellato was more than
nine minutes behind. The expected challenge from
Deborah Johnson disappeared when she fell out of
her chair early in the race and suffered facial injuries.
1
2
3
dnf
Shelly Woods
Francesca Porcellato
Sarah Piercy
Deborah Johnson
GBR
ITA
GBR
GBR
1:50:40
1:59:46
2:41:18
-
David Weir became the first male athlete to win three
titles in succession after fighting off six competitors
to win the fourth London Marathon of his career.
The Briton unleashed his explosive finish in The Mall,
grabbing a 10-metre lead which he increased to the
line to win by a full four seconds.
Kurt Fearnley finished second as he did in 2007 with
Denis Lemeunier third only a second behind. Krige
Schabort and Heinz Frei followed at one-second
intervals but Ernst van Dyk and Joshua George
crashed spectacularly into the advertising hoardings
just short of the finish. They recovered to take sixth
and seventh respectively while Britain’s rising star
Brian Alldis was next in 1:37:23, a personal best.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
David Weir
Kurt Fearnley
Denis Lemeunier
Krige Schabort
Heinz Frei
Ernst Van Dyk
Joshua George
Brian Alldis
Rafael Jimenez
Choke Yasuoka
GBR
AUS
FRA
RSA
SUI
RSA
USA
GBR
ESP
JPN
1:33:56
1:34:00
1:34:01
1:34:02
1:34:03
1:34:25
1:34:46
1:37:23
1:37:26
1:39:50
Women: Graf breaks course record
Sandra Graf of Switzerland took the women’s race
apart on her London debut and significantly enhanced
her growing reputation by breaking the course record
in 1:48:04, more than a minute quicker than the time
set by the respected Swede Monica Wetterstrom in
1997.
Graf made her intentions clear after 15km with a break
that she extended to the end. She finished almost
four minutes clear of Amanda McGrory with British
title holder Shelly Woods third, more than 13 minutes
behind. Woods was hampered by a puncture suffered
in the early stages and finished in her slowest time
since 2006.
1
2
3
4
5
Sandra Graf
Amanda McGrory
Shelly Woods
Francesca Porcellato
Sarah Piercy
SUI
USA
GBR
ITA
GBR
1:48:04
1:51:58
2:01:59
2:04:48
2:35:54
Media Guide 2015 167
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
26 April 2009
25 April 2010
Men: Fearnley takes Weir’s record
Men: Canada’s Cassidy gets first win
World record holder Heinz Frei dropped back from the
leading group of four at 20 miles leaving Weir, Fearnley
and Ernst van Dyk to challenge for the number one
spot. Van Dyk led the trio round the finishing corner
with 600m to go, but Fearnley and Weir overtook on
the straight. Fearnley crossed the line just ahead in
1:28:56 with Weir one second behind.
Cassidy chose slower tyres than Weir, who used
a new racing chair built for endurance, and the
Canadian’s tactical, come-from-behind performance
was enough to secure the $15,000 prize. At Tower
Bridge Cassidy trailed Weir by a minute but it all
changed as they reached the Embankment. Weir’s
front tyre had punctured at 15 miles, so when he got
another blow-out on his back wheel at 20 miles, he
knew the game was up.
Paralympic gold medallist Kurt Fearnley won his first
London title and took David Weir’s course record,
beating the best field the wheelchair race has seen in
many years.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Kurt Fearnley
David Weir
Ernst van Dyk
Masazumi Soejima
Heinz Frei
Denis Lemeunier
Saul Mendoza
Rafael Jimenez
Jose Antonio Iniguez
Brian Alldis
AUS
GBR
RSA
JPN
SUI
FRA
MEX
ESP
USA
GBR
1:28:56
1:28:57
1:28:58
1:30:13
1:30:15
1:32:40
1:37:12
1:37:38
1:39:17
1:40:15
Women: McGrory races to victory
American Amanda McGrory held off defending
champion Sandra Graf to take the title by one
second, as only seven seconds separated the top
six women. The 22-year-old McGrory had been
second in 2008 and fourth at the previous weekend’s
Boston Marathon.
The experienced Graf was more than content with
second while debutante Diane Roy from Canada was
third ahead of Switzerland’s Paralympic gold medallist
Edith Hunkeler. Shelly Woods was still among the
leaders as they entered the finishing straight but when
McGrory broke free she had to settle for sixth.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Amanda McGrory
Sandra Graf
Diane Roy
Edith Hunkeler
Christie Dawes
Shelly Woods
Margo Whiteford
Jacqui Kapinowski
Nikki Emerson
USA
SUI
CAN
SUI
AUS
GBR
GBR
USA
GBR
1:50:39
1:50:40
1:50:41
1:50:42
1:50:43
1:50:46
2:46:10
2:57:49
3:17:37
Canadian newcomer Josh Cassidy celebrated his first
marathon title, handling the drizzly conditions well to
beat reigning champion Kurt Fearnley and Briton David
Weir who was denied a fifth title by two punctures.
Cassidy soon passed the ailing Briton and went on
to claim victory in 1:35:21. Switzerland’s Marcel Hug
came through for second in his first London Marathon
while Weir battled on for a respectable third.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1:35:21
1:36:07
1:37:01
1:40:59
1:41:37
1:44:11
1:44:35
1:44:36
1:46:57
1:48:43
Women: Tsuchida wins two in a week
London debutante Wakako Tsuchida took her second
major marathon title in the space of a week as she
became the first Japanese winner of the women’s
wheelchair race, beating course record holder Sandra
Graf and reigning champion Amanda McGrory in a
close finish.
As the three leaders entered The Mall it was McGrory
who looked likely to retain her title, but Tsuchida’s
class finish was simply too good. She crossed the line
in 1:52:33, one second ahead of Graf and three in
front of McGrory. She had won her fourth Boston title
in a row just six days before, but was thought to be
too inexperienced for the tactical London course.
Shelly Woods suffered the same fate as her compatriot
David Weir when she punctured late in the race and
could only finish sixth.
1
2
3
4
5
6
dnf
168 Media Guide 2015
Josh Cassidy
CAN
Marcel Hug
SUI
David Weir
GBR
Kota Hokinoue
JPN
Kurt Fearnley
AUS
Ernst van Dyk
RSA
Masazumi Soejima
JPN
Roger Puigbo VerdaguerESP
Joshua George
USA
Mark Telford
GBR
Wakako Tsuchida
Sandra Graf
Amanda McGrory
Nikki Emmerson
Sarah Piercy
Shelly Woods
Diane Roy
JPN
SUI
USA
GBR
GBR
GBR
CAN
1:52:33
1:52:34
1:52:36
2:17:46
2:33:50
2:45:40
-
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
17 April 2011
Women: McGrory takes course record
Men: Weir wins record fifth
David Weir celebrated a record fifth London Marathon
victory exactly 500 days before the opening ceremony
of the London Paralympic Games as he beat Swiss
master Heinz Frei with a sprint finish.
“This was probably one of the toughest marathons I
have ever done,” said Weir who won in 1:30:05, just
two seconds ahead of the 53-year-old world record
holder. “I kept surging but Heinz kept up with me, so I
knew he was going to be with me all the way. It means
a lot to beat such a legend.”
Following two years of illness and technical problems,
Weir had been feeling in good shape since his New
York victory the previous November. He changed his
chair before that race and chose the same one for
London’s perfect conditions.
Six leaders raced together, with 2010 champion Josh
Cassidy of Canada, Spain’s Roger Puigbo Verdaguer
and Pole Tomasz Hamerlak alongside Weir and Frei.
At 20 miles, Weir looked strongest and as the finish
approached Frei offered his support to the Briton.
“Heinz turned to me and said, ‘I’m going to help you,’”
said Weir. “That just shows how much respect we
have for each other.”
The two broke clear as they came into the finishing
straight and Weir edged ahead at the line.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
David Weir
GBR
Heinz Frei
SUI
Tomasz Hamerlak
POL
Roger Puigbo VerdaguerESP
Josh Cassidy
CAN
Hanaoka Nobukazu
JPN
Saul Mendoza
MEX
Choke Yasuoka
JPN
Denis Lemeunier
FRA
Jordi Jimenez
ESP
1:30:05
1:30:07
1:30:54
1:30:55
1:30:56
1:30:57
1:31:01
1:31:01
1:31:01
1:34:41
Amanda McGrory broke the course record to take her
second women’s title ahead of Shelly Woods.
The American, who had won the Paris Marathon a
week before, had predicted that records could be
broken if the weather was right, and the women
enjoyed perfect conditions. The 24-year-old crossed
the line nearly two minutes faster than Sandra Graf’s
2008 record as the first four finished inside the old
mark.
McGrory denied Britain a wheelchair one-two as she
outsprinted Woods, who was given the same time.
Since winning in 2007 Woods had suffered a series
of punctures, but she felt in great shape following a
recent change of coaches.
“I was chilled out in the race and was feeling my way
round,” said Woods. “There’s been a dark cloud over
this marathon for the last few years for me, so it’s
great to be among the world’s best women.”
Graf finished third in 1:46:33, with debutante Tatyana
McFadden clocking 1:46:34 in fourth.
“This is an awesome marathon,” said the champion.
“The record was broken today and 1:43 is possible
here in the future.”
1
2
3
4
5
6
Amanda McGrory
Shelly Woods
Sandra Graf
Tatyana McFadden
Diane Roy
Sarah Piercy
USA
GBR
SUI
USA
CAN
GBR
1:46:31
1:46:31
1:46:33
1:46:34
1:57:03
2:25:13
Amanda McGrory & Shelly Woods
(Reuters)
Media Guide 2015 169
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
17 April 2012
Women: Woods regains her crown
Men: Weir equals Tanni’s record
An emotional David Weir won one of the finest
wheelchair marathons ever seen on the course to
take his sixth title and match the London record of
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson. The Surrey man
edged out Switzerland’s Marcel Hug after a sprint
finish involving seven men separated on the line by
just seven seconds.
He broke the tape in 1:32:26. “This is really special,
even better than the first one,” said Weir. “Tanni
inspired me in this sport. I saw her compete in Sydney
as a youngster and it is a privilege to be up there with
her now.”
Most of the best racers in the world were present on
the start line, and a pack of 11 formed early on. This
was soon reduced to eight, including former winner
Josh Cassidy of Canada, veteran Swiss Heinz Frei,
and Hug, the 2011 Berlin champion.
There were seven left as they turned off Birdcage Walk
into The Mall with Japan’s Masazumi Soejima and
USA’s Krige Schabort shaping up for a fast final 150
metres. But Weir would not be beaten and he rode the
home crowd support to victory, punching the air as he
crossed the line.
Hug was a second in front of Schabort, the 28-yearold Swiss matching his best London place. Schabort
was a surprise in third, showing that even at 49 he can
be a threat. His last appearance in London had been
in 2008 when he was fourth.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
David Weir
Marcel Hug
Krige Schabort
Masazumi Soejima
Heinz Frei
Tomasz Hamerlak
Masayuki Higuchi
Hiroyuki Yamamoto
Josh Cassidy
Kota Hokinoue
Shelly Woods
(Reuters)
170 Media Guide 2015
GBR
SUI
USA
JPN
SUI
POL
JPN
JPN
CAN
JPN
1:32:26
1:32:27
1:32:28
1:32:29
1:32:30
1:32:31
1:32:33
1:33:00
1:33:54
1:36:00
Shelly Woods dominated the women’s race to win
her second women’s wheelchair title and complete a
memorable British double. In contrast to Weir’s sprint
victory, Woods raced ahead of her high-class rivals to
regain the crown she last won in 2007. She crossed
the line in 1:49:10, almost four minutes ahead of
Japan’s Wakako Tsuchida.
The 25-year-old had been second to Amanda
McGrory in 2011, and again in New York the previous
November, but by half way in 2012 even Baroness
Grey-Thompson was full of praise. “This is the best
race Shelly has ever done,” she said in her BBC
commentary. “It was so well executed. She’s in the
best condition of her life.”
Woods’ victory was even sweeter given the daylight
she opened on a world-class field. Tsuchida clocked
1:53:04 in second with Canadian Diane Roy third. “I
tried not to look back, stay strong and keep a good
rhythm,” said Woods. “I didn’t know until 25 miles how
far ahead I was.”
Tsuchida paid tribute to the British winner. “It was a
tough race,” she said. “After Boston I was feeling very
confident, but Shelly was just too strong for me.”
The three top US athletes – McGrory, Tatyana
McFadden and Shirley Reilly – were never in
contention. McFadden dropped back early on to
finish eighth, while Boston winner and London
debutante Reilly was fourth and McGrory sixth.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Shelly Woods
GBR
Wakako Tsuchida
JPN
Diane Roy
CAN
Shirley Reilly
USA
Christina Schwab-Ripp USA
Amanda McGrory
USA
Sandra Graf
SUI
Tatyana McFadden
USA
Meggan Dawson Farrell GBR
Sarah Piercy
GBR
1:49:10
1:53:04
1:53:05
1:54:39
1:54:41
1:54:41
1:54:43
2:05:38
2:22:55
2:24:36
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
21 April 2013
Women: McFadden’s birthday win
Men: Fearnley steals the show
Australian Kurt Fearnley fought off tough competition
to win the men’s wheelchair title in 1:31:29 after an
eight-man sprint down The Mall. The London 2012
Paralympic bronze medallist escaped from the leading
pack to take the line just ahead of Swiss racer Marcel
Hug and South African Ernst van Dyk, leaving Britain’s
six-time champion David Weir back in fifth place.
“Anyone could have won it today,” said Fearnley who
broke the course record when he won in 2009. “I’m
just grateful it was me.”
Conditions were perfect for the top class field
containing Paralympic medallists, past winners and
numerous worldwide marathon champions. Eight
stayed together from half way, including Fearnley,
Paralympic silver medallist Hug, nine-times Boston
winner van Dyk, and three-times London winner Heinz
Frei.
Most eyes were on Weir, however, the Briton wearing
the ‘Weirwolf’ helmet presented to him by the London
Marathon that January. He seemed poised to take
his seventh London victory and become the most
successful London Marathon wheelchair athlete ever.
All eight turned into The Mall together and Weir began
to unleash his sprint only to find the turbo chargers
misfiring for once. As he slipped back, Fearnley and
Hug pulled away. The Australian broke the tape but
Hug was given the same time, finishing second for the
second year in a row.
Van Dyk clocked 1:31:30 for third, making the London
podium for only the second time in eight appearances.
Poland’s Tomasz Hamerlak was fourth, while Weir
accepted defeat with honour. “I can’t win all the time
and I’ll bounce back,” he said.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Kurt Fearnley
Marcel Hug
Ernst van Dyk
Tomasz Hamerlak
David Weir
Kota Hokinoue
Heinz Frei
Hiroyuki Yamamoto
Richard Colman
Denis Lemeunier
AUS
SUI
RSA
POL
GBR
JPN
SUI
JPN
AUS
FRA
1:31:29
1:31:29
1:31:30
1:31:30
1:31:31
1:31:31
1:31:32
1:31:33
1:35:44
1:36:34
An elated Tatyana McFadden celebrated her 24th
birthday with her first London win, beating her
teammate and training partner Amanda McGrory, who
lost her title and course record in the process. Swiss
athlete Sandra Graf was third.
It was the University of Illinois student’s second
marathon victory in six days after she had won the
Boston Marathon the previous Monday. “It was really
tough today so I knew it would come down to a sprint
finish,” she said. “But this was all for Boston. The
thought of doing it for everyone who was involved [in
the bombings] on Monday carried all of us through the
race.”
It was third time lucky for McFadden after she was
fourth in 2011 and eighth in 2012, although she won
four gold medals on the track at the London 2012
Paralympic Games. “Coming back to London was that
little bit more special after the Paralympics,” she said.
McFadden was challenged the whole way by McGrory,
the 2009 and 2011 champion. She also dipped inside
her old record of 1:46:31, clocking 1:46:04.
Britain’s defending champion and Olympic silver
medallist Shelly Woods was dropped by the leading
pack before The Mall and came home fifth in 1:50:44.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Tatyana McFadden
USA
Amanda McGrory
USA
Sandra Graf
SUI
Christie Dawes
AUS
Shelly Woods
GBR
Shirley Reilly
USA
Susannah Scaroni
USA
Madison de Rozario
AUS
Diane Roy
CAN
Meggan Dawson Farrell GBR
1:46:02
1:46:04
1:48:01
1:50:43
1:50:44
1:50:46
1:50:47
1:53:44
2:03:59
2:18:23
These races were also the T53/54 events in the
IPC Athletics Marathon World Cup.
Boston London Wheelchair Challenge
Fearnley and McFadden both enjoyed a $10,000
bonus for winning the first Boston London Wheelchair
Challenge (see page 104). Fearnley had been fifth
in Boston six days earlier and his London win was
enough to beat Yamamoto and van Dyk by three
points. McFadden was an overwhelming winner of the
women’s having triumphed in both races. McGrory
and Graf shared second after filling the other podium
places in both races.
Men
1
=2 =2 Women
1
=2
=2
Kurt Fearnley (AUS)
Hiroyuki Yamamoto (JPN)
Ernst van Dyk (RSA)
28 pts
25 pts
25 pts
$10,000
$3,750
$3,750
Tatyana McFadden (USA)
Amanda McGrory (USA)
Sandra Graf (SUI)
50 pts
25 pts
25 pts
$10,000
$3,750
$3,750
Media Guide 2015 171
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
13 April 2014
Men: Hug denies Weir to clinch first
win
Women: Record falls to dominant
McFadden
The race worked out perfectly for the 28-year-old, who
had triumphed at the Paris Marathon a week before,
and won five IPC world titles the previous summer,
but was only fourth fastest on paper. He denied Weir
a record seventh London title with one of the finest
sprint finishes seen by the London crowds, while
South Africa’s Ernst van Dyk was a fraction back in
third, just ahead of Japan’s Kota Hokinoue.
After a phenomenal 2013, in which the 24-year-old
won four major marathons in a row and six gold
medals at the IPC World Championships in Lyon,
McFadden returned to the British capital as one of the
greatest athletes of our time.
After three runner-up spots, Swiss world champion
Marcel Hug finally claimed the London Marathon
men’s wheelchair crown when he beat Britain’s
Paralympic champion David Weir by a second in
1:32:41.
These four had broken away from the rest of the field
by half way and turned into The Mall together, Hug’s
silver bullet-shaped helmet reflecting the glorious
London sunshine. It was no surprise that Hug and
Weir led them out, and for a moment it looked like
Weir might fulfil his quest for a magnificent seventh.
But Hug had been in unbeatable form over the
previous year and was just too strong. “Conditions
were perfect for racing,” said the Swiss. “I wanted to
play an active part in the race, stay with the leaders
and attack as many times as I could. I could see
the others were on the limit, so it meant I was doing
well. I’m very pleased to win and beat David. I love to
compete against him – he makes it a challenge.”
By contrast, Weir had limited his competitive
appearances over the previous year and came to
the race with a chest infection which caused him to
withdraw from the Boston Marathon a week later.
“I’ve had a little virus last week, but nothing major,” he
explained. “Marcel tried to test me a couple of times,
but I knew with the four of us in the pack, it was going
to be between me and him. On another day it might
have been me, but he just got me this time.”
At 41, van Dyk made the podium again after finishing
third in 2013. Hokinoue finished more than two
minutes ahead of Frenchman Pierre Fairbank who led
a second pack of six across the line in 1:35:05.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Marcel Hug
SUI
David Weir
GBR
Ernst van Dyk
RSA
Kota Hokinoue
JPN
Pierre Fairbank
FRA
Jordi Jimenez
ESP
Heinz Frei
SUI
Richard Colman
AUS
Roger Puigbo VerdaguerESP
Joshua George
USA
172 Media Guide 2015
1:32:41
1:32:42
1:32:42
1:32:43
1:35:05
1:35:05
1:35:05
1:35:05
1:35:05
1:35:08
Tatyana McFadden retained her women’s wheelchair
title in style, breaking her own one-year-old course
record as she crossed the line in 1:45:12 to win by
more than a minute and a half from world champion
Manuela Schär.
She did not disappoint, for the American, who won
a Winter Paralympic silver at sit-skiing the previous
month, looked in the shape of her life as she cruised
away from the field. Leading the pack from half way,
she fought off Schär and Japan’s Wakako Tsuchida to
reach The Mall alone.
“I did a lot of work in the team today,” said McFadden.
“It was a tough race, but I stayed calm and relaxed
and I tried to use the downhills as much as I could.
