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When the world's top marathon runners take to the streets of Beijing
later this month at the Olympic Games they will be competing for more
than gold, silver and bronze. For the first time since the launch of
the World Marathon Majors Series in 2006, the Olympic Games will be
counted in the scoring.
The World Marathon Majors Series consists of the Boston Marathon,
Flora London Marathon, real,-Berlin Marathon, Bank of America Chicago
Marathon, and ING New York City Marathon. The IAAF World Championships
Marathon and Olympic Games Marathon are also included in the scoring on
the years in which they are contested. Scoring takes place over a
two-year period, with points awarded for a top-5 finish.
The women's 2007-2008 leaderboard remains tightly packed, and with
as many as six of the top nine women expected to race in Beijing, the
Olympic Games could play a deciding role in the Series. Defending WMM
champion Gete Wami holds the lead with 65 points, however she has
already registered four scoring races in 2007-2008 (a maximum of an
athlete's four best scores are counted in the final standings), and
will only be able to improve upon her total with a gold or silver
medal. Should she falter, hometown favorite Chunxiu Zhou of China,
second with 40 points, could gain ground.
Three men remain in contention for the 2007-2008 WMM Series title,
and each will be racing in Beijing. Martin Lel (75 points) currently
leads 2006-2007 WMM Series champ Robert Cheruiyot (55 points) and
Abderrahim Goumri (40 points). A gold medal for Lel would clinch the
2007-2008 WMM crown -- and the accompanying $500,000 prize -- with a
perfect score of 100 points. Should Lel fall short and Cheruiyot or
Goumri medal, then the WMM Series title could come down to one of the
fall events.
The women's Olympic Marathon is scheduled for August 17, while the
men's marathon will be run on August 24, the final day of the Games.
Following the Olympic Games, the real,-Berlin Marathon will be held on
September 28, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 12, and
the ING New York City Marathon on November 2. The 2007-2008 WMM Series
Champions will be crowned at a luncheon in New York on November 3.
Men's 2007-2008 WMM Series Leaderboard
1. Martin Lel (KEN) 75 pts.
1st New York 2007 2:09:04
1st London 2007 2:07:41
1st London 2008 2:05:15
2. Robert K. Cheruiyot (KEN) 55 pts.
3. Abderrahim Goumri (MAR) 40 pts.
4. Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) 25 pts.
4. Luke Kibet (KEN) 25 pts.
4. Patrick Ivuti (KEN) 25 pts.
Italics = athlete is expected to compete in the Olympic Marathon.
Women's 2007-2008 WMM Series Leaderboard
1. Gete Wami (ETH) 65 pts.
2nd New York 2007 2:23:32
1st Berlin 2007 2:23:17
2nd London 2007 2:21:45
3rd London 2008 2:25:37
2. Chunxiu Zhou (CHN) 40 pts.
2. Irina Mikitenko (GER) 40 pts.
4. Lidiya Grigoryeva (RUS) 30 pts.
4. Jelena Prokopcuka (LAT) 30 pts.
6. Catherine Ndereba (KEN) 26 pts.
7. Dire Tune (ETH) 25 pts.
7. Paula Radcliffe (GBR) 25 pts.
7. Berhane Adere (ETH) 25 pts.
Italics = athlete is expected to compete in the Olympic Marathon.
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