FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

World-Class Field Headed by Sub 2:05 Runner Endeshaw Negesse

The strongest field in the history of the event will line up for the 12th
edition of the Metro Group Marathon Duesseldorf on 27 April. Ethiopians
Endeshaw Negesse and Selomie Getnet head the current start lists with
personal bests of 2:04:52 and 2:25:15 respectively. Adding other running
events staged parallel to the marathon a field of more than 16,000 athletes
is expected to take part in the event. Online entry is still possible at:
www.metrogroup-marathon.de

"By inviting a number of world-class runners we continue to strive forward.
It is our aim to establish the Metro Group Marathon Duesseldorf as a
high-class international spring race," said Race Director Jan Winschermann.
In the past two years the men's course record was broken twice. Last year's
winner Dereje Debele (Ethiopia) clocked 2:07:48. Organisers hope that this
time will be significantly improved on 27th April.

26 year-old Endeshaw Negesse ran his world-class PB of 2:04:52 when he
finished fourth in the Dubai Marathon 2013. He still belongs to the 20
fastest marathon runners ever. One of Negesse's strongest rivals also ran
his PB with a fourth place Dubai finish: Tamirat Tola clocked 2:06:17
earlier this year in the Emirates.

Two prominent Kenyan long distance runners have chosen Duesseldorf for
their next marathon race: Gilbert Yegon and Moses Masai. Running his debut
at the distance Yegon took the Amsterdam Marathon in 2009 with 2:06:18,
breaking Haile Gebrselassie's course record. He did not manage to improve
since, but he had good races. Among them was a second place in the Vienna
City Marathon in 2012. Duesseldorf will be the third marathon for Moses
Masai. An outstanding track runner, the Kenyan won a 10,000 m bronze medal
in the 2009 World Championships. However he could not yet transform his
full potential to the marathon. When Masai ran his debut in Dubai in 2013
he finished with 2:11:00. In a very windy Frankfurt Marathon the Kenyan
then dropped out in October. Masai will be eager to show that he can
compete with the best at the classic distance as well.

There is a clear favourite in the women's race. Selomie Getnet is by far
the fastest runner in the field. However there will be further additions in
the coming weeks. The Ethiopian ran 2:25:15 for a second place in the Rome
Marathon in 2013. With this PB it should be possible for her to attack
Duesseldorf's course record. Kenya's Agnes Jeruto clocked 2:25:49 two years
ago. Annie Bersagel (USA) will also compete on 27 April. Last year she won
the St. Paul Twin Cities Marathon with 2:30:53.

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