“The transition was hard from skiing to road racing,
but conditions were great today. The weather was
gorgeous and I loved it. I love London and I’ll be back
because I just love the support we get.”
London debutante Schär took second in 1:46:44, one
second ahead of 2010 champion Tsuchida. “It was a
hard race and an amazing crowd,” said the Swiss star.
“I just wanted to stay with the leaders and it worked
out well.”
Britain’s Shelly Woods was sixth behind American
Susannah Scaroni and Australian Christie Dawes.
The Paralympic silver medallist clocked 1:54:52 while
fellow Briton Jade Jones enjoyed her first London
Marathon as a senior, recording a respectable 1:59:59
in ninth just 12 months after breaking the course
record in the Mini London Marathon.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Tatyana McFadden
Manuela Schär
Wakako Tsuchida
Susannah Scaroni
Christie Dawes
Shelly Woods
Diane Roy
Shirley Reilly
Jade Jones
Sarah Piercy
USA
SUI
JPN
USA
AUS
GBR
CAN
USA
GBR
GBR
1:45:12
1:46:44
1:46:45
1:51:01
1:51:01
1:54:52
1:54:54
1:59:57
1:59:59
2:27:08
These wheelchair races were also the T53/54 events in the
IPC Athletics Marathon World Cup.
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Boston London Wheelchair Challenge
Men: Van Dyk delivers over Hug
Eight days after placing third in London, Ernst van
Dyk went on to clinch the second Boston London
Wheelchair Challenge by one point from Marcel Hug.
The South African led from start to finish to win his
10th Boston Marathon title in 1:20:36, worth 20 points
for a 30-point total.
Women: McFadden meets challenge
Tatyana McFadden celebrated her 25th birthday
with yet another dominant win in Boston and added
$10,000 to her rapidly filling prize pot by becoming
the Boston London Challenge victor for the second
year. McFadden held back at first, but took the lead
in the second half to win by more than two minutes in
1:35:06, a personal best by more than seven minutes.
London champion Hug was cast adrift early and could
only finish fourth in Boston, adding nine to his total,
one short of the 41-year-old. Kota Hokinoue moved
into third on the leaderboard after beating Masazumi
Soejima to the runner-up spot with a sprint finish.
London third-placer Wakako Tsuchida pinched the
$5,000 second prize by finishing runner-up in Boston,
giving her 25 points in total, one more than Manuela
Schär. The Swiss world champion was second in
London but could only place fourth in Boston after
making a fast start.
1. Ernst van Dyk (RSA)
3rd London
1st Boston
30 pts
10 pts
20 pts
$10,000
1. Tatyana McFadden (USA)
1st London
1st Boston
40 pts
20 pts
20 pts
$10,000
2. Marcel Hug (SUI)
1st London
4th Boston
29 pts
20 pts
9 pts
$5,000
2. Wakako Tsuchida (JPN)
3rd London
2nd Boston
25 pts
10 pts
15 pts
$5,000
3. Kota Hokinoue (JPN)
4th London
2nd Boston
24 pts
9 pts
15 pts
$2,500
3. Manuela Schär (SUI)
2nd London
4th Boston
24 pts
15 pts
9 pts
$2,500
Marcel Hug
Media Guide 2015 173
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
IPC Athletics Marathon World Cup Races 2013-2014
21 April 2013
13 April 2014
Chentouf shines as records tumble
Chentouf wins again as Rodriguez
breaks record
Marathon debutant El Amin Chentouf emerged as the
star of the inaugural IPC Athletics Marathon World
Cup. The Moroccan not only beat the London 2012
Paralympic silver and bronze medallists to win the
race for visually impaired athletes but broke the world
record for his T12 class in the process.
The man from Rabat crossed the line in 2:24:00,
breaking by 50 seconds the record set by Spaniard
Alberto Suarez Laso at the London Paralympics just
eight months earlier. The Paralympic 5000m champion
won by more than four minutes from Abderrahim
Zhiou of Tunisia, the London 2012 marathon bronze
medallist, with Gabriel Macchi of Portugal third.
Spain’s Maria Paredes Rodriguez (a T12 athlete) won
the women’s race for visually impaired runners in
3:17:10 with USA’s three-times Boston winner Ivonne
Mosquera-Schmidt (T11) second in 3:38:16 – official
world records for both, although well short of the
personal bests they have run on non-licensed courses.
Britain’s Richard Whitehead was the solo winner of
the T42/43 race for athletes with limb impairments in
3:15:53 (also an official world record for T42) while
Alessandro di Lello of Italy beat Spain’s Jose Antonio
Castilla to win the T44-46 race. Ozivam Bonfim was
third ahead of his Brazilian teammate and Paralympic
champion Tito Sena.
T11-13 Men
1.
El Amin Chentouf
2.
Abderrahim Zhiou
3.
Gabriel Macchi
4.
Manuel Garnica
5.
Elkin Alonso Serna Morena
El Amin Chentouf retained his title in the T11-13
visually impaired men’s race, storming home in
2:25:07, just one minute and seven seconds outside
the world record he set here in 2013. The Moroccan
was again well ahead of Tunisian Abderrahim Zhiou
with Portugal’s Gabriel Macchi third for the second
year in a row.
Maria Paredes Rodriguez went one better, smashing
the world record she set a year ago to keep the
women’s title. The Spaniard crossed the line in
2:59:22, 10 minutes ahead of world number one
T12 runner Misato Michishita. Michishita’s Japanese
teammate Mihoko Nishijimi was third.
Britain’s Richard Whitehead took the T42/43 title for
the second time, though considerably slower than the
world record he set here in 2013.
Brazil’s T46 2012 Paralympic champion, Tito Sena,
once again enjoyed success on the streets of London
as he won the T44-46 men’s race in 2:35:45. Sena
improved from fourth in 2013 to beat the inaugural
champion, Alessandro di Lello of Italy, with compatriot
Ezequiel da Costa third.
Santiago Sanz came out on top in the first ever
T51/52 wheelchair event, the Spaniard edging out
American Raymond Martin and Britain’s Rob Smith.
MAR
TUN
POR
ESP
COL
2:24:00
2:28:12
2:37:23
2:39:55
2:41:34
T11-13 Women
1.
Maria Paredes Rodriguez ESP
2.
Ivonne Mosquera-Schmidt USA
T11-13 Men
1.
El Amin Chentouf
2.
Abderrahim Zhiou
3.
Gabriel Macchi
4.
Igor Khavlin
5.
Joaquim Machado
MAR
TUN
POR
RUS
POR
2:25:07
2:27:44
2:40:24
2:40:57
2:41:53
3:17:10
3:38:16
T42/43 Men
1.
Richard Whitehead
GBR
3:15:53
T44-46 Men
1.
Alessandro di Lello
2.
Jose Antonio Castilla
3.
Ozivam Bonfim
4.
Tito Sena
5.
Johann Lendner
T11-13 Women
1.
Maria Paredes Rodriguez
2.
Misato Michishita
3.
Mihoko Nishijimi
4.
Yumiko Fujii
5.
Yumiko Konno
ESP
JPN
JPN
JPN
JPN
2:59:22
3:09:40
3:20:18
3:26:10
3:36:04
ITA
ESP
BRA
BRA
GER
2:32:06
2:38:06
2:39:23
2:42:56
2:44:27
T42/43 Men
1.
Richard Whitehead
GBR
3:42:04
T44-46 Men
1.
Tito Sena
2.
Alessandro di Lello
3.
Ezequiel Marcelo da Costa
4.
Pedro Meza
BRA
ITA
BRA
MEX
2:35:45
2:41:05
2:47:17
2:49:16
T51/52 Men
1.
Santiago Sanz
2.
Raymond Martin
3.
Rob Smith
ESP
USA
GBR
1:58:16
2:00:35
2:09:33
174 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
10 STATISTICS & RECORDS
LONDON MARATHON STATISTICS
Champions & Course Records
Champions
YearMen
1981
Dick Beardsley
USA
2:11:48
Inge Simonsen NOR 2:11:48
1982
Hugh Jones
GBR 2:09:24
1983
Mike Gratton
GBR 2:09:43
1984
Charlie Spedding
GBR 2:09:57
1985
Steve Jones
GBR 2:08:16
1986
Toshihiko Seko
JPN
2:10:02
1987
Hiromi Taniguchi
JPN
2:09:50
1988
Henrik Jorgensen
DEN 2:10:20
1989
Douglas Wakiihuri
KEN
2:09:03
1990
Allister Hutton
GBR 2:10:10
1991
Yakov Tolstikov
URS 2:09:17
1992
Antonio Pinto
POR 2:10:02
1993
Eamonn Martin
GBR 2:10:50
1994
Dionicio Ceron
MEX 2:08:53
1995
Dionicio Ceron MEX 2:08:30
1996 Dionicio Ceron
MEX 2:10:00
1997 Antonio Pinto POR 2:07:55
1998
Abel Anton
ESP
2:07:57
1999
Abdelkader El Mouaziz MAR 2:07:57
2000
Antonio Pinto
POR 2:06:36
2001
Abdelkader El Mouaziz MAR 2:07:11
2002
Khalid Khannouchi
USA
2:05:38
2003
Gezahegne Abera
ETH
2:07:56
2004
Evans Rutto
KEN
2:06:18
2005
Martin Lel
KEN
2:07:26
2006
Felix Limo
KEN
2:06:39
2007
Martin Lel
KEN
2:07:41
2008
Martin Lel
KEN
2:05:15
2009
Sammy Wanjiru
KEN
2:05:10
2010
Tsegaye Kebede
ETH
2:05:19
2011
Emmanuel Mutai
KEN
2:04:40
2012
Wilson Kipsang
KEN
2:04:44
2013
Tsegaye Kebede
ETH
2:06:04
2014
Wilson Kipsang
KEN
2:04:29
Women
Joyce Smith GBR
2:29:57
Joyce Smith Grete Waitz
Ingrid Kristiansen
Ingrid Kristiansen
Grete Waitz
Ingrid Kristiansen
Ingrid Kristiansen
Veronique Marot
Wanda Panfil
Rosa Mota
Katrin Dorre
Katrin Dorre Katrin Dorre
Malgorzata Sobanska
Liz McColgan Joyce Chepchumba Catherina McKiernan
Joyce Chepchumba
Tegla Loroupe
Derartu Tulu
Paula Radcliffe
Paula Radcliffe
Margaret Okayo
Paula Radcliffe
Deena Kastor
Zhou Chunxiu
Irina Mikitenko
Irina Mikitenko
Liliya Shobukhova*
Mary Keitany
Mary Keitany
Priscah Jeptoo
Edna Kiplagat
GBR
NOR
NOR
NOR
NOR
NOR
NOR
GBR
POL
POR
GER
GER
GER
POL GBR KEN
IRL
KEN
KEN
ETH
GBR
GBR
KEN
GBR
USA
CHN
GER
GER
RUS
KEN
KEN
KEN
KEN
2:29:43
2:25:29
2:24:26
2:21:06
2:24:54
2:22:48
2:25:41
2:25:56
2:26:31
2:26:14
2:29:39
2:27:09
2:32:34
2:27:43
2:27:54
2:26:51
2:26:26
2:23:22
2:24:33
2:23:57
2:18:56
2:15:25
2:22:35
2:17:42
2:19:36
2:20:38
2:24:14
2:22:11
2:22:00
2:19:19
2:18:37
2:20:15
2:20:21
* Liliya Shobukhova (RUS) was banned from competition for a doping violation, announced in April last year, and her case is
currently under investigation awaiting a hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). If the case is confirmed, her results
from 2010 and 2011 will be annulled.
Course Records
Men
Women
Women
2014
2003
2005
Wilson Kipsang
Paula Radcliffe
Paula Radcliffe
KEN
GBR
GBR
2:04:29
2:15:25 (mixed race)
2:17:42 (women only)
Media Guide 2015 175
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Margins of Victory
Men
Year
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996 1997
1998 1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Winner
Dick Beardsley/Inge Simonsen Hugh Jones
Mike Gratton
Charlie Spedding
Steve Jones
Toshihiko Seko
Hiromi Tanighuchi
Henrik Jorgensen
Douglas Wakiihuri
Allister Hutton
Yakov Tolstikov
Antonio Pinto
Eamonn Martin
Dionicio Ceron
Dionicio Ceron
Dionicio Ceron Antonio Pinto
Abel Anton
Abdelkader El Mouaziz
Antonio Pinto
Abdelkader El Mouaziz
Khalid Khannouchi
Gezahegne Abera
Evans Rutto
Martin Lel
Felix Limo
Martin Lel
Martin Lel
Sammy Wanjiru
Tsegaye Kebede
Emmanuel Mutai
Wilson Kipsang
Tsegaye Kebede
Wilson Kipsang
176 Media Guide 2015
Winning Margin (min:sec)Runner-up
1 min 5 secs
Trevor Wright (3rd)
2:57
Oyvind Dahl
0:29
Gerry Helme
1:44
Kevin Forster
0:17
Charlie Spedding
1:42
Hugh Jones
0:19
Nechadi El Mostafa
0:32
Kevin Forster
0:03
Steve Moneghetti
0:30
Salvatore Bettiol
1:04
Manuel Matias
0:05
Jan Huruk
0:03
Isidro Rico
0:24
Abebe Mekonnen
0:03
Steve Moneghetti
0:26 Vincent Rousseau
0:02
Stefano Baldini
0:10
Abdelkader El Mouaziz
1:03
Antonio Pinto
0:57
Abdelkader El Mouaziz
1:04
Paul Tergat
0:10
Paul Tergat
0:00
Stefano Baldini
0:30
Sammy Korir
0:23
Jaouad Gharib
0:02
Martin Lel
0:03
Abderrahim Goumri
0:09
Sammy Wanjiru
0:10
Tsegaye Kebede
1:04
Emmanuel Mutai
1:05
Martin Lel
2:06
Martin Lel
0:29
Emmanuel Mutai
0:26
Stanley Biwott
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Women
Year
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996 1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Winner
Joyce Smith
Joyce Smith
Grete Waitz
Ingrid Kristiansen
Ingrid Kristiansen
Grete Waitz
Ingrid Kristiansen
Ingrid Kristiansen
Veronique Marot
Wanda Panfil
Rosa Mota
Katrin Dorre
Katrin Dorre
Katrin Dorre
Malgorzata Sobanska
Liz McColgan
Joyce Chepchumba
Catherina McKiernan
Joyce Chepchumba
Tegla Loroupe
Derartu Tulu
Paula Radcliffe
Paula Radcliffe
Margaret Okayo
Paula Radcliffe
Deena Kastor
Zhou Chunxiu
Irina Mikitenko
Irina Mikitenko
Liliya Shobukhova *
Mary Keitany
Mary Keitany
Priscah Jeptoo
Edna Kiplagat
Winning Margin (min:sec)Runner-up
9:00
Gillian Drake
6:32
Lorraine Moller
2:51
Mary O’Connor
5:40
Priscilla Welch
7:00
Sarah Rowell
5:58
Mary O’Connor
4:03
Priscilla Welch
4:57
Ann Ford
1:09
Wanda Panfil
1:30
Francie Larrieu-Smith
1:21
Francie Larrieu-Smith
0:20
Renata Kokowska
0:18
Lisa Ondieki
0:43
Lisa Ondieki
0:10
Manuela Machado
2:55 Joyce Chepchumba
0:01 Liz McColgan
0:28
Liz McColgan
0:44
Adriana Fernandez
0:13
Lidia Simon
0:07
Svetlana Zakharova
3:35
Svetlana Zakharova
4:31
Catherine Ndereba
3:27
Lyudmila Petrova
5:08
Constantina Tomescu-Dita
1:53
Lyudmila Petrova
1:07
Gete Wami
0:25
Svetlana Zakharova
1:01
Mara Yamauchi
0:38
Aselefech Mergia **
0:56
Liliya Shobukhova *
1:13
Edna Kiplagat
1:17
Edna Kiplagat
0:03
Florence Kiplagat
* Liliya Shobukhova (RUS) was banned from competition for a doping violation, announced in April last year, and her case is
currently under investigation awaiting a hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). If the case is confirmed, her results
from 2010 and 2011 will be annulled.
** Inga Abitova (RUS) was originally second in 2010 (in 2:22:19), but her results have been annulled following her suspension for a
doping violation in October 2011.
Media Guide 2015 177
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Records Broken in London Marathons
Men
World Records
2:05:38
Khalid Khannouchi
USA
2002
Area & Commonwealth Records
European
2:06:36
North American
2:05:38
Commonwealth
2:05:48
António Pinto
Khalid Khannouchi
Paul Tergat
POR
USA
KEN
2000
2002
2002
British Records: None, butEngland
2:08:21
Mo Farah
GBR
2014
Current National Records set in London
Denmark
2:09:43
Lesotho
2:10:55
Morocco
2:05:27
Norway
2:10:17
Portugal
2:06:36
Rwanda
2:09:55
Slovakia
2:09:53
Tanzania
2:08:01
Turkey
2:10:25
USA
2:05:38
Henrik Jørgensen
Thabiso Moqhali
Jaouad Gharib
Geir Kvernmo
António Pinto
Mathias Ntawalikura
Róbert Stefko
Samson Ramadhani
Mehmet Terzi
Khalid Khannouchi
1985
1992
2009
1987
2000
2000
1998
2003
1987
2002
National Records set in London 2000-14
Portugal
2:06:36
Rwanda
2:09:55
USA
2:05:38
Ethiopia
2:06:35
Italy
2:07:29
Tanzania
2:08:01
Italy
2:07:22
Lebanon
2:28:29
Morocco
2:05:30
Morocco
2:05:27
Mongolia
2:11:35
António Pinto
Mathias Ntawalikura
Khalid Khannouchi
Haile Gebrselassie
Stefano Baldini
Samson Ramadhani
Stefano Baldini
Daoud Mustapha
Abderrahim Goumri
Jaouad Gharib
Ser-Od Bat-Ochir
2000
2000
2002
2002
2002
2003
2006
2007
2008
2009
2011
178 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Women
World Records
2:25:29
Grete Waitz
2:21:06
Ingrid Kristiansen
2:18:56
Paula Radcliffe
2:15:25
Paula Radcliffe
2:17:42
Paula Radcliffe
Area & Commonwealth Records
European
2:25:29
European
2:24:26
European
2:21:06
Central American
2:24:06
European
2:15:25
Commonwealth
2:15:25
North American
2:21:16
North American
2:19:36
African
2:18:37
NOR
NOR
GBR
GBR
GBR
Grete Waitz
Ingrid Kristiansen
Ingrid Kristiansen
Adriana Fernández
Paula Radcliffe
Paula Radcliffe
Deena Drossin
Deena Kastor (Drossin)
Mary Keitany
British Records
2:29:57
Joyce Smith
2:29:43
Joyce Smith
2:28:06
Sarah Rowell
2:26:51
Priscilla Welch
2:25:56
Véronique Marot
2:18:56
Paula Radcliffe
2:15:25
Paula Radcliffe
1983
1985
2002 (women only)
2003
2005 (women only)
NOR
NOR
NOR
MEX
GBR
GBR
USA
USA
KEN
1983
1984
1985
1999
2003
2003
2003
2006
2012
1981
1982
1985
1987
1989
2002
2003
Current National Records set in London
Costa Rica
2:44:33
Denmark
2:29:34
Finland
2:28:00
Great Britain & NI
2:15:25
Gibraltar
4:22:51
New Zealand
2:25:21
Norway
2:21:06
Puerto Rico
2:44:58
Kenya
2:18:37
Sierra Leone
2:46:20
Vilma Peña
Dorthe Rasmussen
Ritva Lemettinen
Paula Radcliffe
Anabel Felipes
Kim Smith
Ingrid Kristiansen
Yolanda Mercado
Mary Keitany
Mamie Konneh-Lahun
1992
1989
1995
2003
1998
2010
1985
2007
2012
2014
National Records set in London 2000-14
GBR
2:15:25
USA
2:21:16
Romania
2:22:50
Ethiopia
2:21:52
USA
2:19:36
Puerto Rico
2:44:58
New Zealand
2:25:21
Russia
2:20:15
Kenya
2:18:37
Sierra Leone
2:46:20
Paula Radcliffe
Deena Drossin
Constantina Dita/Tomescu
Berhane Adere
Deena Kastor (Drossin)
Yolanda Mercado
Kim Smith
Liliya Shobukhova*
Mary Keitany
Mamie Konneh-Lahun
2003
2003
2005
2006
2006
2007
2010
2011
2012
2014
* Liliya Shobukhova (RUS) was banned from competition for a doping violation, announced in April last year, and her case is
currently under investigation awaiting a hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). If the case is confirmed, her results
from 2010 and 2011 will be annulled.
