Press Release - Munich Marathon - 10/6/23

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                   GENERALI MUNICH MARATHON on Sunday:                

       Kenyans are favorites in Munich, Hendel chases Olympic dream

A group of Kenyan runners headed by Luke Kibet could be challenged by 
Sebastian Hendel in the race for victory at the GENERALI MUNICH MARATHON on 
Sunday. The German elite runner hopes to dip under the Olympic qualifying 
time of 2:08:10 when he will finish in the Munich Olympic Stadium. Athletes 
from Kenya are the fastest on the women's start list as well. Catherine 
Cherotich has a personal best of 2:26:41.

Including events at shorter distances well over 20,000 runners have so far 
registered for the 37th edition of the GENERALI MUNICH MARATHON. More than 
5,000 of them will run the classic distance through the Bavarian capital, 
starting and finishing inside the Olympic Stadium. Entries are still 
accepted at: www.generalimuenchenmarathon.de

The GENERALI MUNICH MARATHON will be streamed live from 8.55 am (CET) on 
Sunday at: www.generalimuenchenmarathon.de/news/gmm-livestream-2

"After a great elite race comeback with two course records a year ago we 
are now looking forward to more thrilling races at the GENERALI MUNICH 
MARATHON on Sunday. Additionally I hope that Sebastian Hendel can produce a 
strong performance and makes the next step with a sub 2:10 time," said Race 
Director Gernot Weigl. Relatively warm temperatures are expected around 
midday on Sunday. While the elite athletes will have already finished their 
races water supply at the course has been increased for the fun runners. 

With a personal record of 2:08:45 Luke Kibet is the fastest runner on the 
start list. The 28 year-old Kenyan achieved this time in Chuncheon, Korea, 
four years ago. Kibet has prepared for the GENERALI MUNICH MARATHON in 
Iten, Kenya, where he joined the strong training group of Germany's 
marathon record holder Amanal Petros. While compatriots Edwin Kimaiyo and 
Cosmas Kiplimo are number two and three on the start list with PBs of 
2:09:12 and 2:09:44 respectively Bernard Muia could be in for a surprise. 
He has only a 2:13:40 to his credit so far, but the Kenyan ran this time in 
Nairobi in high altitude. Muia is a training partner of Samwel Mailu, the 
course record holder of the Vienna City Marathon and world half marathon 
championships bronze medalist. He is a said to be in fine form. Benson 
Nzioki, also from Kenya, is tipped to produce a good debut. 

Sebastian Hendel was fourth in Munich a year ago with a 2:10:37 debut. When 
the 27 year-old returns to the GENERALI MUNICH MARATHON he wants to break 
2:10 and hopes to become the third German to break the Olympic qualifying 
time of 2:08:10. "My shape is good and actually better than a year ago. I 
want to run the first half in 64:20 and then hope to achieve the Olympic 
standard with a negative split," said Sebastian Hendel. If he should be 
able to run such a time he will most probably be in contention for victory 
as well.

With personal bests of around 2:27:00 three Kenyan women head the elite 
start list. With 2:26:41 Catherine Cherotich is the fastest of the three. 
It is worth noting that she ran her PB in Nairobi. Because of the high 
altitude she should be able to run faster on Sunday in Munich. While 
Caroline Chepkwony took the Enschede Marathon in 2019 with 2:27:00 Munich's 
elite race coordinator Michael Kraus expects Teclah Chebet to do well. She 
has won six of her seven marathons and most recently took the race in Linz, 
Austria, this spring with a PB of 2:27:18.

Elite runners with personal bests:

MEN
Luke Kibet            KEN 2:08:45
Edwin Kimaiyo         KEN 2:09:12
Cosmas Kiplimo        KEN 2:09:44
Sebastian Hendel      GER 2:10:37
Cornelius Chepkok     KEN 2:11:46
Jackson Rutto         KEN 2:12:02
Merhawi Ghebreslasie  FRA 2:12:34
Amos Birgen           KEN 2:13:09
Bernard Muia          KEN 2:13:40 
Alessandro Giacobazzi ITA 2:15:25
Benson Nzioki         KEN Debut

WOMEN
Catherine Cherotich   KEN 2:26:41
Caroline Chepkwony    KEN 2:27:00
Teclah Chebet         KEN 2:27:18
Beatrice Cheburet     KEN 2:30:41
Flomens Ngurasia      KEN 2:30:42

More information about the GENERALI MUNICH MARATHON and online entry is 
available at: www.generalimuenchenmarathon.de

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