FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HAJ Hannover Marathon on Sunday

Seboka Erre wins in Hannover, Michael Kunyaga crawls across
finish line for second place

Seboka Negussa Erre of Ethiopia and Kenya's Agnes Kiprop won the top
honours at the HAJ Hannover Marathon. In sunny conditions rising towards
high temperatures by the end of the race, Seboka broke 2:10 for the second
time in his career to win in 2:09:44. Second place went to the Kenyan
Michael Kunyaga who finished in a manner rarely seen among elite runners:
he collapsed a few metres from the finish but kept going by crawling over
the line in 2:10:16, barely holding off his compatriot Duncan Koech in
2:10:19. Kunyaga's determination was rewarded with a personal best as well
as runner-up spot.

The men's elite field did not feature any German runners and home hopes
were also dashed for Fate Tola in the women's race. Last year's women's
champion dropped out at 17 kilometres, suffering from a heavy cold and
cough. Victory went to the Kenyan Agnes Kiprop in 2:32:35 with Akmaral
Meirman of Kazakhstan finishing a distant second in 2:55:58 and the German
runner Aida Stahlhut third in 3:03:13. The women's elite field was
seriously affected by withdrawals because of injury and visa problems in
the days before the race which included a group of Ethiopian runners being
unable to arrive in Hanover in time.

A record total of 25,714 runners took part in this year's HAJ Hannover
Marathon, taking into account the various events held in conjunction with
the main event. The HAJ Hannover Marathon is an IAAF Silver Label Road
Race.

An eight-strong group reached halfway in the men's race in 64:12. The
pacemakers had fulfilled their task to the letter, putting the field at
this point on target to attack the course record of 2:08:32. At this time
the favourite Gilbert Kirwa, whose 2:06:14 made him the fastest on the
start list, was already a minute off the pace and dropped out soon after,
having encountered early problems.

As temperatures rose the lead group slackened their pace and the prospect
of attacking the course record slipped out of reach. Shortly after reaching
30km in 1:31:53, four runners broke away from the lead group with Duncan
Koech leading from Seboka Erre and Mengistu Gezahagan of Ethiopia and
Michael Kunyaga of Kenya. With 35 kilometres completed Erre made what
proved to be a decisive break.

"I'm so happy to have won my first marathon. The weather didn't give me any
problems," said the 29-year-old Ethiopian and added: "The course is
perfect, it's the best I've ever run. Next year I want to run in Hannover
again and run faster!"

In a greatly reduced women's elite field the lead was initially shared by
Agnes Kiprop and Fate Tola. They went through 10km in 35:05 but Kiprop
broke away at 15km and Tola dropped out soon after. After going through
halfway in a speedy 1:13:30 Agnes Kiprop ran unchallenged to victory but
couldn't maintain her pace in the second half. "I'm happy to have won but
had foot problems from 29 kilometres and was getting pains and cramps. My
pacemaker said to me that I had to keep going," explained Kiprop.

Fate Tola was disappointed that she couldn't produce her best in front of
her home fans and retain the title. "I went down with a cold and cough
before the race and by 17 kilometres couldn't go on and had to drop out,"
said Tola and added: "I'll be back next year and try again."

Results, Men:
1. Seboka Negussa Erre ETH 2:09:44
2. Michael Kunyuga KEN 2:10:16
3. Duncan Koech KEN 2:10:19
4. Justus Kiprotich KEN 2:11:11
5. Henryk Szost POL 2:13:37
6. Mikhail Krassilov KAZ 2:24:24

Women:
1. Agnes Kiprop KEN 2:32:35
2. Akmaral Meirman KAZ 2:55:58
3. Aida Stahlhut GER 3:03:13

More information about the HAJ Marathon Hannover is available at:
www.marathon-hannover.de

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