Media Guide 2015 179
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Top 50 Performances in London
Men
Time
Name
CountryPosition
2:04:29
Wilson Kipsang
KEN
1
2:04:40
Emmanuel Mutai
KEN
1
2:04:44Kipsang
1
2:04:55
Stanley Biwott
KEN
2
2:05:10
Sammy Wanjiru
KEN
1
2:05:15
Martin Lel
KEN
1
2:05:19
Tsegaye Kebede
ETH
1
2:05:20Kebede
2
2:05:24Wanjiru
2
2:05:27
Jaouad Gharib
MAR
3
Year
2014
2011
2012
2014
2009
2008
2010
2009
2008
2009
2:05:30
Abderrahim Goumri
MAR
2:05:38
Khalid Khannouchi
USA
2:05:45Lel
2:05:45
Patrick Makau
KEN
2:05:48
Paul Tergat
KEN
2:06:04Kebede
2:06:15Mutai
2:06:17
Ryan Hall
USA
2:06:18
Evans Rutto
KEN
2:06:23Mutai
3
1
2
3
2
1
4
5
1
2
2008
2002
2011
2011
2002
2013
2008
2008
2004
2010
2:06:30Kebede
2:06:31
Ayele Abshero
ETH
2:06:33Mutai
2:06:34
Marilson Gomes dos Santos BRA
2:06:35
Haile Gebrselassie
ETH
2:06:36
Antonio Pinto
POR
2:06:38
Deriba Merga
ETH
2:06:39
Felix Limo
KEN
2:06:41Lel
2:06:48
Sammy Korir
KEN
3
4
2
4
3
1
6
1
2
2
2014
2014
2013
2011
2002
2000
2008
2006
2006
2004
2:06:51Lel
2:06:52
Abdelkader El Mouaziz
MAR
2:06:52Kebede
2:06:53Mutai
2:06:55
Hendrick Ramaala
RSA
2:06:55Gharib
2:06:57Abshero
2:07:04Khannouchi
2:07:06
Ian Syster
RSA
2:07:11
El Mouaziz
2
4
3
4
3
3
3
4
5
1
2012
2002
2012
2009
2006
2010
2013
2006
2002
2001
2:07:12Gharib
2:07:22
Stefano Baldini
ITA
2:07:26Lel
2:07:29Baldini
2:07:33
El Mouaziz
2:07:33
Abderrahime Bouramdane MAR
2:07:34
Rodgers Rop
KEN
2:07:41Lel
2:07:43
Adil Annani
MAR
2:07:44Goumri
2:07:44Ramaala
2:07:44Gharib
3
5
1
6
2
4
6
1
4
2
5
5
2004
2006
2005
2002
2000
2010
2006
2007
2012
2007
2009
2009
180 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Women
Time
Name
CountryPosition Year
2:15:25
Paula Radcliffe
GBR
1
2003
2:17:42Radcliffe
1 2005
2:18:37
Mary Keitany
KEN
1
2012
2:18:56Radcliffe
1 2002
2:19:19Keitany
1 2011
2:19:36
Deena Kastor
USA
1
2006
2:19:50
Edna Kiplagat
KEN
2
2012
2:19:55
Catherine Ndereba
KEN
2
2003
2:20:14
Priscah Jeptoo
KEN
3
2012
2:20:15Jeptoo
1 2013
2:20:15
2:20:21
2:20:24
2:20:35
2:20:38
2:20:46
2:20:57
2:21:06
2:21:16
2:21:29
Liliya Shobukhova*
RUS
E Kiplagat
Florence Kiplagat
KEN
Tirunesh Dibaba
ETH
Zhou Chunxiu
CHN
E Kiplagat
F Kiplagat
Ingrid Kristiansen
NOR
Drossin (Kastor)
Lyudmila Petrova
RUS
2
1
2
3
1
3
4
1
3
2
2011
2014
2014
2014
2007
2011
2012
1985
2003
2006
2:21:32
E Kiplagat
KEN
2:21:42
Feyse Tadese
ETH
2:21:45
Gete Wami
ETH
2:21:46
Susan Chepkemei
KEN
2:21:52
Berhane Adere
ETH
2:21:58
Galina Bogomolova
RUS
2:22:00Shobukhova*
2:22:11
Irina Mikitenko
GER
2:22:31
Svetlana Zakharova RUS
2:22:33Petrova
2
2013
4
2014
2
2007
3
2006
4
2006
5
2006
1 2010
1
2009
2
2002
3 2002
2:22:35
Margaret Okayo
KEN
2:22:38
Aselefech Mergia
ETH
2:22:46
Reiko Tosa
JPN
2:22:48Kristiansen
2:22:50
Constantina Tomescu-Dita
ROU
2:23:12Chepkemei
2:23:12
Mara Yamauchi
GBR
2:23:12
Lucy Kabuu
KEN
2:23:14Petrova
2:23:17
Bezunesh Bekele
ETH
1
2004
2
2010
4
2002
1 1987
2
2005
4 2003
2
2009
5
2012
5 2003
3
2010
2:23:19Chepkemei
2:23:21
Aberu Kebede
ETH
2:23:22
Joyce Chepchumba
KEN
2:23:42Bekele
2:23:43Tomescu-Dita
2:23:50
Atsede Baysa
ETH
2:23:55Tomescu-Dita
2:23:57
Derartu Tulu
ETH
2:24:00Chepkemei
2:24:01
Jelena Prokopcuka
LAT
5 2002
5
2014
1
1999
4 2011
6 2003
5
2011
3 2007
1
2001
3 2005
7
2003
* Liliya Shobukhova (RUS) was banned from competition for a doping violation, announced in April last year, and her case is
currently under investigation awaiting a hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). If the case is confirmed, her results
from 2010 and 2011 will be annulled.
Note, the following result has been annulled following the athlete’s suspensions for doping violations:
2:22:19
Inga Abitova
RUS
(2)
2010
Media Guide 2015 181
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Top 20 Britons in London
Men
TimeName
2:08:16
Steve Jones
2:08:21
Mo Farah
2:08:33
Charlie Spedding
2:08:36
Richard Nerurkar
2:09:16
Allister Hutton
2:09:17
Mark Steinle
2:09:18
Paul Evans
2:09:24
Hugh Jones
2:09:31
Jon Brown 2:09:43
Mike Gratton
2:09:54
Tony Milovsorov
2:10:12
Gerry Helme
2:10:30
Dave Long
2:10:50
Eamonn Martin
2:10:52
Kevin Forster
2:11:05
Mike O’Reilly
2:11:19
Chris Thompson
2:11:44
Jim Dingwall
2:11:45
Steve Brace
2:11:54
Martin McCarthy
Position
1
8
2
5
3
8
8
1
6
1
6
2
4
1
2
5
11
5
7
7
Year
1985
2014
1985
1997
1985
2002
1997
1982
2005
1983
1989
1983
1991
1993
1988
1990
2014
1983
1991
1983
Position
1
1
2
1
2
2
11
2
13
18
9
3
12
1
22
2
9
7
3
8
4
Year
2003
2005
2009
1989
1987
1997
2012
1985
2012
2011
2008
1985
2008
1982
2011
1988
2013
1989
1992
1989
1988
Women
TimeName
2:15:25
Paula Radcliffe
2:17:42Radcliffe
2:23:12
Mara Yamauchi
2:25:56
Veronique Marot
2:26:51
Priscilla Welch
2:26:52 Liz McColgan 2:27:44
Claire Hallissey
2:28:06
Sarah Rowell
2:28:10
Freya Murray
2:28:24
Jo Pavey
2:28:33
Liz Yelling
2:28:38
Sally-Ann Hales
2:29:18
Hayley Haining
2:29:43
Joyce Smith
2:30:00
Louise Damen
2:30:38
Ann Ford
2:30:46
Susan Partridge
2:31:06
Angie Pain
2:31:33
Andrea Wallace
2:31:45
Lynn Harding
2:32:09
Susan Tooby
182 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Top 20 Foreigners in London
Men
Time Name
2:04:29
Wilson Kipsang
2:04:40
Emmanuel Mutai
2:04:55
Stanley Biwott
2:05:10
Sammy Wanjiru
2:05:15
Martin Lel
2:05:19
Tsegaye Kebede
2:05:27
Jaouad Gharib
2:05:30
Abderrahim Goumri
2:05:38 Khalid Khannouchi 2:05:45
Patrick Makau
2:05:48
Paul Tergat
2:06:17
Ryan Hall
2:06:18
Evans Rutto
2:06:31
Ayele Abshero
2:06:34
Marîlson dos Santos
2:06:35
Haile Gebrselassie
2:06:36
Antonio Pinto
2:06:38
Deriba Merga
2:06:39
Felix Limo
2:06:48
Sammy Korir
CountryPosition
KEN
1
KEN
1
KEN
2
KEN
1
KEN
1
ETH
1
MAR
3
MAR
3
USA
1
KEN
3
KEN
2
USA
5
KEN
1
ETH
4
BRA
4
ETH
3
POR
1
ETH
6
KEN
1
KEN
2
Year
2014
2011
2014
2009
2008
2010
2009
2008
2002
2011
2002
2008
2004
2014
2011
2002
2000
2008
2006
2004
CountryPosition
KEN
1
USA
1
KEN
2
KEN
2
KEN
3
RUS
2
KEN
2
ETH
3
CHN
1
NOR
1
RUS
2
ETH
4
ETH
2
KEN
3
ETH
4
RUS
5
GER
1
RUS
2
KEN
1
ETH
1
Year
2012
2006
2012
2003
2012
2011
2014
2014
2007
1985
2006
2014
2007
2006
2006
2006
2009
2002
2004
2010
Women
Time Name
2:18:37
Mary Keitany
2:19:36
Deena Kastor
2:19:50
Edna Kiplagat
2:19:55
Catherine Ndereba
2:20:14
Priscah Jeptoo
2:20:15
Liliya Shobukhova*
2:20:24
Florence Kiplagat
2:20:35
Tirunesh Dibaba
2:20:38
Zhou Chunxiu
2:21:06
Ingrid Kristiansen
2:21:29
Lyudmila Petrova
2:21:42
Feyse Tadese
2:21:45
Gete Wami
2:21:46
Susan Chepkemei
2:21:52
Berhane Adere
2:21:58
Galina Bogomolova
2:22:11
Irina Mikitenko
2:22:31
Svetlana Zakharova
2:22:35
Margaret Okayo
2:22:38
Aselefech Mergia
* Liliya Shobukhova (RUS) was banned from competition for a doping violation, announced in April last year, and her case is
currently under investigation awaiting a hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). If the case is confirmed, her results
from 2010 and 2011 will be annulled.
Note, the following results have been annulled following the athletes’ suspensions for a doping violations:
2:22:19
Inga Abitova
RUS
(2)
2010
Media Guide 2015 183
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
WORLD MARATHON STATISTICS
World & Continental Records
Men
World
Commonwealth
African
North American
South American
Asian
European
Central American
Oceanian
World Junior (U20)
Veterans 35+
Veterans 40+
2:02:57
2:02:57
2:02:57
2:05:38
2:06:05
2:06:16
2:06:36
2:06:36
2:08:30
2:08:16
2:04:32
2:03:59
2:08:46
Dennis Kimetto
Dennis Kimetto
Dennis Kimetto
Khalid Khannouchi
Ronaldo da Costa
Toshinari Takaoka
António Pinto
Benoît Zwierzchlewski
Dionicio Cerón
Steve Moneghetti
Tsegaye Mekonnen
Haile Gebrselassie
Andrés Espinosa
KEN
KEN
KEN
USA
BRA
JPN
POR
FRA
MEX
AUS
ETH
ETH
MEX
Berlin
Berlin
Berlin
London
Berlin
Chicago
London
Paris
London
Berlin
Dubai
Berlin
Berlin
28 Sep 2014
28 Sep 2014
28 Sep 2014
14 Apr 2002
20 Sep 1998
13 Oct 2002
16 Apr 2000
6 Apr 2003
2 Apr 1995
21 Apr 1986
24 Jan 2014
28 Sep 2008
28 Sep 2003
2:15:25
2:17:42
2:15:25
2:15:25
2:18:37
2:19:12
2:19:36
2:22:36
2:22:59
2:26:48
2:20:59
2:19:19
2:24:54
Paula Radcliffe
Paula Radcliffe
Paula Radcliffe
Paula Radcliffe
Mary Keitany
Mizuki Noguchi
Deena Kastor
Benita Johnson
Madai Pérez
Inés Melchor
Shure Demise
Irina Mikitenko
Irina Mikitenko
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
KEN
JPN
USA
AUS
MEX
PER
ETH
GER
GER
London
London
London
London
London
Berlin
London
Chicago
Chicago
Berlin
Dubai
Berlin
Berlin
13 Apr 2003
17 Apr 2005
13 Apr 2003
13 Apr 2003
22 Apr 2012
25 Sep 2005
23 Apr 2006
22 Oct 2006
22 Oct 2006
28 Sep 2014
23 Jan 2015
28 Sep 2008
29 Sep 2013
Women
World
World (women only)
Commonwealth
European
African
Asian
North American
Oceanian
Central American
South American
World Junior (U20)
Veterans 35+
Veterans 40+
Note: the following times were run on Boston’s point-to-point downhill course which is not recognised for
records:
Men
North American
2:04:58
Ryan Hall
USA
Boston
18 Apr 2011
Central American
2:07:19
Andrés Espinosa
MEX
Boston
18 Apr 1994
Oceanian
2:07:51
Rob de Castella
AUS
Boston
21 Apr 1986
184 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
World All-Time Top 50
(as at 31 March 2015)
Men
Time
Name
2:02:57*
2:03:13
2:03:23*
2:03:38*
2:03:42
2:03:45
2:03:52
2:03:59*
2:04:05
2:04:11
2:04:15
2:04:16
2:04:23
2:04:26*
2:04:27
2:04:27
2:04:28
2:04:32
2:04:32
2:04:38
2:04:45
2:04:48
2:04:48
2:04:49
2:04:50
2:04:50
2:04:52
2:04:52
2:04:53
2:04:54
2:04:55*
2:04:55
2:04:56
2:04:56
2:05:03
2:05:04
2:05:04
2:05:10
2:05:13
2:05:15
2:05:16
2:05:25
2:05:25
2:05:27
2:05:27
2:05:27
2:05:28
2:05:30
2:05:37
2:05:38*
2:05:38
2:05:39
2:05:41
2:05:42
2:05:42
2:05:48
Dennis Kimetto
KEN
Emmanuel Mutai
KEN
Wilson Kipsang
KEN
Patrick Makau
KEN
Kipsang
Kimetto
E Mutai
Haile Gebrselassie
ETH
Eliud Kipchoge
KEN
Kipchoge
Geoffrey Mutai
KEN
Kimetto
Ayele Abshero
ETH
Gebrselassie
Duncan Kibet
KEN
James Kwambai
KEN
(16 performances by 10 men)
Sammy Kitwara
KEN
Tsegaye Mekonnen
ETH
Dickson Chumba
KEN
Tsegaye Kebede
ETH
Lelisa Desisa
ETH
Yemane Tsegay Adhane
ETH
Berhanu Shiferaw
ETH
Tadesse Tola
ETH
Dino Sefir
ETH
Getu Feleke (20)
ETH
Feyisa Lilesa
ETH
Endeshaw Negesse
ETH
Bernard Koech
KEN
Markos Geneti
ETH
Paul Tergat
KEN
Stanley Biwott
KEN
Sammy Korir
KEN
Jonathan Maiyo
KEN
Moses Mosop
KEN
Abel Kirui (30)
KEN
Kenenisa Bekele
ETH
Samuel Wanjiru
KEN
Vincent Kipruto
KEN
Martin Lel
KEN
Levi Matebo Omari
KEN
Bazu Worku
ETH
Albert Matebor
KEN
Jaouad Gharib
MAR
Wilson Chebet
KEN
Tilahun Regassa (40)
ETH
Haile Lemi
ETH
Abderrahim Goumri
MAR
Wilson Loyanai
KEN
Khalid Khannouchi
USA
Peter Some
KEN
Eliud Kiptanui
KEN
Yami Dadi
ETH
Abdullah Dawit Shami
ETH
Deresse Chimsa
ETH
Jafred Kipchumba (50)
KEN
CountryPlace
City
Date
1
2
1
1
1
1
2
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
1
2
Berlin
Berlin
Berlin
Berlin
Frankfurt
Chicago
Chicago
Berlin
Berlin
Chicago
Berlin
Berlin
Dubai
Berlin
Rotterdam
Rotterdam
28 Sep 14
28 Sep 14
29 Sep 13
25 Sep 11
30 Oct 11
13 Oct 13
13 Oct 13
28 Sep 08
29 Sep 13
12 Oct 14
30 Sep 12
30 Sep 12
27 Jan 12
30 Sep 07
5 Apr 09
5 Apr 09
2
1
3
1
1
1
2
3
2
2
2
4
5
3
1
2
2
4
3
3
1
1
3
1
2
3
3
3
1
3
1
3
1
1
1
1
6
7
8
1
Chicago
Dubai
Chicago
Chicago
Dubai
Rotterdam
Dubai
Dubai
Dubai
Rotterdam
Chicago
Dubai
Dubai
Dubai
Berlin
London
Berlin
Dubai
Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Paris
London
Rotterdam
London
Frankfurt
Berlin
Frankfurt
London
Rotterdam
Chicago
Dubai
London
Seoul
London
Paris
Prague
Dubai
Dubai
Dubai
Eindhoven
12 Oct 14
24 Jan 14
12 Oct 14
7 Oct 12
25 Jan 13
15 Apr 12
25 Jan 13
25 Jan 13
27 Jan 12
15 Apr 12
7 Oct 12
25 Jan 13
25 Jan 13
27 Jan 12
28 Sep 03
13 Apr 14
28 Sep 03
27 Jan 12
15 Apr 12
5 Apr 09
6 Apr 14
26 Apr 09
11 Apr 10
13 Apr 08
30 Oct 11
26 Sep 10
30 Oct 11
26 Apr 09
10 Apr 11
7 Oct 12
23 Jan 15
13 Apr 08
18 Mar 12
14 Apr 02
7 Apr 13
9 May 10
27 Jan 12
27 Jan 12
27 Jan 12
9 Oct 11
1
2
3
4
Boston
Boston
Boston
Boston
18 Apr 11
18 Apr 11
18 Apr 11
18 Apr 11
* World record
On point-to-point and downhill course (drop of 139m overall)
2:03:02
Geoffrey Mutai
KEN
2:03:06
Moses Mosop
KEN
2:04:53
Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam ETH
2:04:58
Ryan Hall
USA
Media Guide 2015 185
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Women
Time
Name
2:15:25*
2:17:18*
2:17:42
2:18:20
2:18:37
2:18:47*
2:18:56
2:18:58
2:19:12
2:19:19
2:19:19
2:19:31
2:19:34
2:19:36
2:19:39
2:19:41
2:19:44
2:19:46*
2:19:50
2:19:51
2:19:52
2:19:57
2:20:03
2:20:14
2:20:18
2:20:21
2:20:27
2:20:30
2:20:33
2:20:42
2:20:43
2:20:47
2:20:48
2:20:59
2:21:01
2:21:06*
2:21:09
2:21:14
2:21:21
2:21:29
2:21:30
2:21:30
2:21:31
2:21:31
2:21:34
2:21:39
2:21:41
2:21:45
2:21:46
2:21:51
2:21:52
2:21:56
2:21:59
2:22:03
Paula Radcliffe
GBR
Radcliffe
Radcliffe
Liliya Shobukhova**
RUS
Mary Keitany
KEN
Catherine Ndereba
KEN
Radcliffe
Tiki Gelana
ETH
Mizuki Noguchi
JPN
Irina Mikitenko
GER
Keitany
Aselefech Mergia
ETH
Lucy Wangui Kabuu
KEN
Deena Kastor
USA
(14 performances by 10 women)
Sun Yingjie
CHN
Yoko Shibui
JPN
Florence Kiplagat
KEN
Naoko Takahashi
JPN
Edna Kiplagat
KEN
Zhou Chunxiu
CHN
Mare Dibaba
ETH
Rita Jeptoo
KEN
Gladys Cherono
KEN
Priscah Jeptoo (20)
KEN
Tirfi Tsegaye
ETH
Lucy Kabuu
KEN
Feyse Tadese
ETH
Bezenesh Bekele
ETH
Aberu Kebede
ETH
Berhane Adere
ETH
Tegla Loroupe
KEN
Galina Bogomolova
RUS
Jemima Jelagat Sumgong
KEN
Shure Demise (30)
ETH
Meselech Melkamu
ETH
Ingrid Kristiansen
NOR
Meseret Hailu
ETH
Shalane Flanagan
USA
Joan Benoit
USA
Lyudmila Petrova
RUS
Constantina Dita ROU
Lydia Cheromei
KEN
Svetlana Zakharova
RUS
Magarsa Askale Tafa (40)
ETH
Gete Wami
ETH
Georgina Rono
KEN
Eunice Jepkirui
KEN
Masako Chiba
JPN
Susan Chepkemei
KEN
Naoko Sakamoto
JPN
Tigist Tufa
ETH
Mulu Seboka
ETH
Mamitu Daska
ETH
Atsede Baysa (50)
ETH
CountryPlace
City
Date
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
London
Chicago
London
Chicago
London
Chicago
London
Rotterdam
Berlin
Berlin
London
Dubai
Dubai
London
13 Apr 03
13 Oct 02
17 Apr 05
9 Oct 11
22 Apr 12
7 Oct 01
14 Apr 02
15 Apr 12
25 Sep 05
28 Sep 08
17 Apr 11
27 Jan 12
27 Jan 12
23 Apr 06
1
1
1
1
2
1
3
1
2
3
2
3
2
4
5
1
1
2
2
4
1
1
1
3
1
2
2
6
4
2
1
2
2
2
3
3
1
6
1
1
Beijing
Berlin
Berlin
Berlin
London
Seoul
Dubai
Chicago
Dubai
London
Berlin
Dubai
Berlin
Dubai
Dubai
Chicago
Berlin
Chicago
Chicago
Dubai
Frankfurt
London
Amsterdam
Berlin
Chicago
London
Chicago
Dubai
Chicago
Berlin
Berlin
Frankfurt
Amsterdam
Osaka
London
Osaka
Shanghai
Dubai
Frankfurt
Chicago
19 Oct 03
26 Sep 04
25 Sep 11
30 Sep 01
22 Apr 12
12 Mar 06
27 Jan 12
13 Oct 13
23 Jan 15
22 Apr 12
28 Sep 14
23 Jan 15
28 Sep 14
27 Jan 12
27 Jan 12
22 Oct 06
26 Sep 99
22 Oct 06
13 Oct 13
23 Jan 15
28 Oct 12
21 Apr 85
21 Oct 12
28 Sep 14
20 Oct 85
23 Apr 06
9 Oct 05
27 Jan 12
13 Oct 02
28 Sep 08
25 Sep 06
28 Oct 12
21 Oct 12
26 Jan 03
23 Apr 06
26 Jan 03
2 Nov 14
23 Jan 15
30 Oct 11
7 Oct 12
* World record
** Liliya Shobukhova (RUS) was banned from competition for a doping violation in April last year, and her case is currently under investigation awaiting
a hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). If the case is confirmed, her results from 2010 and 2011 will be annulled.
