FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Getu Feleke returns to Vienna to run even faster
Getu Feleke kept his promise after he took last year's Vienna City Marathon
with a sensational course record of 2:05:41. It is not that long ago when
such a time was thought to be impossible on this course. During the post
race press conference the Ethiopian promised to come back this year. This
is what he did. "I am happy to be in Vienna again. I really like this city.
I know the course and the organisation well and I appreciate the support of
the spectators," said Getu Feleke, who will already compete for the third
time in Austria's biggest sporting event. Back in 2009 he ran his debut in
Vienna with 2:11:42. On Sunday Feleke intends to attack his own course
record in the Vienna City Marathon, which is an IAAF Gold Label Road Race.
Adding other running events staged parallel on Sunday the event registered
a record total of more than 42,500 entries.
With weather forecasts looking good apart from a bit of wind organisers
hope to see a very fast winning time on Sunday. It is planned to instruct
the pacemakers for a 2:05 time target. 28 year-old Feleke even thinks of a
slightly better result. "If the weather is good then I want to attack my
personal best," the Ethiopian said. It was in Rotterdam in 2012 where he
ran 2:04:50 when he placed second. "If the conditions are not ideal then I
will at least go for the course record and possibly below 2:05:30," Feleke
added. The current 2015 world leading time stands at 2:05:28, run by Dubai
winner Lemi Berhanu of Ethiopia.
When he won last year's Vienna City Marathon Getu Feleke still suffered
slightly of a severe stomach problem that had kept him out of competition
for nearly a year. "I have no more stomach problems now," he said. However
there was another problem which made him cancel his start in the Frankfurt
Marathon last October. "I picked up a leg injury in the build up to
Frankfurt, which took a long time to heal," explained Feleke, whose Vienna
win remained his only race in 2014. After recovery he started preparing for
the Vienna City Marathon and ran a 60:45 half marathon in Barcelona, where
he placed second in February. "This was a very good result for me and it
showed that I am in good form. I could relax a bit more in training after
that," said Feleke, who now receives training programmes from renowned
Italian coach Roberto Canova. "I really hope for a good time on Sunday."
While the defending champion is the big favourite there are two
fellow-Ethiopians who could do well: Sisay Lemma and Siraj Gena are
expected to follow Feleke's pace. Lemma has clocked a 2:07:06 personal best
in Dubai this January while Gena has a PB of 2:08:31 so far. "I have
recovered well after Dubai. And now I am in a better shape than before the
Dubai race," said Lemma.
A Kenyan challenge might come from Duncan Koech, who has a personal record
of 2:07:53. He ran last year's Vienna City Marathon, finishing fourth with
2:09:17. "It is a big advantage that I know the course and I know that I am
able to run the second half faster than the first one. It is my goal to run
a personal best on Sunday," said Koech.
Organisers had to cope with a couple of last minute cancellations due to
injuries. Among them there are Ethiopia's Gebo Burka, Kenya's Josphat Keiyo
and Brasil's Paulo Paula.
Men's main contenders with personal bests
Getu Feleke ETH 2:04:50
Sisay Lemma ETH 2:07:06
Duncan Koech KEN 2:07:53
Beraki Beyene ERI 2:08:27
Siraj Gena ETH 2:08:31
El Hassane Ben Lkhainouch FRA 2:11:06
Mariusz Gizynski POL 2:11:20
Roman Prodius MOL 2:12:31
Hosea Kipkemboi KEN 2:12:32
A live stream of the race will be shown on www.vienna-marathon.com on
Sunday. Additionally there will be English live web reporting available.
The race starts at 8.59 am CEST. The live stream will be available
worldwide.
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