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Post-Race Coverage:
Race Recap: Men's Championships | Women's Championships
Results: Men's Results | Women's Results
Pre-Race Coverage:
What To Expect: MarathonGuide.com's Preview |
IAAF's Men's Preview | IAAF's Women's Preview
Race/Athlete Profiles: The Men | The Women
Facts/Figures/Lists: Men's Past Athlete Performances | Women's Past Athlete Performances | Men's Starting Lists | Women's Starting Lists
Extras: Video Coverage | Course Map
2009 World Championships Men's Marathon Bio's
by Sharon Ekstrom
 Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (KEN)
Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot cannot be confused with any other Kenyan runners bearing the same name. This four-time winner of the Boston Marathon, winner of the Chicago Marathon and the first recipient of the 2006/2007 World Marathon Majors prize purse has always been a noteworthy competitor. Despite a number of setbacks from injuries keeping him from the 2008 Beijing Olympics and forcing him out of the 2009 Boston Marathon, Kipkoech Cheruiyot is in good health and ready to take on the 2009 World Championship Marathon. Prior to the 2009 Boston Marathon, Kipkoech Cheruiyot had been quoted as saying that he will attempt to break the marathon world record at the World Championships in Berlin - demonstrating confidence and strength. With a personal best of 2:07:14 from the 2006 Boston Marathon, he will need to display great speed in order to fall below WR time of 2:03:59. In his first Championship race, he will be taking on the top Ethiopian champions of the 2009 Boston and London Marathons - Deriba Merga and Tsegay Kebede respectively.
 Jaouad Gharib (MAR)
At age thirty-seven when most marathoners are past their peak years of running personal bests, Moroccan Jaouad Gharib is going strong. This two-time marathon gold medalist from the 2003 and 2005 World Championships, continues to improve as seen at the 2009 London Marathon where he ran a personal best of 2:05:27, placing 3rd to half-marathon world record holder Samuel Wanjiru, who is 14 years his junior. With five sub-2:08 career marathons and three 2nd place finishes from the 2007 Chicago Marathon, the 2008 Beijing Olympics Men's Marathon, and the 2009 Lisbon Half-Marathon, Gharib is a formidable threat to any field. Additionally, his aggressive racing tactics of throwing surges throughout the race and retaining a finishing kick will make him tough competition to any field. Gharib will certainly be a star in Berlin if his fitness is there.
 Deriba Merga (ETH)
Ethiopian Deriba Merga didn't have the best marathon debut with a DNF at the 2006 Boston Marathon, but this marathoner quickly redeemed himself. Merga finished tenth at the 2007 Paris Marathon (2:13:33), then months later was runner-up at the 2007 Fukuoka Marathon running a fast 2:06:50, merely ten seconds after Half-Marathon World Record Holder Sammy Wanjiru. Merga took on the 2008 London Marathon and the result was a sixth place personal best finish in 2:06:38. But it was at the 2008 Olympics Games Men's Marathon when Merga garnered attention, as fellow countryman Tsegaye Kebede passed him in the final hundred meters of the race on the track to take bronze. Merga learned from his mistakes. He kicked off 2009 with a victory of the Houston Marathon in 2:07:52, and then went to the RAK Half-Marathon setting several personal bests at the 5K, 10K and 15K marks and a 15-K world record in 41:29, despite his third place finish. Merga took no time off and headed to the 2009 Boston Marathon winning in a 2:08:42. Merga's talents are still being discovered and we will see if he will three-peat.
 Tsegaye Kebede (ETH)
At 22-years-old, Tsegaye Kebede has established himself as a top marathoner. His debut at the 2007 Amsterdam Marathon was an eighth-place finish in a time of 2:08:16, but his improvements continue to impress. 2008 proved to be a great year, as Kebede placed second at the 2008 Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon to finish in 59:35 before winning the 2008 Paris Marathon in 2:06:40. He also stole bronze from fellow countryman Deribe Merga at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, passing his fatigued teammate on the track in the last hundred meters. Kebede rounded out 2008 with a personal best win of the Fukuoka Marathon (2:06:10). In 2009 Kebede took 2nd at the London Marathon in 2:05:20 - proof positive that a new generation of younger and faster marathoners is here.
Abel Kirui (KEN)
Abel Kirui is the youngest serious competitor in the field and one of the least known to the other runners and general public. Having run unremarkable times at his first two marathons in 2006 (2006 Berlin Marathon, 2:17:47 and Singapore Marathon, 2:15:22), Kirui returned to the 2007 Berlin Marathon and made a name for himself as runner-up in 2:06:51 behind Haile Gebresalassie in his World Record run. Later, Kirui experienced his first victory at the 2008 Vienna Marathon (2:07:38). Yet, in 2009 he became a serious competitor with a 3rd place finish at the 2009 Rotterdam Marathon in 2:05:04. Those are solid times and Kirui who is the sixth fastest marathoner in the world may end up a top three finisher in his first championship competition.
 Daniel Rono (KEN)
While Daniel Rono may not be the fastest in the field, he has eight top three finishes from every marathon he has participated in. Victories in his early career at the 2005 Madrid Marathon, 2006 Mumbai Marathon and 2006 Toronto Waterfront Marathon, it wasn't until 2008 when his hard work in the distance paid off with his first sub 2:07 marathon at the 2008 Rotterdam Marathon - 2:06:58 PR, 2nd place finish. He followed that performance with a 3rd place finish at the 2008 New York City Marathon against tough competitors, including former world record holder Paul Tergat and the seasoned Hendrick Ramaala. He flew under the radar at the 2009 Boston Marathon and finished 2nd in 2:09:32. Rono continues to prove himself against the best fields in the world and in his first championship race, he has the ability to medal.