On point-to-point and downhill course (drop of 139m overall)
2:18:57
Rita Jeptoo
KEN
2:19:59
Buzunesh Deba
ETH
2:20:41
Jemima Jelagat Sumgong
KEN
2:20:43
Margaret Okayo
KEN
2:21:29
Aleksandra Duliba
BLR
2:21:45
Uta Pippig
GER
186 Media Guide 2015
1
2
4
1
6
1
Boston
Boston
Boston
Boston
Boston
Boston
21 Apr 14
21 Apr 14
21 Apr 14
15 Apr 02
21 Apr 14
18 Apr 94
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
World Record Progression
Men
Time
2:55:19
2:52:46
2:46:53
2:46:05
2:42:31
2:40:35
2:38:17
2:36:07
2:32:36*
2:29:02
2:27:49
2:26:44
2:26:42
2:25:39
2:20:43
2:18:41
2:18:35
2:17:40
2:15:17
2:15:17
2:15:16
2:14:28
2:13:55
2:12:12
2:12:00
2:09:37
2:08:34
2:08:18
2:08:05
2:07:12
2:06:50
2:06:05 2:05:42
2:05:38
2:04:55
2:04:26
2:03:59
2:03:38
2:03:23
2:02:57
Name
CountryRace
Johnny Hayes
USA
London (OG)
Robert Fowler
USA
Yonkers
James Clark
USA
New York
Albert Raines
USA
New York
Fred Barrett
GBR
London
Thure Johansson
SWE
Stockholm Harry Green
GBR
London
Alexis Ahlgren
SWE
London
Hannes Kolehmainen
FIN
Antwerp (OG)
Albert Michelsen
USA
Port Chester
Fusashige Suzuki
JPN
Tokyo
Yasuo Ikenaka
JPN
Tokyo
Kitei Son** JPN Tokyo
Yun Bok Suh
KOR
Boston
Jim Peters
GBR
Chiswick
Peters
Chiswick
Peters
Turku
Peters
Chiswick
Sergey Popov URS
Stockholm
Abebe Bikila
ETH
Rome (OG)
Toru Terasawa
JPN
Beppu
Buddy Edelen USA
Chiswick
Basil Heatley
GBR
Chiswick
Bikila
Tokyo (OG)
Morio Shigematsu
JPN
Chiswick
Derek Clayton
AUS
Fukuoka
Clayton
Antwerp
Rob de Castella
AUS
Fukuoka
Steve Jones
GBR
Chicago
Carlos Lopes
POR
Rotterdam
Belayneh Dinsamo
ETH
Rotterdam
Ronaldo da Costa
BRA
Berlin
Khalid Khannouchi
MAR
Chicago
Khannouchi
USA
London
Paul Tergat
KEN
Berlin
Haile Gebrselassie
ETH
Berlin
Gebrselassie
Berlin
Patrick Makau
KEN
Berlin
Wilson Kipsang
KEN
Berlin
Dennis Kimetto
KEN
Berlin
Date
24 Jul 08
01 Jan 09
12 Feb 09
08 May 09
26 May 09
31 Aug 09
12 May 13
31 May 13
22 Aug 20
12 Oct 25
31 Mar 35
03 Apr 35
03 Nov 35
19 Apr 47
14 Jun 52
13 Jun 53
04 Oct 53
26 Jun 54
24 Aug 58
10 Sep 60
17 Feb 63
15 Jun 63
13 Jun 64
21 Oct 64
12 Jun 65
03 Dec 67
30 May 69
06 Dec 81
21 Oct 84
20 Apr 85
17 Apr 88
20 Sep 98
24 Oct 99
14 Apr 02
28 Sep 03
30 Sep 07
28 Sep 08
25 Sep 11
29 Sep 13
28 Sep 14
*42.75km
** Sohn Kee Chung (KOR)
Note: ineligible for world record because of the point-to-point downhill nature of the Boston course.
2:03:02
Geoffrey Mutai
KEN
Boston
18 Apr 11
Media Guide 2015 187
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Women
Time
3:37:07 3:27:25
3:19:33
3:15:22
3:07:27
3:02:53
3:01:42
2:55:22 2:49:40 2:46:36 2:46:24
2:43:55
2:42:24
2:40:16
2:38:19
2:35:16
2:34:48
2:32:30
2:27:33
2:25:42
2:25:29
2:22:43
2:21:06
2:20:47
2:20:43
2:19:46
2:18:47
2:17:18
2:15:25
Name
CountryRace
Merry Lepper USA Culver City Dale Greig
GBR
Ryde
Mildred Sampson
NZL
Auckland
Maureen Wilton
CAN
Toronto
Anni Pede-Erdkamp
GER
Waldniel
Caroline Walker
USA
Seaside
Beth Bonner
USA
Philadelphia
Bonner New York Cheryl Bridges USA
Culver City Miki Gorman USA Culver City Chantal Langlace
FRA
Neuf Brisach
Jacqueline Hansen
USA
Culver City
Lianne Winter
GER
Boston
Christa Vahlensieck
GER
Dulmen
Hansen
Eugene
Langlace
Oyarzun
Vahlensieck
West Berlin
Grete Waitz
NOR
New York
Waitz
New York
Waitz
New York
Waitz
London
Joan Benoit
USA
Boston
Ingrid Kristiansen
NOR
London
Tegla Loroupe
KEN
Rotterdam
Loroupe
Berlin
Naoko Takahashi
JPN
Berlin
Catherine Ndereba
KEN
Chicago
Paula Radcliffe
GBR
Chicago
Radcliffe
London
Women-only world bests since 1984 (approved courses only)
2:24:52
Joan Benoit
USA
Los Angeles (Oly)
2:23:51
Lisa Ondieki
AUS
Osaka
2:23:24
Lidia Simon
ROU
Osaka
2:23:22
Joyce Chepchumba
KEN
London
2:22:12
Eri Yamaguchi
JPN
Tokyo
2:18:56
Paula Radcliffe
GBR
London
2:17:42
Radcliffe
London
188 Media Guide 2015
Date
16 Dec 63
23 May 64
21 Jul 64
06 May 67
16 Sep 67
28 Feb 70
09 May 71
19 Sep 71
05 Dec 71
02 Dec 73
27 Oct 74
01 Dec 74
21 Apr 75
03 May 75
12 Oct 75
01 May 77
10 Sep 77
22 Oct 78
21 Oct 79
26 Oct 80
17 Apr 83
18 Apr 83
21 Apr 85
19 Apr 98
26 Sep 99
30 Sep 01
7 Oct 01
13 Oct 02
13 Apr 03
08 Aug 84
31 Jan 88
31 Jan 99
18 Apr 99
21 Nov 99
14 Apr 02
17 Apr 05
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
World’s Best in 2014
Men
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16=
16=
18
19
20
21
22
23
24=
24=
26
27=
27=
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36=
36=
36=
39=
39=
39=
42
43
44
45
46
47=
47=
49
50
Time
Name
CountryPlace
2:02:57 WR Dennis Kimetto
KEN
1
2:03:13
Emmanuel Mutai
KEN
2
2:04:11
Eliud Kipchoge
KEN
1
2:04:28
Sammy Kitwara
KEN
2
2:04:29
Wilson Kipsang
KEN
1
2:04:32
Tsegaye Mekonnen
ETH-J
1
2:04:32
Dickson Chumba
KEN
3
2:04:55
Stanley Biwott
KEN
2
2:05:00
Kipchoge
1
2:05:04
Kenenisa Bekele
ETH
1
2:05:13
Markos Geneti
ETH
2
(11 performances by 10 men)
2:05:41
Getu Feleke
ETH
1
2:05:49
Berhanu Girma
ETH
3
2:05:56
Abera Kuma
ETH
3
2:05:57
Tadesse Tola
ETH
2
2:06:08
Bernard Koech
KEN
2
2:06:17
Tamirat Tola
ETH
4
2:06:17
Yakob Jarso
ETH
1
2:06:21
Tilahun Regassa
ETH
1
2:06:22
Bernard Kipyego
KEN
1
2:06:24
Stephen Chemlany (20) KEN
2
2:06:30
Tsegaye Kebede
ETH
3
2:06:31
Ayele Abshero
ETH
4
2:06:39
Geoffrey Kamworor
KEN
4
2:06:44
Gilbert Kirwa
KEN
3
2:06:44
Shumi Dechasa
BRN
1
2:06:47
Jonathan Maiyo
KEN
2
2:06:49
Limenih Getachew
ETH
2
2:06:49
Mark Kiptoo
KEN
1
2:06:51
Yemane Tsegay Adhane ETH
1
2:06:58
Michael Kipyego (30)
KEN
4
2:06:59
Mike Kigen
KEN
2
2:07:01
Eric Ndiema
KEN
2
2:07:02
Tariku Jufar
ETH
4
2:07:05
Peter Some
KEN
5
2:07:06
Gebretsadik Adhanu
ETH
2
2:07:08
Abreham Cherkos
ETH
5
2:07:08
Philemon Rono
KEN
3
2:07:08
Gilbert Yegon Koech
KEN
3
2:07:10
Belay Asefa
ETH
4
2:07:10
Alfers Lagat (40)
KEN
3
2:07:10
Tebalu Zawude
ETH
4
2:07:11
Nixson Kurgat
KEN
1
2:07:12
Azmeraw Bekele
ETH
5
2:07:15
Silas Cheboit
TAN
1
2:07:16
Deribe Robi
ETH
5
2:07:18
Lucas Rotich
KEN
2
2:07:28
Eliud Kiptanui
KEN
5
2:07:28
John Mwangangi
KEN
3
2:07:29
Ronald Korir
KEN
6
2:07:32
Bazu Worku (50)
ETH
1
City
Berlin
Berlin
Chicago
Chicago
London
Dubai
Chicago
London
Rotterdam
Paris
Dubai
Date
28 Sep
28 Sep
12 Oct
12 Oct
13 Apr
24 Jan
12 Oct
13 Apr
13 Apr
6 Apr
24 Jan
Vienna
Dubai
Berlin
Tokyo
Rotterdam
Dubai
Seoul (Dong-A)
Eindhoven
Amsterdam
Seoul
London
London
Berlin
Seoul (Dong-A)
Hamburg
Eindhoven
Paris
Frankfurt
Daegu
Tokyo
Frankfurt
Hamburg
Seoul
Tokyo
Daegu
Seoul (Dong-A)
Hamburg
Frankfurt
Hamburg
Eindhoven
Frankfurt
Chunchon
Dubai
Kwangju
Frankfurt
Amsterdam
Berlin
Amsterdam
Frankfurt
Houston
13 Apr
24 Jan
28 Sep
23 Feb
13 Apr
24 Jan
16 Mar
12 Oct
19 Oct
16 Mar
13 Apr
13 Apr
28 Sep
16 Mar
4 May
12 Oct
6 Apr
26 Oct
6 Apr
23 Feb
26 Oct
4 May
16 Mar
23 Feb
6 Apr
16 Mar
4 May
26 Oct
4 May
12 Oct
26 Oct
26 Oct
24 Jan
19 Oct
26 Oct
19 Oct
28 Sep
19 Oct
26 Oct
19 Jan
Media Guide 2015 189
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Women
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27=
27=
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36=
36=
38=
38=
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49=
49=
Time
Name
Country Place
2:20:18
Tirfi Tsegaye
ETH
1
2:20:21
Edna Kiplagat
KEN
1
2:20:24
Florence Kiplagat
KEN
2
2:20:27
Feyse Tadese
ETH
2
2:20:35
Tirunesh Dibaba
ETH
3
2:21:14
Shalane Flanagan
USA
3
2:21:36
Mare Dibaba
ETH
1
2:21:42
Tadese
4
2:21:52
Tigist Tufa
ETH
1
2:22:21
Aberu Kebede
ETH
1
2:22:23
Tsegaye
1
2:22:30
Birhane Dibaba
ETH
2
(12 performances by 10 women)
2:22:44
Filomena Cheyech
KEN
1
2:23:02
Tadelech Bekele
ETH
4
2:23:15
Mulu Seboka
ETH
1
2:23:34
Firehiwot Dado
ETH
1
2:23:43
Mariya Konovalova
RUS
1
2:23:44
Sharon Cherop
KEN
2
2:24:07
Jelena Prokopcuka
LAT
2
2:24:16
Lucy Wangui Kabuu
KEN
3
2:24:25
Jéssica Augusto
POR
6
2:24:35
Caroline Rotich (20)
KEN
4
2:24:37
Tetyana Gamera
UKR
1
2:24:43
Aleksandra Duliba
BLR
2
2:24:59
Ashete Bekele
ETH
3
2:25:02
Abebech Afework
ETH
5
2:25:07
Mary Keitany
KEN
1
2:25:10
Jemima Jelagat Sumgong KEN
2
2:25:14
Christelle Daunay
FRA
1
2:25:14
Emily Ngetich
KEN
4
2:25:22
Caroline Kilel
KEN
2
2:25:23
Meselech Melkamu (30)
ETH
2
2:25:26
Ryoko Kizaki
JPN
3
2:25:27
Valeria Straneo
ITA
2
2:25:31
Eri Hayakawa
JPN
4
2:25:37
Eunice Jepkirui
BRN
1
2:25:59
Meskerem Assefa
ETH
2
2:26:00
Yukiko Akaba
JPN
2
2:26:00
Sara Moreira
POR
3
2:26:03
Gelete Burka
ETH
3
2:26:03
Janet Rono
KEN
5
2:26:05
Tomomi Tanaka (40)
JPN
5
2:26:20
Meseret Hailu
ETH
4
2:26:21
Yebrqual Melese
ETH
2
2:26:22
Biruktayit Degefa
ETH
4
2:26:25
Kayoko Fukushi
JPN
6
2:26:31
Karolina Jarzynska
POL
3
2:26:36
Meseret Legesse
ETH
2
2:26:42
Bethlehem Moges
ETH
5
2:26:44
Anna Hahner
GER
7
2:26:46
Sairi Maeda
JPN
4
2:26:46
Ana Dulce Félix (50)
POR
8
City
Berlin
London
London
Berlin
London
Berlin
Xiamen
London
Shanghai
Frankfurt
Tokyo
Tokyo
Date
28 Sep
13 Apr
13 Apr
28 Sep
13 Apr
28 Sep
2 Jan
13 Apr
2 Nov
26 Oct
23 Feb
23 Feb
Paris
Berlin
Toronto
Prague
Nagoya
Frankfurt
Nagoya
Tokyo
London
Tokyo
Osaka
Toronto
Frankfurt
Berlin
New York
New York
Zürich
Frankfurt
Shanghai
Dubai
Nagoya
Zürich
Nagoya
Incheon
Houston
Osaka
New York
Houston
Tokyo
Nagoya
Dubai
Paris
Houston
Berlin
Osaka
Xiamen
Dubai
Berlin
Osaka
London
6 Apr
28 Sep
19 Oct
11 May
9 Mar
26 Oct
9 Mar
23 Feb
13 Apr
23 Feb
26 Jan
19 Oct
26 Oct
28 Sep
2 Nov
2 Nov
16 Aug
26 Oct
2 Nov
24 Jan
9 Mar
16 Aug
9 Mar
2 Oct
19 Jan
26 Jan
2 Nov
19 Jan
23 Feb
9 Mar
24 Jan
6 Apr
19 Jan
28 Sep
26 Jan
2 Jan
24 Jan
28 Sep
26 Jan
13 Apr
On downhill course:
2:18:57
2:19:59
2:20:41
2:21:29
Rita Jeptoo
Buzunesh Deba
Jemima Jelagat Sumgong
Aleksandra Duliba
KEN
ETH
KEN
BLR
1
2
4
6
Boston
Boston
Boston
Boston
21 Apr
21 Apr
21 Apr
21 Apr
Drugs disqualification
2:24:35
Rita Jeptoo
KEN
(1)
Chicago
12 Oct
190 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
World’s Best in 2015
(as at 31 March 2015)
Men
Time
2:05:28
2:05:52
2:06:00
2:06:06
2:06:11
2:06:19
2:06:33
2:06:34
2:06:35
2:06:54
2:06:59
2:07:06
2:07:09
2:07:20
2:07:22
2:07:25
2:07:39
2:07:47
2:07:58
2:08:03
2:08:05
2:08:09
2:08:11
2:08:12
2:08:14
Name
Haile Lemi
Lelisa Desisa
Endesham Negesse
Deriba Robi
Wilson Loyanae
Moses Mosop
Stephen Kiprotich
Dickson Chumba
Feyisa Lilesa
Tilahun Regassa
Felix Kiprotich
Sisay Lemma
Bazu Worku
Shumi Dechase
Peter Some
Markos Geneti
Masato Imai
Jacob Kendagor
Tsegaye Kebede
Berhanu Gedefa
Dadi Yami
Abra Milaw
Chala Dechase
Gebo Burka
Abraham Cherkos
CountryPlace
ETH
1
ETH
2
ETH
1
ETH
3
KEN
1
KEN
1
UGA
2
KEN
3
ETH
4
ETH
2
KEN
2
ETH
5
ETH
6
ETH
4
KEN
5
ETH
6
JPN
7
KEN
3
ETH
8
ETH
1
ETH
4
ETH
3
ETH
8
ETH
2
ETH
5
City
Dubai
Dubai
Tokyo
Dubai
Seoul
Xiamen
Tokyo
Tokyo
Dubai
Xiamen
Seoul
Dubai
Dubai
Tokyo
Tokyo
Tokyo
Tokyo
Seoul
Tokyo
Houston
Seoul
Xiamen
Dubai
Houston
Seoul
Date
23 Jan
23 Jan
27 Feb
23 Jan
15 Mar
3 Jan
27 Feb
27 Feb
23 Jan
3 Jan
15 Mar
23 Jan
23 Jan
27 Feb
27 Feb
27 Feb
27 Feb
15 Mar
27 Feb
18 Jan
15 Mar
3 Jan
23 Jan
18 Jan
15 Mar
Name
Mare Dibaba
Aselefech Mergia
Gladys Cherono
Lucy Kabuu
Shure Demise
Aberu Kebede
Mulu Seboka
Eunice Jepkirui Kirwa
Tetyana Hamera-Shmyrko
Mariya Konovalova
Sairi Maeda
Tadelech Bekele
Aleksandra Duliba
Birhane Dibaba
Yebrqual Melese
Gureni Shone
Abebech Afework
Ashete Bekele
Biruktayit Degefa
Helah Kiprop
Jelena Prokopcuka
Tiki Gelana
Bethlehem Moges
Mai Ito
Sultan Haydar
CountryPlace
ETH
1
ETH
1
KEN
2
KEN
3
ETH
4
ETH
5
ETH
6
BRN
1
UKR
1
RUS
2
JPN
3
ETH
7
BLR
8
ETH
1
ETH
1
ETH
2
ETH
9
ETH
10
ETH
3
KEN
2
LAT
2
ETH
3
ETH
11
JPN
4
TUR
12
City
Xiamen
Dubai
Dubai
Dubai
Dubai
Dubai
Dubai
Nagoya
Osaka
Nagoya
Nagoya
Dubai
Dubai
Tokyo
Houston
Houston
Dubai
Dubai
