MIKITENKO HOPING FOR HOME COUNTRY WIN IN BERLIN
By David Monti
(c) 2008 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved - used with permission

Berlin Marathon

A German woman hasn't crossed the finish line first at the real,- Berlin Marathon since Uta Pippig won in 1995, her third Berlin victory. But, with 2008 Flora London Marathon champion Irina Mikitenko in the race, organizers hope that will change on Sunday for the 35th edition of the race.

Mikitenko, 36, was the surprise winner in London with a 2:24:14 personal best, breaking away with a 5:13 24th mile to drop Gete Wami of Ethiopia and Svetlana Zakharova of Russia.

"I had so much energy left," she said through a translator after her race in London. "I knew I could run much faster."

Perhaps that will happen in Berlin on Sunday where valuable World Marathon Majors points are on the line. Mikitenko is currently in fourth place in the 2007/2008 pointes chase with 40 points, and a victory at Berlin would put her at 65 points, tied for the lead with Wami. Wami, who ran both Berlin and New York last year, will only run New York this year after her DNF at the Olympic Games. Mikitenko would have to come back at either Chicago on Oct. 12, or New York on Nov. 2, to guarantee that she beats Wami.

The winner at Berlin will receive 50,000 Euros and Mikitenko will have to fight with Askale Tafa Magarsa of Ethiopia, who ran a very solid 2:23:23 at Dubai last January, in order to get the win. Mikitenko recently won the German 10-K road running title with a world leading 30:57, so her present form is excellent.

"I feel stronger than ever than ever after that (10k)," she said in Berlin on Thursday. "I was disappointed to miss the Olympics, but you can't look back. I'm concentrating on the present, on Berlin on Sunday, and the future."

Mikitenko is a three-time Olympian, competing first for her native Kazakhstan in the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, before obtaining German citizenship in 1998. She then competed in Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004 for Germany, both times in the 5000m. Her best result was fifth in 2000 when she ran 14:43.59. She has only run two marathons in her career.

NOTE: The real, Berlin Marathon can be watched in the United States LIVE on Universal Sports, which is available on many cable and satellite systems and over-the-air television in several major cities, including New York (check local listings), and also at the Universal Sports website at www.universalsports.com. --Ed.

PHOTO CREDIT: Irina Mikitenko today in Berlin (photo courtesy of the real,- Berlin Marathon)

ENDS