FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Haspa Marathon Hamburg on 19 April:

Defending Champions Tadu Abate and Dibabe Kuma return to Hamburg

Defending champions Tadu Abate and Dibabe Kuma will return to the Haspa
Marathon Hamburg. Fellow-Ethiopians Ayele Abshero, who was runner-up last
year, and Meseret Belete will be among their rivals on 19 April. This was
announced by the organisers of Germany's biggest and fastest spring
marathon during a press conference. So far 12,000 entries have been
registered for the Haspa Marathon Hamburg, which is a World Athletics Gold
Label Road Race.

"It is always a good sign when athletes like to come back to challenge and
to possibly produce thrilling races once again. We are proud that both
winners from 2019 will return," said chief organiser Frank Thaleiser. With
regard to the entry figures he said: "Compared to the same time last year
we have 400 more entries for the marathon, which shows the trust the
runners have in our event."

At the age of 22 Tadu Abate is still a youngster in marathon running. After
his biggest career victory in Hamburg a year ago, when he clocked 2:08:25
in wet and cold conditions, the Ethiopian improved his personal best to
2:06:13 last autumn in Amsterdam. On 19 April he will renew his rivalry
with Ayele Abshero. The two Ethiopians produced a thrilling finish last
year, when Abate was just one second ahead of Abshero. Back in 2018 Abate
had left his experienced rival behind him as well, when the pair finished
second and third in Hamburg behind fellow-Ethiopian Solomon Deksisa. 29
year-old Abshero, who features a world-class personal best of 2:04:23, will
be eager to be quicker than his younger rival this time.

The women's field will be headed by defending champion Dibabe Kuma. The 23
year-old Ethiopian caused a surprise last year, when she produced a great
solo run in the poor conditions, winning in 2:24:42. "This is a very good
course," said Kuma afterwards, indicating that in more suitable weather she
could have improved her personal best of 2:23:34. Fellow-Ethiopian Meseret
Belete will be one of her main challengers on 19 April. Just 20 years old
Belete was sixth in the World Half Marathon Championships in 2018 and holds
a marathon PB of 2:24:54.

Breaking the Olympic qualifying times on Hamburg's fast course will be the
major goal for the German elite runners. Philipp Pflieger, who has a
personal record of 2:12:50, intends to go for the 2:11:30 Olympic standard.
He showed fine form just two days ago when he improved his PB in the half
marathon to 62:50 in Barcelona. Two other Germans who recorded personal
bests in the Spanish half marathon two days ago also have Olympic
ambitions: Twin sisters Deborah and Rabea Sch?neborn will run a marathon
together for the first time. While Deborah won the Cologne Marathon last
autumn - though without proper competition - in 2:31:18 in her debut, Rabea
will run her debut in Hamburg. Preparing for the marathon it looks that the
25 year-old twins are currently at the same level. Deborah clocked a PB of
71:37 in Barcelona on Sunday while Rabea crossed the line immediately
behind her in ninth place with 71:40, a PB as well. It seems that both can
achieve the Olympic qualifying time of 2:29:30 in Hamburg.

More information about the Haspa Marathon Hamburg and online entry is
available at: www.haspa-marathon-hamburg.de

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