Houston
Tokyo
Osaka
Tokyo
Dubai
Nagoya
Dubai
Date
3 Jan
23 Jan
23 Jan
23 Jan
23 Jan
23 Jan
23 Jan
8 Mar
25 Jan
8 Mar
8 Mar
23 Jan
23 Jan
22 Feb
18 Jan
18 Jan
23 Jan
23 Jan
18 Jan
22 Feb
25 Jan
22 Feb
23 Jan
8 Mar
23 Jan
Women
Time
2:19:52
2:20:02
2:20:03
2:20:21
2:20:59
2:21:17
2:21:56
2:22:08
2:22:09
2:22:27
2:22:48
2:22:51
2:23:06
2:23:15
2:23:23
2:23:32
2:23:33
2:23:43
2:23:51
2:24:03
2:24:07
2:24:26
2:24:29
2:24:42
2:24:44
Media Guide 2015 191
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
World Record Pace Guide
Women’s Record
PAULA RADCLIFFE
2:15:25 at London 03
(her actual mile splits)
Women’s Only Record
Paula Radcliffe 2:17:42 at London 05
(her actual mile splits)
Mile
Time
Time
1
5:10
5:03
2
10:18
10:15
3
15:15
15:13
4
20:22
20:28
5
25:32
25:50
6
30:54
31:08
7
36:06
36:24
8
41:17
41:38
9
46:35
46:53
10
51:48
52:06
11
56:58
57:20
12 1:02:14
1:02:38
13 1:07:30
1:07:53
13.11:08:02
1:08:27
14 1:12:38
1:13:04
15 1:17:48
1:18:16
16 1:23:01
1:23:30
17 1:28:08
1:28:45
18 1:33:19
1:34:01
19 1:38:26
1:39:24
20 1:43:33
1:44:35
21 1:48:44
1:49:59
22 1:53:50
1:55:26
23 1:59:03
2:00:43
24 2:04:06
2:05:54
25 2:09:14
2:11:13
26.2 2:15:25
2:17:42
Men’s Record
DENNIS KIMETTO
2:02:57 at Berlin 14
(km splits; mile splits not taken)
Km
Time
Km split
1 2:522:52
2 5:472:55
3 8:462:59
4 11:432:57
5 14:422:59
6 17:362:55
7 20:322:56
8 23:292:57
9 26:262:57
10 29:242:58
11 32:182:55
12 35:223:04
13 38:223:00
14 41:192:57
15 44:102:51
16 47:032:54
17 49:582:55
18 52:522:54
19 55:442:52
20 58:362:52
211:01:28 2:53
221:04:23 2:55
231:07:16 2:53
241:10:10 2:54
251:13:08 2:58
261:16:02 2:55
271:18:56 2:54
281:21:53 2:57
291:24:46 2:53
301:27:38 2:52
311:30:24 2:46
321:33:15 2:51
331:36:01 2:46
341:38:50 2:49
351:41:47 2:57
361:44:39 2:52
371:47:35 2:56
381:50:33 2:58
391:53:28 2:55
401:56:29 3:01
411:59:24 2:55
422:02:20 2:56
42.195 2:02:57 (Halves: 61:45/61:12)
Kimetto’s 5km splits were:
5km 14:42
10km
14:42
15km
14:46
20km
14:26
25km
14:32
30km
14:30
35km
14:09
40km14:42
42.195km6:28
192 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
5km Split Times
Men
World record
DENNIS KIMETTO
2:02:57 Berlin 14
Km
514:42
1029:24
1544:10
2058:36
half1:01:45
251:13:08
301:27:38
351:41:47
401:56:29
finish2:02:57
Course record
WILSON KIPSANG
2:04:29 London 14
14:22
29:12
44:06
59:15
1:02:31
1:13:59
1:29:02
1:43:34
1:58:12
2:04:29
British record
STEVE JONES
2:07:13 Chicago 85
14:47
29:30
43:52
58:28
1:01:43
1:13:30
1:28:40
1:44:14
2:00:11
2:07:13
Women
World (women only),
Course & British record
PAULA RADCLIFFE
2:17:42 London 05
Km
515:47
1032:17
1548:34
201:04:55
half1:08:27
251:21:03
301:37:27
351:54:07
402:10:26
finish2:17:42
Media Guide 2015 193
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Mile & Kilometre Pace Charts
Here are two tables to convert a runner’s pace to the time needed to cover a particular distance. To see the
average race pace, look at the finish time and read the pace from the left-hand column. The table on this page is
based on minutes per mile; the table on the following page on minutes per kilometre.
Mile Pace
1 5 10Half
152025Mar
0:04:300:22:300:45:000:59:001:07:301:30:001:52:30 1:58:00
0:04:400:23:200:46:40 1:01:111:10:00 1:33:201:56:40 2:02:22
0:04:450:23:450:47:301:02:161:11:151:35:001:58:45 2:04:32
0:04:500:24:100:48:201:03:221:12:301:36:40 2:00:50 2:06:44
0:05:000:25:000:50:001:05:331:15:001:40:00 2:05:00 2:11:06
0:05:100:25:500:51:401:07:441:17:301:43:202:09:10 2:15:28
0:05:150:26:150:52:301:08:501:18:451:45:002:11:15 2:17:39
0:05:200:26:400:53:201:09:551:20:001:46:402:13:20 2:19:51
0:05:300:27:300:55:001:12:061:22:301:50:002:17:30 2:24:13
0:05:400:28:200:56:401:14:171:25:001:53:202:21:40 2:28:35
0:05:450:28:450:57:301:15:231:26:151:55:00 2:23:45 2:30:46
0:05:500:29:100:58:20 1:16:291:27:301:56:402:25:50 2:32:57
0:06:00 0:30:001:00:001:18:401:30:002:00:002:30:00 2:37:19
0:06:100:30:501:01:401:20:511:32:302:03:202:34:10 2:41:42
0:06:150:31:151:02:301:21:561:33:452:05:002:36:15 2:43:53
0:06:200:31:401:03:201:23:021:35:002:06:402:38:20 2:46:04
0:06:300:32:301:05:001:25:131:37:302:10:002:42:30 2:50:26
0:06:400:33:201:06:401:27:241:40:002:13:202:46:40 2:54:48
0:06:450:33:451:07:301:28:301:41:152:15:002:48:45 2:56:59
0:06:500:34:101:08:201:29:351:42:302:16:402:20:50 2:59:10
0:07:000:35:001:10:001:31:461:45:002:20:002:55:00 3:03:33
0:07:100:35:501:11:401:33:571:47:302:23:202:59:10 3:07:55
0:07:150:36:151:12:301:35:031:48:452:25:003:01:15 3:10:06
0:07:200:36:401:13:201:36:081:50:002:26:403:03:20 3:12:17
0:07:300:37:301:15:001:38:201:52:302:30:003:07:30 3:16:39
0:07:400:38:201:16:401:40:311:55:002:33:203:11:40 3:21:01
0:07:450:38:451:17:301:41:361:56:152:35:003:13:45 3:23:12
0:07:500:39:101:18:201:42:421:57:302:36:403:15:50 3:25:24
0:08:000:40:001:20:001:44:532:00:002:40:003:20:00 3:29:46
0:08:100:40:501:21:401:47:042:02:302:43:203:24:10 3:34:08
0:08:150:41:151:22:301:48:102:03:452:45:003:26:15 3:36:19
0:08:200:41:401:23:201:49:152:05:002:46:403:28:20 3:38:30
0:08:300:42:301:25:001:51:262:07:302:50:003:32:30 3:42:52
0:08:400:43:201:26:401:53:372:10:002:53:203:36:40 3:47:15
0:08:450:43:451:27:301:54:432:11:152:55:003:38:45 3:49:26
0:08:500:44:101:28:201:55:482:12:302:56:403:40:50 3:51:37
0:09:000:45:001:30:001:58:002:15:003:00:003:45:00 3:55:59
0:09:050:45:251:30:501:59:052:16:153:01:403:47:05 3:58:10
0:09:100:45:501:31:402:00:112:17:303:03:203:49:10 4:00:21
194 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Kilometre Pace
1k
0:02:45
0:02:50 0:02:55 0:03:00 0:03:05 0:03:10 0:03:15 0:03:20 0:03:25 0:03:30 0:03:35 0:03:40 0:03:45 0:03:50 0:03:55 0:04:00 0:04:05 0:04:10 0:04:15 0:04:20 0:04:25 0:04:30 0:04:35
0:04:40 0:04:45 0:04:50 0:04:55 0:05:00 0:05:05 0:05:10 0:05:15 0:05:20 0:05:25 0:05:30 0:05:35 0:05:40 0:05:45 0:05:50 1M
0:04:26 0:04:34 0:04:42 0:04:50 0:04:58 0:05:06 0:05:14 0:05:22 0:05:30 0:05:38 0:05:46 0:05:54 0:06:06 0:06:10 0:06:18 0:06:26 0:06:34 0:06:42 0:06:50 0:06:58 0:07:06 0:07:14 0:07:23
0:07:31 0:07:39 0:07:47 0:07:55 0:08:03 0:08:11 0:08:19 0:08:27 0:08:35 0:08:43 0:08:51 0:08:59 0:09:07 0:09:15 0:09:23 5km 10km15km 20kmHalf 25km 30km 35km40k Mar
0:13:45 0:27:30 0:41:15 0:55:00 0:58:01 1:08:45 1:22:30 1:36:15 1:50:00 1:56:02
0:14:10 0:28:20 0:42:30 0:56:40 0:59:47 1:10:50 1:25:00 1:39:10 1:53:20 1:59:33
0:14:35 0:29:10 0:43:45 0:58:20 1:01:32 1:12:55 1:27:30 1:42:05 1:56:40 2:03:04
0:15:00 0:30:00 0:45:00 1:00:00 1:03:18 1:15:00 1:30:00 1:45:00 2:00:00 2:06:35
0:15:25 0:30:50 0:46:15 1:01:40 1:05:03 1:17:05 1:32:30 1:47:55 2:03:20 2:10:06
0:15:50 0:31:40 0:47:30 1:03:20 1:06:49 1:19:10 1:35:00 1:50:50 2:06:40 2:13:37
0:16:15 0:32:30 0:48:45 1:05:00 1:08:34 1:21:15 1:37:30 1:53:45 2:10:00 2:17:08
0:16:40 0:33:20 0:50:00 1:06:40 1:10:19 1:23:20 1:40:00 1:56:40 2:13:20 2:20:39
0:17:05 0:34:10 0:51:15 1:08:20 1:12:05 1:25:23 1:42:30 1:59:35 2:16:40 2:24:10
0:17:30 0:35:00 0:52:30 1:10:00 1:13:50 1:27:30 1:45:00 2:02:30 2:20:00 2:27:41
0:17:55 0:35:50 0:53:45 1:11:40 1:15:36 1:29:35 1:47:30 2:05:25 2:23:20 2:31:12
0:18:20 0:36:40 0:55:00 1:13:20 1:17:21 1:31:40 1:50:00 2:08:20 2:26:40 2:34:43
0:18:45 0:37:30 0:56:15 1:15:00 1:19:07 1:33:45 1:52:30 2:11:25 2:30:00 2:38:14
0:19:10 0:38:20 0:57:30 1:16:40 1:20:52 1:35:50 1:55:00 2:14:10 2:33:20 2:41:45
0:19:35 0:39:10 0:58:45 1:18:20 1:22:38 1:37:55 1:57:30 2:17:05 2:36:40 2:45:16
0:20:00 0:40:00 1:00:00 1:20:00 1:24:23 1:40:00 2:00:00 2:20:00 2:40:00 2:48:47
0:20:25 0:40:50 1:01:15 1:21:40 1:26:09 1:42:05 2:02:30 2:22:55 2:43:20 2:52:18
0:20:50 0:41:40 1:02:30 1:23:20 1:27:54 1:44:10 2:05:00 2:25:50 2:46:40 2:55:49
0:21:15 0:42:30 1:03:45 1:25:00 1:29:40 1:46:15 2:07:30 2:28:45 2:50:00 2:59:20
0:21:40 0:43:30 1:05:00 1:26:40 1:31:25 1:48:20 2:10:00 2:31:40 2:53:20 3:02:51
0:22:05 0:44:10 1:06:15 1:28:20 1:33:11 1:50:25 2:12:30 2:34:35 2:56:40 3:06:22
0:22:30 0:45:00 1:07:30 1:30:00 1:34:56 1:52:30 2:15:00 2:37:30 3:00:00 3:09:53
0:22:55 0:45:50 1:08:45 1:31:40 1:36:42 1:54:35 2:17:30 2:40:25 3:03:20 3:13:24
0:23:20 0:46:40 1:10:00 1:33:20 1:38:27 1:56:40 2:20:00 2:43:20 3:06:40 3:16:55
0:23:45 0:47:30 1:11:15 1:35:00 1:40:13 1:58:45 2:22:30 2:46:15 3:10:00 3:20:26
0:24:10 0:48:20 1:12:30 1:36:40 1:41:58 2:00:50 2:25:00 2:49:10 3:13:20 3:23:57
0:24:35 0:49:10 1:13:45 1:38:20 1:43:43 2:02:55 2:27:30 2:52:05 3:16:40 3:27:28
0:25:00 0:50:00 1:15:00 1:40:00 1:45:29 2:05:00 2:30:00 2:55:00 3:20:00 3:30:58
0:25:25 0:50:50 1:16:15 1:41:40 1:47:15 2:07:05 2:32:30 2:57:55 3:23:20 3:34:29
0:25:50 0:51:40 1:17:30 1:43:20 1:49:00 2:09:10 2:35:00 3:00:50 3:26:40 3:38:00
0:26:15 0:52:30 1:18:45 1:45:00 1:50:46 2:11:15 2:37:30 3:03:45 3:30:00 3:41:31
0:26:40 0:53:20 1:20:00 1:46:40 1:52:31 2:13:20 2:40:00 3:06:40 3:33:20 3:45:02
0:27:05 0:54:10 1:21:15 1:48:20 1:54:17 2:15:25 2:42:30 3:09:35 3:36:40 3:48:33
0:27:30 0:55:00 1:22:30 1:50:00 1:56:02 2:17:30 2:45:00 3:12:30 3:40:00 3:52:04
0:27:55 0:55:50 1:23:45 1:51:40 1:57:48 2:19:35 2:47:30 3:15:25 3:43:20 3:55:35
0:28:20 0:56:40 1:25:00 1:53:20 1:59:33 2:21:40 2:50:00 3:18:20 3:36:40 3:59:06
0:28:45 0:57:30 1:26:15 1:55:00 2:01:19 2:23:45 2:52:30 3:21:15 3:50:00 4:02:37
0:29:10 0:58:20 1:27:30 1:56:40 2:03:04 2:25:50 2:55:00 3:24:10 3:53:20 4:06:08
Media Guide 2015 195
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
30km Records
World Records
Men
30km
1:27:37 +
1:27:37 +
Emmanuel Mutai
Geoffrey Kamworor
KEN KEN
Berlin
Berlin
28 Sep 2014
28 Sep 2014
Women
30km
1:38:23 + Liliya Shobukhova *
RUS Chicago
9 Oct 2011
The fastest 30km times recorded in 2014 were:
Men
30km
1:27:37 +
Emmanuel Mutai
1:27:37 +
Geoffrey Kamworor
KEN KEN
Berlin
Berlin
28 Sep
28 Sep
Women
30km
Edna Kiplagat
Florence Kiplagat
KEN
KEN
London
London
13 Apr
13 Apr
Emmanuel Mutai
Geoffrey Kamworor
Takayuki Matsumiya
António Pinto
Ryan Hall
Marîlson dos Santos
KEN KEN
JPN
POR
USA
BRA
Berlin
28 Sep 2014
Berlin
28 Sep 2014
Kumamoto
27 Feb 2005
London14 April 2002
London13 April 2008
London17 April 2011
Mare Dibaba
Koren Jelela
Mizuki Noguchi
Liliya Shobukhova *
Shalane Flanagan
Benita Johnson (Willis)
Inés Melchor
ETH
ETH
JPN
RUS USA
AUS
PER
Toronto16 Oct 2011
Toronto16 Oct 2011
Berlin25 Sep 2005
Chicago
9 Oct 2011
Berlin28 Sep 2014
Chicago22 Oct 2006
Berlin28 Sep 2014
1:39:11 +
1:39:11 +
Area Records
Men
Africa
Asia
Europe
NACAC
South America
1:27:37 +
1:27:37 +
1:28:00
1:29:00 +
1:28:38 +
1:29:21 +
Women
Africa
1:38:33 +
Asia
1:38:49 +
Europe
1:38:23 +
NACAC
1:39:15 +
Oceania
1:40:12 +
South America 1:43:30
+ = en route to longer distance
* Liliya Shobukhova (RUS) was banned from competition for a doping violation in April last year, and her case is currently under
investigation awaiting a hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). If the case is confirmed, her results from 2010 and
2011 will be annulled.
Note:
Paula Radcliffe was timed at 1:21:03 (25km) and 1:37:27 (30km) during the 2005 London Marathon, but no
records were applied for in either case. In 2005 there were only Champion Chip times at 25km and 30km but
since then there have been official time keepers at the 30km mark to ratify any times for IAAF world record
purposes.
There are no time keepers at the 25km point because, at 8.5m above sea level, this is more than a 25-metre
drop from the start (39.459m asl) so 25km times are not eligible for official records.
The 30km mark (10.794m on the north side of the road; 10.558m on the south side) is within the limit for
records.