 Marilson Gomes dos Santos (BRA)
Two-time New York City Marathon Champion Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil has always flown under the radar. Early in his marathoning career, his performances at world class races - such as a 6th place finish at the 2004 Chicago Marathon in 2:08:48 and a 10th place finish at the 2005 World Championships in 2:13:40 - remained unremarkable given the rising caliber of talent in marathons worldwide. It was in 2006 when he snuck away from the lead pack at the New York City Marathon to win in 2:09:58. That year no one in the field knew who dos Santos was, and the Brazilian was able to repeat his victory once again in 2008 (2:08:43). With a personal best of 2:08:37 from the 2007 London Marathon, dos Santos may not need to be the strongest in the world championship field rife with many sub-2:07 runners. He needs to strategize as well as he had previously in New York.
Emmanuel Mutai (KEN)
With three sub-2:07 marathons at 24 years of age, Kenyan Emmanuel Mutai may not be the fastest young marathoner on the roster, but his three 2:06 marathon finishes from his win of the 2007 Amsterdam Marathon (2:06:29) and his two 4th place finishes at the London Marathon (2:06:16 in 2008, 2:06:53 in 2009) make him a standout. Mutai may not be on the radar of the top athletes in Berlin, but his times indicate that he will be a challenge to the field. This will be Mutai's first championship race in the distance.
Atsushi Sato (JPN)
Atsushi Sato is rarely seen outside the Asian running circuit, if only for World Championship races. This half-marathon Japanese record holder had a strong 2007 despite an injury earlier that year, setting the Asian half-marathon record in 60:25 at the World Road Running Championships. He came in 2nd at the 2007 Beppu-Oita Marathon and 3rd at the 2007 Fukuoka Marathon in a personal best time of 2:07:13 behind Sammy Wanjiru and Deribe Merga. While 2008 had been a year of disappointing performances; racing in Beijing and at the Olympics Games, Sato's 8th place finish at the 2009 London Marathon (2:09:16) can mean indicator that this could be his comeback year.
Mubarak Hassan Shami (QAT)
Mubarak Hassan Shami (QAT), formerly Kenyan-born Richard Yatich, has won nearly every marathon he's run, which is impressive for a twenty-eight year old. Predominantly a road racer, this half-marathon specialist won silver at the 2005 World Half-Marathon Championships beating out Yonas Kifle and Yared Asmeron. Out of his eight career marathons, highlights include a 2:09:22 finish at the 2005 Venice Marathon, a 2:07:19 from the 2007 Paris Marathon and a 2:08:23 victory of the 2008 Lake Biwa Marathon. Shami is the reigning silver medalist from the 2007 World Championships in Osaka.
Yared Asmeron (ERI)
It wasn't so long ago that Yared Asmeron was a 2:15 marathoner. In fact, in 2007 his fastest finish was a 2:15.14 from the Hamburg Marathon. Yet, at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, a 2:17.41 earned him a 4th place finish in difficult conditions. He had a great start to 2008, dropping almost seven minutes off his personal best with a 2nd place finish of 2:08:34 at the Lake Biwa Marathon. Asmeron went on to represent Eritrea in the 2008 Beijing Olympics Men's Marathon where he competed against one of the fastest fields seen at the Olympics in quite some time. He finished in 2:11:11, a respectable 11th place. In 2009, he completed his tenth career marathon at the Lake Biwa Marathon - taking 3rd in 2:10.49 behind former marathon world record holder Paul Tergat and Spanish sensation Jose Rios.
Hamid Belhaj (FRA)
MarathonGuide.com thought it notable to mention Moroccan-born, French national Hamid Belhaj the oldest marathoner on the roster at the World Championships. Having just celebrated his 41st birthday, this athlete only has three career marathons to his name. Predominantly unknown on the international racing circuit, Belhaj ran times far slower than elite levels - finishing 2:24.44 in 2007 (Beirut Marathon) and 2:22.29 in 2008 (Marathon du Mont Saint-Michel). Yet, Belhaj dropped eight minutes off his previous personal best at the 2009 Paris Marathon - a race where the elite field had incredible personal bests as well. He came in 20th place with a 2:14.32 - the finish was not even the fastest by a Frenchman; yet it qualified him for the 2009 World Championships. While we are not expecting Belhaj to medal or place in the top ten, we had to note that this man born in the 1968 had an incredible personal best in 2009 and as a result will be representing his country at the World Championships.
Matt Gabrielson (USA)
American Matt Gabrielson who trains with Team Minnesota USA has primarily focused on events such as the 3000m, 5000m and 12K cross country distances; but his abilities in long distance are being harnessed. With a number of 64:00 half marathons over the past five years, Gabrielson only has two marathons to his name - a debut at the 2006 New York City Marathon (2:19:53, 20th place) and the 2008 USA National Championships in Minnesota (2:17:38, 2nd place) which earned him a spot on the US World Championship team. As 2009 unfolds, he has seen personal bests in the 10000m, 15K and 25k; perhaps he will nab one in the marathon as well.
Yonas Kifle (ERI)
A track and cross country specialist, Yonas Kifle, holds the Eritrean National Record with his fifth place finish of 2:07:34 from his marathon debut at the 2007 Amsterdam Marathon. In his second career marathon, he came in seventh at the 2008 London Marathon, finishing in 2:08:51. Kifle ran an unremarkable race at the 2008 Beijing Games; and in his third career marathon he ran 2:08:28 to finish in 7th at the 2009 London Marathon.
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