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Mar-12-2008
Rome Marathon Bigger, and Maybe Faster, Than Ever
by David Monti
(c) Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved
The first major European marathon of the season, the 14th Maratona della Città di Roma, is set for Sunday, March 16, in the Italian capital and it is bigger than ever. Organizers reported earlier this week that 14,500 runners have signed up for the marathon, and they expect another 50,000 for 4 km "Stracittadina" fun run. Last year's marathon had 12,027 finishers, making it the largest marathon in Italy.
But just as importantly, organizers are hoping for fast times and have provided strong financial incentives for athletes to achieve them, plus pacemaking to keep the race moving.
"I communicate to you that our aim is to abolish the best performance on Italian ground both in the female sector and in male sector," said Max Monteforte who recruits the professional athlete field.
The key bonus on offer is 50,000 Euros (USD 76,000) for the men's and women's Italian all-comer records, currently 2:07:44 for men and 2:24:59 for women. Those are solid marks, but the event records of 2:08:02 and 2:25:08 are already quite close, so it is definitely possible. There are course record bonuses of 25,000 Euros should the race winners fall short of the all-comer marks.
Just to cover all the bases, the race also has a 75,000 Euro bonus for new Italian records, currently 2:07:22 and 2:23:47, and a massive 250,000 Euro bonus for a world record. Admittedly, neither of those marks are likely to fall in Rome on Sunday.
Monteforte has recruited a large elite field, especially on the men's side where over 30 men are expected to contend for the top positions. The fastest man in the field is Kenyan Philip Singoei with a 2:07:57 personal best. Next are Ethiopians Teferi Wodajo (2:08:11) and Dejene Birhanu (2:08:46), followed by Italian Ottavio Andriani (2:09:07), and Kenyan Jonathan Kosgei Kipkorir (2:10:18). Making his debut will be Kenyan Paul Kimugul who has a 1:00:15 half-marathon personal best.
On the women's side Russian Galina Bogomolova, the national record holder with a 2:20:47 personal best, is the fastest entered. But Hungarian Aniko Kalovics, who runs for an Italian club and has a 2:26:43 personal best, could also get the win. Other top athletes are Larissa Zousko of Russia (2:26:26), Ornella Ferrara of Italy (2:27:49), and Baysa Atsede of Ethiopia (2:29:05).
Ferrara, along with Vincenza Sicari (2:30:34 PB) are hoping to run well enough to gain selection to the Italian Olympic Team.
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