196 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
BRITISH MARATHON STATISTICS
British All-Time Top 20
Men
Time
2:07:13
2:08:21
2:08:33
2:08:36
2:08:52
2:09:08
2:09:12
2:09:16
2:09:17
2:09:24
2:09:28
2:09:28
2:09:31
2:09:43
2:09:54
2:10:12
2:10:30
2:10:35
2:10:37
2:10:39
Name
Steve Jones
Mo Farah
Charlie Spedding
Richard Nerurkar
Paul Evans
Geoff Smith
Ian Thompson
Allister Hutton
Mark Steinle
Hugh Jones (10)
Ron Hill
John Graham
Jon Brown
Mike Gratton
Tony Milovsorov
Gerry Helme
David Long
Steve Brace
Tomas Abyu
Mike O’Reilly (20)
Place
1
8
2
5
1
2
1
3
8
1
1
1
7
1
6
2
4
2
2
4
CityTime
Chicago 20 Oct 85
London 13 Apr 14
London 21 Apr 85
London 13 Apr 97
Chicago 20 Oct 96
New York 23 Oct 83
Christchurch 31 Jan 74
London 21 Apr 85
London 14 Apr 02
London 9 May 82
Edinburgh 23 Jul 70
Rotterdam 23 May 81
London 17 Apr 05
London 17 Apr 83
London 23 Apr 89
London 17 Apr 83
London 21 Apr 91
Houston 21 Jan 96
Dublin 29 Oct 07
Fukuoka 5 Dec 93
No. of British men under 2:11:00 – 26; 2:12:00 – 40; 2:13:00 – 56
Women
Time
2:15:25
2:23:12
2:25:56
2:26:51
2:26:52
2:27:44
2:28:06
2:28:10
2:28:24
2:28:33
2:28:38
2:28:39
2:28:42
2:29:18
2:29:29
2:29:43
2:29:47
2:30:00
2:30:38
2:30:46
Name
Paula Radcliffe
Mara Yamauchi
Véronique Marot
Priscilla Welch
Liz McColgan
Claire Hallissey
Sarah Rowell
Freya Ross (Murray)
Jo Pavey
Liz Yelling (10)
Sally-Ann Hales
Kathy Butler
Marian Sutton
Hayley Haining
Sally Eastall
Joyce Smith
Paula Fudge
Louise Damen
Ann Ford
Susan Partridge (20)
Note: best in women only race
2:17:42
Paula Radcliffe
Place
1
2
1
2
2
11
2
13
18
9
3
9
7
12
1
1
3
21
2
9
CityTime
London 13 Apr 03
London 26 Apr 09
London 23 Apr 89
London 10 May 87
London 13 Apr 97
London 22 Apr 12
London 21 Apr 85
London 22 Apr 12
London 17 Apr 11
London 13 Apr 08
London 21 Apr 85
Chicago 22 Oct 06
Chicago 24 Oct 99
London 13 Apr 08
Sacramento 8 Dec 91
London 9 May 82
Chicago 30 Oct 88
London 17 Apr 11
London 17 Apr 88
London 21 Apr 13
1
London 17 Apr 05
No. of British women under 2:32:00 – 27; 2:35:00 – 46
Media Guide 2015 197
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
British Record Progression
Men
TimeName
Club
3:16:08.6
William Clarke Sefton H
2:42:31 Harry Barrett Poly H
2:38:16.2 t Harry Green 2:37:40.4 Bobby Mills
Leics H
2:35:58.2 Sam Ferris
RAF
2:35:27 Ferris 2:34:34 Harry Payne Woodford G
2:33:00 Ferris 2:30:57.6 Payne
2:29:24 Jim Peters Essex Beagles 2:20:42.2 Peters 2:18:40.2 Peters 2:18:34.8 Peters 2:17:39.4 Peters 2:14:43 Brian Kilby Coventry G
2:13:55 Basil Heatley Coventry G
2:13:45 Alastair Wood Aberdeen AAC
2:12:16.8 Bill Adcocks Coventry G
2:10:47.8 Adcocks
2:10:30 Ron Hill Bolton U H
2:09:28 Hill 2:09:12 Ian Thompson Luton 2:09:08 Geoff Smith
Liverpool
2:08:05
Steve Jones
Newport 2:07:13
Jones
Race
White City (OG) Polytechnic Stamford Bridge
Polytechnic Polytechnic Liverpool Polytechnic Liverpool
Polytechnic Polytechnic Polytechnic Polytechnic Turku Polytechnic Port Talbot Polytechnic Inverness Karl Marx Stadt
Fukuoka
Boston Edinburgh (CG)
Christchurch (CG)
New York
Chicago
Chicago
Date
24 July 1908
26 May 1909
12 May 1913
17 July 1920
30 May 1925
28 Sep 1927
6 July 1928
26 Sep 1928
5 July 1929
16 Jun 1951
14 Jun 1952
13 Jun 1953
4 Oct 1953
26 Jun 1954
6 July 1963
13 Jun 1964
9 July 1966
19 May 1968
8 Dec 1968
20 Apr 1970
23 July 1970
31 Jan 1974
23 Oct 1983
21 Oct 1984
20 Oct 1985
Race
IoW
Guildford
Korso, Finland
Feltham
Rugby
Sandbach
Eugene, USA
Waldniel, GER
Sandbach
Tokyo
London
London
LA (OG)
London
Chicago
London
London
London
Chicago
London
Date
23 May 1964
19 Oct 1975
26 Oct 1975
4 Apr 1976
3 Sep 1978
6 July 1979
9 Sep 1979
22 Sep 1979
22 July 1980
16 Nov 1980
29 Mar 1981
9 May 1982
5 Aug 1984
21 Apr 1985
20 Oct 1985
10 May 1987
23 Apr 1989
14 Apr 2002
13 Oct 2002
13 Apr 2003
t = track race
Women
TimeName
Club
3:27:25
Dale Greig
3:11:54
Anne Clarke
Highgate H
3:07:47
Margaret Thompson
Luton
2:50:55
Christine Readdy (Kilkenny) Stoke
2:50:54
Rosemary Cox (Harrold)
Enfield
2:41:37
Joyce Smith Barnet
2:41:03
Gillian Adams (Horowitz)
Kent
2:36:27
Smith
2:33:32
Smith
2:30:27
Smith
2:29:57
Smith
2:29:43
Smith
2:28:54
Priscilla Welch
Ranelagh
2:28:06
Sarah Rowell
Dartford
2:28:04
Veronique Marot
Leeds
2:26:51
Welch
2:25:56
Marot
2:18:56
Paula Radcliffe
Bedford
2:17:18
Radcliffe
2:15:25
Radcliffe
198 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
WHEELCHAIR MARATHON STATISTICS
London Wheelchair Champions
Men
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Gordon Perry
Kevin Breen
Chris Hallam
Gerry O’Rourke
Chris Hallam
Ted Vince
David Holding Hakan Ericsson
Farid Amarouch
Daniel Wesley
George Vandamme
David Holding
Heinz Frei
David Holding
David Holding
Heinz Frei
Heinz Frei
Kevin Papworth
Denis Lemeunier
David Weir
Joel Jeannot
Saul Mendoza
Saul Mendoza
David Weir
David Weir
David Weir
Kurt Fearnley
Josh Cassidy
David Weir
David Weir
Kurt Fearnley
Marcel Hug
GBR
IRL
GBR
IRL
GBR
CAN
GBR
SWE
FRA
CAN
BEL
GBR
SUI
GBR
GBR
SUI
SUI
GBR
FRA
GBR
FRA
MEX
MEX
GBR
GBR
GBR
AUS
CAN
GBR
GBR
AUS
SUI
3:20:07 (back start)
2:38:40
2:19:53
2:26:38
2:08:34
2:01:37
1:59:31
1:57:12
1:52:52
1:51:42
1:44:10
1:46:06
1:39:14
1:43:48
1:42:15
1:35:18
1:35:27
1:41:50
1:42:37
1:39:44
1:32:02
1:36:56 (course deviation)
1:35:51
1:29:48
1:30:49
1:33:56
1:28:56
1:35:21
1:30:05
1:32:26
1:31:29
1:32:41
Media Guide 2015 199
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Women
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Denise Smith
Kay McShane
Kay McShane
Kay McShane
Karen Davidson
Karen Davidson
Josie Cidhockyj
Connie Hansen
Connie Hansen
Tanni Grey
Rose Hill
Tanni Grey
Rose Hill
Tanni Grey
Monica Wetterstrom
Tanni Grey
Monica Wetterstrom
Sarah Piercy
Tanni Grey-Thompson
Tanni Grey-Thompson
Francesca Porcellato
Francesca Porcellato
Francesca Porcellato
Francesca Porcellato
Shelly Woods
Sandra Graf
Amanda McGrory
Wakako Tsuchida
Amanda McGrory
Shelly Woods
Tatyana McFadden
Tatyana McFadden
200 Media Guide 2015
GBR
IRL
IRL
IRL
GBR
GBR
GBR
DEN
DEN
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
SWE
GBR
SWE
GBR
GBR
GBR
ITA
ITA
ITA
ITA
GBR
SUI
USA
JPN
USA
GBR
USA
USA
4:29:03 (back start)
3:10:04
2:47:12
3:02:40
2:45:30
2:41:45
3:03:54
2:10:25
2:04:40
2:17:23
2:03:05
2:08:26
2:17:02
2:00:10
1:49:09
2:02:01
1:57:38
2:23:30
2:13:55
2:22:51
2:04:21
2:04:58
1:57:00
1:59:57
1:50:40
1:48:04
1:50:39
1:52:33
1:46:31
1:49:10
1:46:02
1:45:12
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Best Times in London
Men
TimeName
1:28:56
Kurt Fearnley
1:28:57
David Weir
1:28:58
Ernst van Dyk
1:29:48Weir
1:30:05Weir
1:30:07
Heinz Frei
1:30:13
Masazumi Soejima
1:30:15Frei
1:30:49Weir
1:30:50Fearnley
1:30:54
Tomasz Hamerlak
1:30:55
Roger Puigbo Verdageur
1:30:56
Josh Cassidy
1:30:57
Nobukazu Hamaoka
1:31:01
Saul Mendoza
1:31:01
Choke Yasuoka
1:31:01
Denis Lemeunier
1:31:29Fearnley
1:31:29
Marcel Hug
1:31:30 van Dyk
1:31:30Hamerlak
1:31:31Weir
1:31:31
Kota Hokinoue
1:31:32Frei
1:31:33
Hiroyuki Yamamoto
1:32:02
Joel Jeannot
1:32:26Weir
1:32:27Hug
1:32:28
Krige Schabort
1:32:29Soejima
1:32:30Frei
1:32:31Hamerlak
1:32:33
Masayuki Higuchi
1:32:40Lemeunier
1:32:41Hug
1:32:42Weir
1:32:42 van Dyk
1:32:43Hokinoue
1:33:00Yamamoto
1:33:47
Saul Mendoza
1:33:47 van Dyk
1:33:51Yasuoka
1:33:54Cassidy
1:33:56Weir
1:34:00Fearnley
1:34:01Lemeunier
1:34:02Schabort
1:34:03Frei
1:34:25 van Dyk
1:34:41
Jordi Jimenez
Country
AUS
GBR
RSA
GBR
GBR
SUI
JPN
SUI
GBR
AUS
POL
ESP
CAN
JPN
MEX
JPN
FRA
AUS
SUI
RSA
POL
GBR
JPN
SUI
JPN
FRA
GBR
SUI
USA
JPN
SUI
POL
JPN
FRA
SUI
GBR
RSA
JPN
JPN
MEX
RSA
JPN
CAN
GBR
AUS
FRA
RSA
SUI
RSA
ESP
Year
2009
2009
2009
2006
2011
2011
2009
2009
2007
2007
2011
2011
2011
2011
2011
2011
2011
2013
2013
2013
2013
2013
2013
2013
2013
2003
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
2009
2014
2014
2014
2014
2012
2007
2007
2007
2012
2008
2008
2008
2008
2008
2008
2011
Media Guide 2015 201
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Women
TimeName
1:45:12
Tatyana McFadden
1:46:02McFadden
1:46:04
Amanda McGrory
1:46:31McGrory
1:46:31
Shelly Woods
1:46:33
Sandra Graf
1:46:34McFadden
1:46:44
Manuela Schär
1:46:45
Wakako Tsuchida
1:48:01Graf
1:48:04Graf
1:49:09
Monica Wetterstrom
1:49:10Woods
1:50:39McGrory
1:50:40Woods
1:50:40Graf
1:50:41
Diane Roy
1:50:42
Edith Hunkeler
1:50:43
Christie Dawes
1:50:43Dawes
1:50:44Woods
1:50:46Woods
1:50:46
Shirley Reilly
1:50:47
Susannah Scaroni
1:51:01Scaroni
1:51:01Dawes
1:51:58McGrory
1:52:33Tsuchida
1:52:34Graf
1:52:36McGrory
1:53:04Tsuchida
1:53:05Roy
1:53:44
Madison de Rozario
1:54:39Reilly
1:54:41
Christina Schwab-Ripp
1:54:41McGrory
1:54:43Graf
1:54:52Woods
1:54:54Roy
1:57:00
Francesca Porcellato
1:57:03Woods
1:57:03Roy
1:57:38Wetterstrom
1:59:46Porcellato
1:59:57Porcellato
1:59:57Reilly
1:59:59
Jade Jones
2:00:06
Tanni Grey
2:00:10Grey
2:01:59Woods
202 Media Guide 2015
Country
USA
USA
USA
USA
GBR
SUI
USA
SUI
JPN
SUI
SUI
SWE
GBR
USA
GBR
SUI
CAN
SUI
AUS
AUS
GBR
GBR
USA
USA
USA
AUS
USA
JPN
SUI
USA
JPN
CAN
AUS
USA
USA
USA
SUI
GBR
CAN
ITA
GBR
CAN
SWE
ITA
ITA
USA
GBR
GBR
GBR
GBR
Year
2014
2013
2013
2011
2011
2011
2011
2014
2014
2013
2008
1997
2012
2009
2007
2009
2009
2009
2009
2013
2013
2009
2013
2013
2014
2014
2008
2010
2010
2010
2012
2012
2013
2012
2012
2012
2012
2014
2014
2005
2005
2011
1999
2007
2006
2014
2014
1997
1996
2008
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
World & British Records
IPC World Records
Men T54
1:20:14
Women T54
1:38:07
Heinz Frei
SUI
Oita
1999
Manuela Schär
Wakako Tsuchida
SUI
JPN
Oita
Oita
2013
2013
David Weir
GBR
Los Angeles
2007
Shelly Woods
GBR
Padua
2008
British Records
Men T54
1:27:46
Women T54
1:37:44
London Marathon Course Records
Men
1:28:56
Women
1:45:12
Kurt Fearnley
AUS
2009
Tatyana McFadden
USA
2014
Josh Cassidy
CAN
Boston
2012
Wakako Tsuchida
JPN
Boston
2011
World’s Fastest Times
Men
1:18:25
Women
1:34:06
The Boston course is not accepted for world records.
Starters & Finishers
Year
EntrantsStartersFinishers
1983
2119 17
1984
2826 26
1985
37
33 32
1986
4842 37
1987
4642 41
1988
5148 43
1989
5750 49
1990
7763 60
1991
5244 42
1992
6652 50
1993
6853 47
1994
5949 48
1995
6952 51
1996
6445 45
1997
6954 54
1998
6049 48
1999
5841 40
2000
5542 40
2001
4232 31
2002
5946 44
2003
5145 43
2004
4231 29
2005
4840 40
2006
3528 26
2007
4033 31
2008
3937 35
2009
4439 38
2010
4839 34
2011
4141 30
2012
4838 38
2013
5946 46
2014
5441 39
Media Guide 2015 203
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
IPC ATHLETICS MARATHON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Marathon World Champions
Men
T11
2002
2006
2011
2013
Andrea Cionna
Yuichi Takahashi
Cristian Valenzuela Cristian Valenzuela ITA
JPN
CHI
CHI
2:53:43
2:45:41
2:41:04 CR
2:44:33
T12
2002
2006
2011
2013
Stephen Brunt
Gonzalo Beristan
Alberto Suárez Laso
El Amin Chentouf GBR
MEX
ESP
MAR
2:44:45
2:45:01
2:28:10 CR
2:29:47
T13
2002
Ildar Pomykalov
RUS
2:40:15 CR
T46
1998
2006
2011
2013
Javier Conde
Tito Sena
Mario Santillan Hernandez
Alessandro di Lello
ESP
BRA
MEX
ITA
2:28:20 CR
2:33:31
2:30:59
2:33:42
T51
1998
2002
Fabian Blattman
Alvise de Vidi
AUS
ITA
3:01:29
2:38:59
T52
1998
2002
2006
Clayton Gerein
Thomas Geierspichler
Santiago Sanz
CAN
AUT
ESP
2:07:50
2:00:41
1:50:35 CR
T53
1998
Greg Smith
AUS
2:18:45
T54
1998 (T55)
2002
2006
2011
2013
Heinz Frei
Heinz Frei
Kurt Fearnley
Kurt Fearnley
Marcel Hug
SUI
SUI
AUS
AUS
SUI
1:32:25
1:27:58 CR
1:28:17
1:31:09
1:28:44
T53
1998
Svetlana Trifonova
UKR
2:30:03
T54
1998 (T55)
2002
2006
2011
2013
Louise Sauvage
Ariadne Hernandez
Diane Roy
Wakako Tsuchida
Manuela Schär AUS
MEX
CAN
JPN
SUI
1:59:14
1:49:04
1:44:23 CR
1:48:24
1:49:45
Women
CR = championship record
204 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
IPC Athletics Marathon World Cup Champions
T11-13
Men
2013
2014
El Amin Chentouf
El Amin Chentouf
MAR
MAR
2:24:00
2:25:07
Women
2013
2014
Maria Paredes Rodriguez
Maria Paredes Rodriguez
ESP
ESP
3:17:10
2:59:22
Richard Whitehead
Richard Whitehead
GBR
GBR
3:15:53
3:42:04
Alessandro di Lello
Tito Sena
ITA
BRA
2:32:06
2:35:45
Santiago Sanz
ESP
1:58:16
Men
2013
2014
Kurt Fearnley
Marcel Hug
AUS
SUI
1:31:29
1:32:41
Women
2013
2014
Tatyana McFadden
Tatyana McFadden
USA
USA
1:46:02
1:45:12
T42/43
Men
2013
2014
T44-46
Men
2013
2014
T51/52
Men
2014
T53/54
Media Guide 2015 205
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
World & British Records
IPC World Records
Men
T11
T12
T13
T42
T46
T51
T52
T54
2:31:59
2:24:00 2:22:55
3:15:53
2:27:04
2:23:08
1:40:07
1:20:14
Women
T11
3:36:04
T12
2:59:22
T13vacant
T46vacant
T51vacant
T52
2:07:28
T54
1:38:07
1:38:07
Andrea Cionna
El Amin Chentouf
Carlos Talbot
Richard Whitehead
Mario Santillan Hernandez
Heinrich Koberle
Thomas Geierspichler
Heinz Frei
ITA
MAR
USA
GBR
MEX
GER
AUT
SUI
Rome
London
Seoul PG
London
Beijing PG
Berlin
Beijing PG
Oita
18 Mar 2007
21 Apr 2013
24 Oct 1988
21 Apr 2013
17 Sep 2008
24 Sep 1995
17 Sep 2008
31 Oct 1999
Yumiko Konno
Maria Paredes Rodriguez
JPN
ESP
London
London
13 Apr 2014
13 Apr 2014
Yamaki Tomomi
Manuela Schär
Wakako Tsuchida
JPN
SUI
JPN
Oita
Oita
Oita
9 Nov 2008
27 Oct 2013
27 Oct 2013
Note: Official IPC world records are only accredited if they are set at IPC licensed events.
British Records
Men
T11vacant
T12vacant
T13
2:36:58
T42
2:42:54
T44
2:52:55
T46
3:27:15
T52
1:56:43
Steve Marklew
Richard Whitehead
Abdifatah Dhuhulow
Derek Rae
Rob Smith
London
Chicago
London
Edinburgh
Dubai
Women
vacant
IPC World Records Set in London
Men
T12
T42
2:24:00 3:15:53
El Amin Chentouf
Richard Whitehead
MAR
GBR
21 Apr 2013
21 Apr 2013
Women
T11
T11
T12
T12
3:38:16
3:36:04
3:17:10
2:59:22
Ivonne Mosquera-Schmidt
Yumiko Konno
Maria Paredes Rodriguez
Maria Paredes Rodriguez
USA
JPN
ESP
ESP
21 Apr 2013
13 Apr 2014
21 Apr 2013
13 Apr 2014
206 Media Guide 2015
26 Apr 2009
10 Oct 2010
17 Apr 2011
26 May 2013
24 Jan 2014
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
VETERAN STATISTICS
Top 10 Veterans All Time (40+)
Men
Time
2:08:46
2:10:32
2:10:47
2:10:50
2:11:04a
2:11:18
2:11:29
2:11:45
2:11:51
2:12:09
Women
Time
2:22:27
2:24:54
2:25:43
2:26:51
2:27:05a
2:28:06
2:28:18
2:28:31
2:28:36
2:28:40
Name
Andres Espinosa
Mohamed Ezzher
Jonathan Cherono
Japhet Kosgei
John Campbell
Jack Foster
Sammy Korir
Joshua Kipkemboi
Jackson Kipgnok
Jonathan Kipkosgei Kibet
CountryPlace
MEX
Berlin
FRA
Paris
KEN
Beijing
KEN
Gold Coast
NZL
Boston
NZL
Christchurch
KEN
Gunsan
KEN
St Paul
KEN
St Paul
KEN
Venice
Year
2003
2001
2001
2011
1990
1974
2012
2002
2002
2009
Name
Mariya Konovalova
Irina Mikitenko
Lyudmila Petrova
Priscilla Welch
Firaya Sultanova Zhdanova
Irina Bogacheva
Miranda Boonstra
Madina Biktagirova
Helena Javornik
Colleen De Reuck
CountryPlace
RUS
Nagoya
GER
Berlin
RUS
New York
GBR
London
RUS
Duluth
KGZ
Nashville
NED
Eindhoven
RUS
Istanbul
SLO
Treviso
USA
Chicago
Year
2015
2013
2008
1987
2003
2003
2012
2006
2008
2005
Country
SWE
NZL
GBR
Year
1986
1991
1999
Country
GBR
RUS
GBR
Year
1987
2009
1982
a = assisted course
Top Veterans in London (40+)
Men
TimeName
2:16:00
Kjell-Erik Stahl
2:17:22
John Campbell
2:17:22
Eamonn Martin
Women
TimeName
2:26:51
Priscilla Welch
2:27:42
Lyudmila Petrova
2:29:43
Joyce Smith
Note: from 1981 to 2008, women of 35 and over were considered veterans at the London Marathon.
From 2009 the veteran categories were changed to 40+ for both men and women.
Jaouad Gharib of Morocco finished fifth in the 2012 men’s race in 2:07:44 aged 39 years 11 months.
Awards and Bonuses (men and women 40+)
1$1,000
2$500
3$250
Veteran age groups
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70+
Media Guide 2015 207
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
208 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
11 ABBOTT WORLD MARATHON MAJORS
How it Works
The World Marathon Majors Series was set up on 23
January 2006 when the directors of the world’s five
leading races – in Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago
and New York – announced they would pay a
total of US$1 million to the top man and woman
marathon runners at the end of a two-year cycle.
That cycle would include these ‘big five’ premier city
marathons plus any IAAF World Championships or
Olympic Games marathons held during the period.
A sixth city marathon was added in 2013 when the
Tokyo Marathon joined the series, and in October
2014 the series became the Abbott World Marathon
Majors when the Illinois-based global health care
company was named as title sponsor for four years
from 2015.
The series is designed to elevate marathon running
in the public’s eyes by focusing the world’s best
marathon runners on the world’s best marathons.
It aims to be simple to follow and an intriguing
platform for the sport. Each member race boasts an
international elite field for both men and women, has
a mass field competing on the same course as the
elites, takes place in a major international market, and
is regarded as among the very best in the industry.
Collectively, the group annually attracts more than five
million on-course spectators, more than 300 million
television viewers, 400,000 applicants and 185,000
participants. The races also raise more than $100
million for charity and have an economic impact on
their cities amounting to more than $400 million.
A new format
A new format was announced on 20 February 2015.
This replaces the two-year contest with a one-year
cycle featuring a rotating start and finish at each of the
six annual series races.
Series IX began on 22 February at the 2015 Tokyo
Marathon and will end on completion of the February
2016 Tokyo Marathon. Series X begins at the 2016
Boston Marathon and ends upon completion of the
2017 Boston Marathon.
Each subsequent series will begin and end at the next
World Marathon Majors race on the calendar. The
Olympic marathon and IAAF World Championship
marathons will be part of the race schedule in the
years they are held, but will not begin or end a series.
Wilson Kipsang
Under the new rules, the winners of each of these races
earn 25 points apiece, with 16 going to second place,
nine to third, four to fourth and one to fifth. To win the
prize, runners must start at least two races over the
series cycle. If an athlete earns points in more than two
events, the athlete’s highest two finishes will be scored.
New anti-doping protocols
The AWMM has also strengthened its anti-doping
efforts. Together with the International Association of
Athletics Federations (IAAF), the AWMM will create
a pool of championship-eligible runners who will
undergo additional out-of-competition drug testing.
Details on the athlete pool and the testing protocols
are yet to be announced.
Prize money payments also will be adjusted to take
advantage of long-term biological mapping of athletes.
Thus, the $500,000 award to the men’s and women’s
champions will no longer be made in one lump sum
but will now be paid out over the course of five years,
at $100,000 each year.
Carey Pinkowski, executive race director of the
Chicago Marathon, explained: “With a new title
sponsor, a new series format and an increase in our
anti-doping efforts, the Abbott World Marathon Majors
begins a new era in marathon history. The integrity
of the Abbott World Marathon Majors championship
title is our top priority, as our champions represent the
hundreds of thousands of runners from around the
world who participate in our races annually.”
For more about the Abbott World Marathon
Majors go to www.worldmarathonmajors.com
Media enquiries: Megan Lane
Tel. +1 312 339 2621
Email: [email protected]
Media Guide 2015 209
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
The new scoring system
Athletes earn the following points by placing among the top five in qualifying races during the two-year period:
1st place – 25 points
2nd place– 16 points
3rd place – 9 points
4th place – 4 points
5th place – 1 point
The champions will be the male and female athletes who score the most points during the one-year scoring
period. Points from a maximum of two races will be scored. An athlete must start in two races over the cycle to
be eligible. If an athlete earns points in more than two events, the athlete’s highest two finishes will be scored.
If there’s a tie, the athlete finishing first in any head-to-head competition will be declared the winner. If their headto-head record is level, the winner is the athlete who:
• won more qualifying races during the period
• the six AWMM race directors determine to be the champion. They may decide to award the title jointly.
No athlete found guilty of any anti-doping rules enforced by the IAAF, World Anti-Doping Association (WADA),
national federations, or any individual AWMM race is eligible to win the AWMM title. Athletes must comply with
the AWMM Code of Conduct.
WMM champions
WMM SeriesMenWomen
Series I: 2006/07
Robert K Cheruiyot (KEN)
Gete Wami (ETH)
Series II: 2007/08
Martin Lel (KEN)
Irina Mikitenko (GER)
Series III: 2008/09
Sammy Wanjiru (KEN)
Irina Mikitenko (GER)
Series IV: 2009/10
Sammy Wanjiru (KEN)
Liliya Shobukhova (RUS) *
Series V: 2010/11
Emmanuel Mutai (KEN)
Liliya Shobukhova (RUS) *
Series VI: 2011/12
Geoffrey Mutai (KEN)
Mary Keitany (KEN)
Series VII: 2012/13
Tsegaye Kebede (ETH)
Priscah Jeptoo (KEN)
Series VIII: 2013/14
Wilson Kipsang (KEN)
Rita Jeptoo (KEN) **
* Liliya Shobukhova (RUS) was banned from competition for a doping violation in April last year, and her case is currently under
investigation awaiting a hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). If the case is confirmed, her results from 2010 and
2011 will be annulled.
** Rita Jeptoo (KEN) won four races in the 2013/14 series but following the positive A and B samples from an out-of-competition
test in September 2014, her standings and the final results of the 2013/14 series will be determined at the completion of the due
legal process and the outcome of any appeal.
The qualifying races
Series IX (2015/16)
22 February 2015 Tokyo Marathon
20 April 2015
BAA Boston Marathon
26 April 2015
Virgin Money London Marathon
22 August 2015
IAAF World Championships Men’s Marathon (Beijing)
30 August 2015
IAAF World Championships Women’s Marathon (Beijing)
27 September 2015BMW Berlin Marathon
11 October 2015 Bank of America Chicago Marathon
1 November 2015 TCS New York City Marathon
28 February 2016 Tokyo Marathon
Series IX began at the 2015 Tokyo Marathon and will end at the 2016 Tokyo Marathon.
Series X will begin at the 2016 Boston Marathon and end at the 2017 Boston Marathon.
Series XI will begin at the 2017 London Marathon and end at the 2018 London Marathon.
Series XII will begin at the 2018 Berlin Marathon and end at the 2019 Berlin Marathon.
Series XIII will begin at the 2019 Chicago Marathon and end at the 2020 Chicago Marathon.
Series XIV will begin at the 2020 New York City Marathon and end at the 2021 New York City Marathon.
Each subsequent series will begin and end at the next AWMM race on the calendar.
The Olympic Marathon and IAAF World Championships Marathon will be included in the race schedule in the
years they are held, but will not begin or end the series.
210 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
The World Marathon Majors Races
Tokyo Marathon
Organised by the Tokyo Marathon Foundation, the inaugural Tokyo Marathon was held on 18 February 2007
and drew 95,044 applicants and 30,870 participants. Kenya’s Daniel Njenga (2:09:45) and Japan’s Hitomi Niiya
(2:31:01) were the first champions. Since then, the Tokyo Marathon has grown to more than 300,000 applicants
and nearly 36,000 participants. Before the Tokyo Marathon Foundation was set up in 2007, the city hosted
separate marathons for elite men and women, dating back to 1980 and 1979 respectively. Through its theme,
‘The Day We Unite’, the Tokyo Marathon brings together runners, volunteers and spectators. In 2011, the Tokyo
Marathon established ‘Tsunagu’, a companion charity programme which donates to charitable activities in
various fields according to the concept of ‘Tsunagu’, or solidarity.
Inaugural Running:
2007
Largest Field:
35,310 finishers (2015)
Recent Participation:Year
Finishers(Male/Female)
2015
35,310(27,654 / 7,656)
2014
34,146(27,215 / 6,931)
2013
34,832(27,827 / 7,005)
2012
34,678(27,361 / 7,317)
2015 Performances:
Time
Total MenWomen
sub-3:00:00 1,0871,021
66
sub-4:00:00 7,4566,515 941
Estimated Number of Spectators:
1.7 million
Course Records: Men: 2:05:42 (Dickson Chumba, KEN, 2014)
Women: 2:22:23 (Tirfi Tsegaye, ETH, 2014)
Most Victories:
Men: 1
Women: 1
Prize Purse:
$184,000 ($85,000 to male/female champions)
Organisation Information:
Tokyo Marathon Foundation
www.tokyo42195.org
Media Contacts:Ulala Nagashima
Public Relations Division
Tel: +81 3 5500 6639
Fax: +81 3 5500 6678
Email: [email protected]
Upcoming Race Dates: 28 February 2016 (provisional)
26 February 2017 (provisional)
Media Guide 2015 211
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
BAA Boston Marathon
Inspired by their experience at the 1896 Olympic Games, several members of the Boston Athletic Association
founded their own marathon in 1897. The race has been run every year since (although the 1918 edition featured
a military relay rather than an individual race) and is now the world’s oldest annual marathon. Both the start and
finish lines have been moved over the years, but much of the original course remains exactly as it was originally
designed. Since 1924 the race has started in the town of Hopkinton, and from there the point-to-point course
descends through Ashland, Framingham, Natick and Wellesley. Upon entering Newton, the course gradually
rises to the famous Heartbreak Hill. As runners reach the top, they can see downtown Boston for the first time,
four miles in the distance. After running through Brookline, the course enters Boston where it finishes on historic
Boylston Street. Runners must qualify for entry by meeting time standards corresponding to gender and age,
which is another aspect — besides its course and longevity — unique to the Boston Marathon.
Inaugural Running:
1897
Largest Field:
35,868 finishers (1996)
Recent Participation:Year
Finishers(Male/Female)
2014
31,926(17,582 / 14,344)
2013
17,600(10,649 / 6,951)
Race stopped after 4 hours because of terror attacks
2012
21,554(12,588 / 8,966)
2011
23,913 (13,839 / 10,074)
2014 Performances:
Time
Total MenWomen
sub-3:00:00 2,3692,239 130
sub-4:00:00 18,10111,186 6,915
Estimated Number of Spectators:500,000
Course Records: Men: 2:03:02 (Geoffrey Mutai, KEN, 2011)
Women: 2:18:57 (Rita Jeptoo, KEN, 2014)
Most Victories:
Men: 7 (Clarence DeMar, USA)
Women: 4 (Catherine Ndereba, KEN)
Prize Purse:
$806,000 ($150,000 to male/female champions)
Organisation Information:
Thomas Grilk, Executive Director
Boston Athletic Association
40 Trinity Place, 4th Floor
Boston, MA 02116
USA
+1 617 236 1652
www.baa.org
Media Contacts:
Jack Fleming, Director of Communications
+1 617 778 1627; [email protected]
Marc Davis, Communications Manager
+1 617 778 1633; [email protected]
Upcoming Race Dates: 20 April 2015
18 April 2016
212 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Virgin Money London Marathon
In 1979, after running the New York City Marathon with John Disley, the late Chris Brasher questioned whether
London could stage such a festival. “We have the course . . . but do we have the heart and hospitality to
welcome the world?” Later that year Brasher travelled to America, where the running boom of the late 1970s
had started. He witnessed the Boston Marathon and revisited the New York City race. He studied both races’
organisations and finances. On his return, Brasher and Disley secured a three-year contract with Gillette for
£75,000, established the organisation’s charitable status, and set down six main aims for the event. The first
London Marathon was held on 29 March 1981. More than 20,000 people wanted to run; 7,747 were accepted.
There were 6,255 finishers led home by American Dick Beardsley and Norwegian Inge Simonsen. Joyce Smith
broke the British record to win the women’s race. The 1982 race received more than 90,000 applicants from
around the world. The entry was limited to 18,059. Since then, the London Marathon has grown to more than
35,000 starters and finishers, is viewed in more than 196 countries worldwide and watched by between four and
five million viewers in the UK via the BBC.
Inaugural Running: 1981
Largest Field: 36,705 finishers (2012)
Recent Participation: Year Finishers (Male / Female)
2014
35,868(22,583 / 13,285)
2013
34,278(22,045 / 12,233)
2012
36,705(23,641 / 13,064)
2011 34,705(22,443 / 12,262)
2014 Performances
Time
Total MenWomen
sub-3:00:00
1, 541
1,350
191
sub-4:00:00 15,24911,521 3,728
Estimated Number of Spectators: 750,000
Course Records: Men: 2:04:29 (Wilson Kipsang, KEN, 2014)
Women Only: 2:17:42 (Paula Radcliffe, GBR, 2005)
Women (Mixed Race): 2:15:25 (Paula Radcliffe, GBR, 2003)
Most Victories: Men: 3 (Dionicio Ceron, MEX; Antonio Pinto, POR; Martin Lel, KEN)
Women: 4 (Ingrid Kristiansen, NOR)
Prize Purse: $313,000 ($55,000 to male/female champions) + bonuses
Organisation Information: Nick Bitel, Chief Executive
Hugh Brasher, Race Director
London Marathon
Marathon House
115 Southwark Street
London SE1 0JF
+44 (0)20 7902 0200
www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com
@LondonMarathon
Media Contacts: Penny Dain, Head of Communications
+44 (0)7799 170433; [email protected]
Upcoming Race Dates: 26 April 2015
24 April 2016
Media Guide 2015 213
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
BMW Berlin Marathon
A group of runners from one of Germany’s most prestigious athletics clubs, SC Charlottenburg, organised the
first Berlin Marathon in 1974. It was not until 1981 that the race moved from the Grunewald (a big forest) into the
city centre of West Berlin. Supported by the three western allied forces (Britain, France and USA), it developed
into Germany’s biggest and best quality marathon. A new era started after the Berlin Wall collapsed in November
1989. On 30 September 1990, three days before reunification, the course of the Berlin Marathon was changed
to lead through Brandenburg Gate and include both parts of Berlin. In 2001 Naoko Takahashi became the first
woman to break the 2:20 barrier. The flat and fast loop course was then changed significantly for the 2003 race.
Paul Tergat became the first man to cross the new finish line, in a world record of 2:04:55, passing through
Brandenburg Gate. In 2007 and 2008 Haile Gebrselassie lowered that record, first to 2:04:26, and then to
2:03:59, firmly establishing Berlin’s course as the fastest in the world. In 2009 he joined Bill Rodgers (New York
City, 1976-79) as the only men to win the same WMM race four years in a row. In 2011 Patrick Makau reclaimed
the record for Kenya, running 2:03:38, only for that time to be eclipsed two years in a row by his compatriots
Wilson Kipsang, who won in 2013 in 2:03:23, and Dennis Kimetto, who ran a barrier-breaking 2:02:57 in 2014.
Inaugural Running: Largest Field: 1974
36,527 finishers (2013)
Recent Participation: Year Finishers (Male/Female)
2014
28,946(22,178 / 6,768)
2013
36,527(27,547 / 8,980)
2012
34,485(26,542 / 7,943)
2011 32,977(25,567 / 7,410)
2014 Performances:
Time
Total MenWomen
sub-3:00:00 1,2611,217
44
sub-4:00:00 13,99612,138 1,858
Estimated Number of Spectators: 1 million
Course Records: Men: 2:02:57 (Dennis Kimetto, KEN, 2014)
Women: 2:19:12 (Mizuki Noguchi, JPN, 2005)
Most Victories: Men: 4 (Haile Gebrselassie, ETH)
Women: 3 (Uta Pippig, GER; Renata Kokowska, POL)
Prize Purse: $416,629 ($50,000 to male/female champions)
Organisation Information: Mark Milde, Race Director
SCC EVENTS GmbH
Hanns-Braun-Strasse / Adlerplatz
14053, Berlin
Germany
+49 30 30 12 88 10
www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com
Media Contacts: Thomas Steffens (International media)
+49 171 933 4836; [email protected]
Marisa Reich: + 49 178 457 7065; [email protected]
Upcoming Race Dates: 27 September 2015
25 September 2016
214 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Bank of America Chicago Marathon
In 1976 a small band of running enthusiasts met at the Metropolitan YMCA on LaSalle Street to plan a marathon
in Chicago. Backed by the athletic enthusiasm of the new Chicago Mayor, Michael Bilandic, and the leadership
of Lee Flaherty, this founding group realised their vision on 25 September 1977, hosting 4,200 local participants
in the first Chicago Marathon. It has since expanded to a capacity of 45,000 runners and enjoyed 36 years of
record-breaking history. The flat course begins and ends in Chicago’s historic Grant Park, sweeping through 15
culturally colourful neighbourhoods including Greektown, Little Italy, Pilsen, Chinatown, and Bridgeport. Sections
of the course are woven parallel to others, allowing friends and family multiple points to encourage runners
during the race. 1.5 million spectators line the city streets infusing the community atmosphere with humanity and
solidarity. With a mid-autumn race date and early morning start, the race is seasonally positioned for exceptional
running conditions. The Chicago Marathon has witnessed two men’s world records (1984 Steve Jones 2:08:05;
1999 Khalid Khannouchi 2:05:42) and two women’s world records (2001 Catherine Ndereba 2:18:47; 2002
Paula Radcliffe 2:17:18).
Inaugural Running: 1977
Largest Field: 40,659 finishers (2014)
Recent Participation: Year Finishers (Male/Female)
2014
40,659(22,242 / 18,417)
2013
39,122(21,595 / 17,527)
2012
37,475(20,681 / 16,794)
2011 35,755 (20,284 / 15,471)
2014 Performances:
Time
Total MenWomen
sub-3:00:00 802678 124
sub-4:00:00 5,7633,748 2,015
Estimated Number of Spectators: 1.5 million
Course Records: Men: 2:03:45 (Dennis Kimetto, KEN, 2013)
Women: 2:17:18 (Paula Radcliffe, GBR, 2002)
Most Victories:
Men: 4 (Khalid Khannouchi, MAR/USA)
Women: 3 (Liliya Shobukhova RUS)
Prize Purse: $485,000 ($125,000 to male/female champions)
Organisation Information: Carey Pinkowski, Executive Race Director
Bank of America Chicago Marathon
135 South LaSalle Street, Suite 1160
MC: IL4-135-11-61
Chicago, IL 60603
USA
+1 312 904 9800
www.chicagomarathon.com
Media Contacts: Alex Sawyer, Director of Communications
+1 312 992 6618; [email protected]
Upcoming Race Dates: 11 October 2015
9 October 2016
Media Guide 2015 215
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
TCS New York City Marathon
The premier event of the New York Road Runners, the New York City Marathon is one of the world’s great
road races, drawing more than 109,000 applicants. The race attracts many world-class professional athletes,
attracted by the more than $800,000 prize money, but also by the chance to excel in the media capital of the
world before two million cheering spectators and 330 million worldwide television viewers. As any one of the
more than 971,237 past participants will attest, crossing the finish line in Central Park is one of the great thrills of
a lifetime. The race was held entirely in Central Park for the first six years before moving out into the streets and
through all five boroughs of New York City in 1976. With 47,323 finishers, the 2011 New York City Marathon was
the largest marathon in history to date. The 2012 New York marathon was cancelled just a few days before race
day following the hurricane which had devastated the city a week earlier, but the race bounced back in 2013
when 50,226 runners crossed the finish line, breaking the record it had set just two years before. A new record
was set in 2014 when 50,530 crossed the finish line, including the event’s one millionth finisher.
Inaugural Running: 1970
Largest Field: 50,530 finishers (2014)
Recent Participation: Year Finishers (Male/Female)
2014
50,530(30,108 / 20,422)
2013
50,226(30,699 / 19,567)
2012
no race
2011 47,323(30,058 / 17,265)
2014 Performances:
Time
Total MenWomen
sub-3:00:00 711662 49
sub-4:00:00 14,17510,904 3,271
Estimated Number of Spectators: 2 million
Course Records: Men: 2:05:06 (Geoffrey Mutai, KEN, 2011)
Women: 2:22:31 (Margaret Okayo, KEN, 2003)
Most Victories: Men: 4 (Bill Rodgers, USA)
Women: 9 (Grete Waitz, NOR)
Prize Purse: $800,600 ($130,000 to male/female champions)
Organisation Information: Mary Wittenberg, Race Director
New York Road Runners
9 East 89th Street
New York, NY
USA 10128
www.tcsnycmarathon.org
Media Contacts: Lauren Loeb, Director of Media Relations
+1 212 423 2271; [email protected]
Chris Weiller, Vice-President, Media & Public Relations
+1 212 320 4046; [email protected]
www.nyrr.org/newsroom; @nyrrnews
Upcoming Race Dates: 1 November 2015
6 November 2016
216 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
World Records set in WMM Races
Men
WR 2:02:57*
2:03:23
2:03:38
2:03:59
2:04:26
2:04:55 2:05:38 2:05:42 2:06:05 2:08:05 2:12:12
2:15:17
2:25:39 2:32:36 2:55:19
Athlete Dennis Kimetto (KEN)
Wilson Kipsang (KEN)
Patrick Makau (KEN)
Haile Gebrselassie (ETH)
Haile Gebrselassie (ETH)
Paul Tergat (KEN) Khalid Khannouchi (USA)
Khalid Khannouchi (MAR) Ronaldo da Costa (BRA) Steve Jones (GBR)
Abebe Bikila (ETH) Abebe Bikila (ETH) Yun Bok Suh (KOR)
Hannes Kolehmainen (FIN) Johnny Hayes (USA) WMM Event Berlin
Berlin
Berlin
Berlin
Berlin
Berlin
London
Chicago
Berlin
Chicago
Olympics (Tokyo)
Olympics (Rome)
Boston
Olympics (Antwerp) Olympics (London)
Date
28 September 2014
29 September 2013
25 September 2011
28 September 2008
30 September 2007
28 September 2003
14 April 2002
24 October 1999
20 September 1998
21 October 1984
21 October 1964
10 September 1960
19 April 1947
22 August 1920
24 July 1908
Athlete Paula Radcliffe (GBR)
Paula Radcliffe (GBR) Catherine Ndereba (KEN) Naoko Takahashi (JPN) Tegla Loroupe (KEN) Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR)
Joan Benoit Samuelson (USA)
Grete Waitz (NOR) Grete Waitz (NOR) Grete Waitz (NOR) Grete Waitz (NOR) Christa Vahlensieck (GER)
Liane Winter (GER) WMM Event London
Chicago
Chicago
Berlin
Berlin
London
Boston
London
New York
New York
New York
Berlin
Boston
Date
13 April 2003
13 October 2002
7 October 2001
30 September 2001
26 September 1999
21 April 1985
18 April 1983
17 April 1983
26 October 1980
21 October 1979
22 October 1978
10 September 1977
21 April 1975
Women
WR 2:15:25* 2:17:18
2:18:47
2:19:46
2:20:43
2:21:06
2:22:43 2:25:29
2:25:42 2:27:33
2:32:30
2:34:48**
2:42:24
* Current world record as at 31 March 2015
** Set in the 1977 German marathon championships
Media Guide 2015 217
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
The World Marathon Majors Series VIII (2013/14)
Kipsang wins by a point, as Kiplagat waits for Jeptoo verdict
Three victories, a world record and a course record – Wilson Kipsang’s triumphs over the last two years were
good enough to win any contest to find the world’s best marathon runner. But in the end it was the single point
he earned when fifth at the 2013 London Marathon – his lowest finish in a marathon race – which clinched the
men’s $500,000 World Marathon Majors prize for the smiling Kenyan.
Kipsang’s victory in the face of New York’s biting winds last November may have been his crowning moment,
but it was that one point in London 18 months previously which proved to be the difference between him and
his traning partner, Dennis Kimetto, whose failure to finish in Boston last April meant his trio of record-breaking
victories in Tokyo, Chicago and Berlin was not quite enough.
The two Kenyans’ almost immaculate records meant they stood out from their opponents over the course of the
WMM’s last two-year cycle, despite consistently high finishes from Ethiopians Lelisa Desisa and Tsegaye Kebede,
and two of the quickest times ever from the perennial runner-up, their Kenyan compatriot Emmanuel Mutai.
The women’s series featured a perfect record of its own thanks to Rita Jeptoo who took back-to-back titles in
Boston and Chicago. But the Kenyan’s positive drugs test last September means her results are in doubt and the
final women’s standings will only be finalised once the due legal process and any appeal has been completed.
Edna Kiplagat’s heart-warming win in London last year, together with her runner-up place 12 months earlier and
her victory at the 2013 World Championships, means she is poised to collect the prize ahead of last year’s Tokyo
and Berlin champion, Tirfi Tsegaye, and the 2012/13 WMM champion Priscah Jeptoo.
Final Standings
Men
Women
1. Wilson Kipsang (Kenya)
5th
London 2013
2:07:47
1st
Berlin 2013
2:03:23
1st
London 2014
2:04:29
1st
New York 2014 2:10:59
76 pts
1 pt
25 pts
25 pts
25 pts
1. Rita Jeptoo* (Kenya)
1st
Boston 2013
2:26:25
1st
Chicago 2013
2:19:57
1st
Boston 2014
2:18:57
1st
Chicago 2014
2:19:57
100 pts
25 pts
25 pts
25 pts
25 pts
2. Dennis Kimetto (Kenya)
1st
Tokyo 2013
2:06:50
1st
Chicago 2013
2:03:45
dnf
Boston 2014
-
1st
Berlin 2014
2:02:57
75 pts
25 pts
25 pts
0 pts
25 pts
3. Lelisa Desisa (Ethiopia)
1st
Boston 2013
2:10:22
2nd
Worlds 2013
2:10:12
dnf
Boston 2014
-
2nd
New York 2014 2:11:06
55 pts
25 pts
15 pts
0 pts
15 pts
2. Edna Kiplagat (Kenya)
2nd
London 2013
2:21:32
1st
Worlds 2013
2:25:44
9th
New York 2013 2:30:04
1st
London 2014
2:20:21
[13th
New York 2014 2:36:24
65 pts
15 pts
25 pts
0 pts
25 pts
0 pts]
3. Tirfi Tsegaye (Ethiopia)
5th
Boston 2013
2:28:09
1st
Tokyo 2014
2:22:23
1st
Berlin 2014
2:20:18
51 pts
1 pt
25 pts
25 pts
3. Tsegaye Kebede (Ethiopia)
1st
London 2013
2:06:04
2nd
New York 2013 2:09:16
4th
Worlds 2013
2:10:47
3rd
London 2014
2:06:30
[9th
Berlin 2014
2:10:27
55 pts
25 pts
15 pts
5 pts
10 pts
0 pts]
4. Priscah Jeptoo (Kenya)
1st
London 2013
2:20:15
1st
New York 2013 2:25:07
dnf
London 2014
-
50 pts
25 pts
25 pts
0 pts
5. Emmanuel Mutai (Kenya)
2nd
London 2013
2:06:34
2nd
Chicago 2013
2:03:52
7th
London 2014
2:08:18
2nd
Berlin 2014
2:03:13
45 pts
15 pts
15 pts
0 pts
15 pts
4. Florence Kiplagat (Kenya)
6th
London 2013
2:27:05
1st
Berlin 2013
2:21:13
2nd
London 2014
2:20:24
3rd
Chicago 2014
2:25:57
50 pts
0 pts
25 pts
15 pts
10 pts
218 Media Guide 2015
* Rita Jeptoo was banned from competition after failing a
drugs test in September last year. Her standings and the final
results of the women’s 2013/14 series will be determined on
completion of the due legal process and any appeal.
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
The Abbott World Marathon Majors Series IX (2015/16)
Current standings (as of 31 March 2015)
Men
Women
1. Endeshaw Negesse (Ethiopia)
1st
Tokyo 2015
2:06:00
25 pts
25 pts
1. Birhane Dibaba (Ethiopia)
1st
Tokyo 2015
2:23:15
25 pts
25 pts
2. Stephen Kiprotich (Uganda)
2nd
Tokyo 2015
2:06:33
16 pts
16 pts
2. Helen Kiprop (Kenya)
2nd
Tokyo 2015
2:24:03
16 pts
16 pts
3. Dickson Chumba (Kenya)
3rd
Tokyo 2015
2:06:34
9 pts
9 pts
3. Tiki Gelana (Ethiopia)
3rd
Tokyo 2015
2:24:26
9 pts
9 pts
4. Shumi Dechasa (Ethiopia)
4th
Tokyo 2015
2:07:20
4 pts
4 pts
4. Selly Chepyego (Kenya)
4th
Tokyo 2015
2:26:43
4 pts
4 pts
5. Peter Some (Kenya)
5th
Tokyo 2015
2:07:22
1 pt
1 pt
5. Flomena Daniel (Kenya)
5th
Tokyo 2015
2:26:54
1 pt
1 pt
Results and reports from AWMM races in Series IX (2015/16)
Tokyo Marathon
22 February 2015
Series IX started with an Ethiopian double at the wet and windy Tokyo Marathon, the first time runners from the
same nation have won the men’s and women’s titles in the Japanese capital. Negesse broke away from Kenya’s
defending champion Dickson Chumba just before 40km to become only the second Ethiopian man to win, after
Hailu Mekonnen in 2011. He clocked the event’s third fastest time. Chumba suffered stomach cramps near the
end allowing Kiprotich to overtake for a personal best. Dibaba moved away from a group of five at 30km in the
women’s race and, although Kiprop stayed close, last year’s runner-up went on to win by 48 seconds. Kiprop
lowered her PB by more than three minutes while Gelana achieved her best result since winning the 2012
Olympic title.
Men
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Endeshaw Negesse
Stephen Kiprotich
Dickson Chumba
Shumi Dechasa
Peter Some
ETH
UGA
KEN
ETH
KEN
2:06:00
2:06:33
2:06:34
2:07:20
2:07:22
Women
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Birhane Dibaba
Helen Kiprop
Tiki Gelana
Selly Chepyego
Flomena Daniel
ETH
KEN
ETH
KEN
KEN
2:23:15
2:24:03
2:24:26
2:26:43
2:26:54
Forthcoming AWMM events in Series IX
20 April 2015
BAA Boston Marathon
26 April 2015
Virgin Money London Marathon
22 August 2015
IAAF World Championships Men’s Marathon (Beijing)
30 August 2015
IAAF World Championships Women’s Marathon (Beijing)
27 September 2015BMW Berlin Marathon
11 October 2015 Bank of America Chicago Marathon
1 November 2015 TCS New York City Marathon
28 February 2016 Tokyo Marathon
Media Guide 2015 219
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
220 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
12 SPONSORS, SUPPLIERS & CHARITIES
Sponsors & Suppliers
The London Marathon has had six title sponsors,
from Gillette, who paid £75,000 in 1981, to Flora
who stayed for 14 years, and Virgin Money, who
signed a contract worth £17 million in 2010 with the
aim of helping runners raise more than £250 million
for charities over its five-year term. That target was
reached in 2014 when another £53.2 million was
raised for charity by London Marathon runners,
bringing the five-year total since 2010 to £261.4
million. The London Marathon announced a five-year
extension to its deal with Virgin Money on 22 April
2013, revealing a new logo and race title.
In addition to its title sponsor, the London Marathon
has a number of official supporters and suppliers
which help it stage the event. Current sponsors and
suppliers are listed here.
Official Race Sponsor to the Virgin Money London
Marathon www.virginmoney.com
Abbott is proud to join as an Official Partner of the Virgin
Money London Marathon www.abbott.co.uk
Official Sports Drink Suppliers to the Virgin Money
London Marathon and associated events for the
fourteenth consecutive year
www.lucozadesport.com
Official Time Keeper to the Virgin Money London
Marathon for the seventeenth consecutive year
www.timex.co.uk
Official Sportswear Suppliers to the Virgin Money
London Marathon for the sixteenth consecutive year
www.adidas.co.uk
Official Beer of the Virgin Money London Marathon for
the ninth consecutive year www.fullers.co.uk
Official Water Suppliers to the Virgin Money London
Marathon and associated events
www.buxtonwater.co.uk
Official Hotelier to the Virgin Money London Marathon
for the tenth consecutive year www.holidayinn.com
Media Guide 2015 221
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Official Online Giving Partner of the Virgin Money
London Marathon www.virginmoneygiving.com
Official Race Broadcasters to the Virgin Money London
Marathon www.bbc.co.uk/sport
Official Online Partner to the Virgin Money London
Marathon for the tenth consecutive year
www.realbuzz.com
Official Race Broadcasters to the Virgin Money London
Marathon www.bbc.co.uk/sport
Official Partner to the Virgin Money London Marathon
for the tenth consecutive year
www.runnersworld.co.uk
Official Race Broadcasters to the Virgin Money London
Marathon since 1981 www.bbc.co.uk/sport
Official Race Vehicle Provider including pilot vehicles,
lead vehicles and operations vehicles for the twentieth
consecutive year www.renault.co.uk
www.worldmarathonmajors.com
Official Logistics and Distribution Supplier to the
Virgin Money London Marathon for the nineteenth
consecutive year www.tnt.com
222 Media Guide 2015
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Charities & Charity Fundraising
Three quarters of all London Marathon competitors
run for a charity and a third of all places are offered
by charitable organisations with guaranteed entries.
But charities weren’t always so prominent or
well organised. In the early years, it was runners
themselves who raised money for their causes.
In 1984, the London Marathon named the Sports Aid
Foundation as its first official charity and granted the
organisation some places to help it raise funds. As
charity involvement grew the organisers decided to
offer more places to a wider range of charities and in
1993 they introduced the Golden Bond scheme to
enable other charities to gain places.
Under this scheme, several hundred charities buy
guaranteed entries for £300, each of which they then
offer to runners who miss out on a place in the ballot.
Runners who take one of these places do so in return
for a commitment to raise a four-figure sum for their
cause, known as a ‘pledge’.
This scheme now includes more than 750 British
charities who are allocated a total of some 15,000
places. Another 550 charities are involved in a Silver
Bond scheme which guarantees them one place
every five years. Last May, a new charity ballot was
opened, making 500 additional 2015 places available
to charities which do not already have guaranteed
entries. Each charity could apply for one place.
Such has been the growth of charity involvement in
the London Marathon that the event itself has entered
the record books. In 2007 £46.5 million was raised
for good causes by runners, making the London
Marathon a Guinness World Record breaker as the
largest single annual fundraising event in the world.
The event has broken that record every year since,
including in 2014 when £53.2m was raised.
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
£46.5 million
£46.7 million
£47.2 million
£50.6 million
£51.8 million
£52.8 million
£53.0 million
£53.2 million
In total, more than £710m has been raised for
hundreds of charitable causes by London Marathon
runners since 1981. 77% of 2014 entrants ran for
charity, and the average raised by each Golden Bond
runner was £2,407.
The 2010 official race charity, CLIC Sargent, raised
£2,001,584 from that year’s event, the highest total
for an official charity. Anthony Nolan, the 2014 official
charity, raised more than £1.3m, easily exceeding their
own target of £1.1m.
In addition, The London Marathon Events Ltd – the
company that organises the race – has produced
a total surplus of more than £56 million for its own
charity, The London Marathon Charitable Trust, the
body that owns the race. The charity distributes these
funds to help develop recreational projects in areas
where it holds events. It has aided more than 1,000
projects to date.
In 1999 the Trust established the London Marathon
Playing Fields Scheme to help protect London’s
playing fields from development. The trustees set up a
war chest so they could buy playing fields threatened
by developers and maintain them for recreational and
sporting use. To date nine sites have been saved by
the fund. The Trust has also pledged more than £9m
to help fund several London Olympic legacy facilities.
Official charities of the London Marathon:
1984 Sports Aid Foundation
1985 Jimmy Savile’s Marathon Appeal
1986 Middlesex Hospital Research Fund
British Sports Association for the Disabled
1987 St Thomas’s Hospital (heart research)
Farnham Park Trust
British Sports Association for the Disabled
1988 Wishing Well Appeal
Sports Aid Foundation
1989 Community Action Trust
The Evelina Children’s Family Trust
Special Olympics
1990 Battle of Britain Appeal
Community Action Trust
1991 Action on Addiction
Royal Marsden Cancer Research
1992 Guys Hospital, Evelina Children’s Hospital
Tuskforce
1993 St John Ambulance; Snowden Award Scheme
1994 British Heart Foundation; Childline
1995 Leonard Cheshire Disability
Cancer Relief Macmillan
1996 British Heart Foundation
National Asthma Campaign
1997 British Heart Foundation; NSPCC
1998 Age Concern
Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund
1999 Whizz Kidz; Leukaemia Research
2000Mencap
2001 MS Society
2002 Outward Bound; FCWL
2003Shelter
2004 Sense; British Heart Foundation
2005 Help the Hospices
2006 The Stroke Association
Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust
2007WellChild
2008 Heart UK; Spinal Injuries Association
2009 The Children’s Trust
2010 CLIC Sargent
2011Oxfam
2012 TeamPB (Prostate Cancer Charity &
Breast Cancer Care)
2013 YouthNet & Age UK
2014 Anthony Nolan
2015 Cancer Research UK
Media Guide 2015 223
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2015
Cancer Research UK
Official charity of the 2015 Virgin Money London Marathon
Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading cancer
charity dedicated to saving lives through research.
The charity’s pioneering work into the prevention,
diagnosis and treatment of cancer has helped save
millions of lives and has already seen survival rates in
the UK double in the last 40 years.
The charity receives no government funding for its lifesaving research. Every step it makes towards beating
cancer relies on every pound donated.
This year Cancer Research UK is entering its largest
ever marathon team and aiming to raise £2.5 million,
its highest fundraising target for the Marathon to date.
The money raised this year will help build The Francis
Crick Institute, a world-leading centre of biomedical
research and innovation due for completion in late
2015.
Cancer Research UK is one of six founding partners
of the Crick, which will bring together 1,250 scientists
to tackle the diseases that pose the greatest threat
to humanity – cancer, heart disease, lung disease,
infectious diseases such as HIV, malaria and many
more.
This year, Cancer Research UK aims to have 2,500
people running as part of its team to beat cancer
sooner, many of whom have inspiring stories to share.
Please contact us to arrange interviews with any of
our supporters, including:
• Laura and Paul, who will be hopping off the
course at St Katharine’s Dock to tie the knot in
the Dickens Inn before running the remaining
distance.
• Tony ‘The Fridge’ Morrison, who is taking on his
final fridge-related challenge, running the last of
four marathons back to back while carrying his
beloved fridge on his back.
• Michael, our very own hockey goalie, who will be
running in full kit alongside many other bright and
wonderfully wacky costumes.
• Tracey, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s
Lymphoma in 2009 and has lost six stone since
getting the all clear; this will be her first ever
marathon.
• Our team of 12 Slimming World runners, who
have lost nearly 70 stone between them.
224 Media Guide 2015
We also have a team of celebrity runners, including:
• Jenson Button, Formula 1 driver
• Henry Holland, British fashion designer
• Jenni Falconer, TV & radio presenter
• Isobel Lang, Sky News weather presenter
• Russell Fuller, BBC Sports broadcaster
Find out more at: www.cruk.org/marathon
Press office contact details:
For press enquiries please call the Cancer Research
UK press office: Tel. 0203 469 8315
Email: Vicki Brewer – [email protected] or
Issy Evans – [email protected]
For further information about Cancer Research UK’s
work or to find out how to support the charity, please
call 0300 123 1861 or
visit www.cancerresearchuk.org.
Follow us on Twitter: @CR_UK
and Facebook: www.facebook.com/cancerresearchuk