Press Release - Munich Marathon - 10/13/24

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                           GENERALI MUNICH MARATHON:

   Kenyan debutant Nehemiah Kipyegon and Ethiopian newcomer Asmare Assefa 
                                 win in Munich        

Kenyan debutant Nehemiah Kipyegon took the 38th edition of the GENERALI 
MUNICH MARATHON, beating his challengers by a huge margin while also 
fighting against windy and rainy conditions. Taking into account the wet 
weather during the second half of the race the 26 year-old showed an 
impressive performance and clocked a highly respectable 2:10:02. In a race 
without pacemakers he was in the lead throughout and achieved the fourth 
fastest winning time in the history of the event. Nehemiah Kipyegon was 
more than five minutes ahead of Siyum Tola. The Ethiopian ran his first 
marathon as well and finished in 2:15:29. Kenya's Benard Chumba was third 
in 2:19:00.

Running her first race in Europe Ethiopia's newcomer Asmare Assefa won the 
race in 2:29:44. The 26 year-old clocked a personal best and the second 
fastest winning time of the GENERALI MUNICH MARATHON. Kenya's Shamilah 
Kipsiror was second in 2:34:01 and Gelane Senbete of Ethiopia followed in 
third with 2:35:44. 

Organisers of the GENERALI MUNICH MARATHON registered a record number of 
almost 28,000 entries from 120 nations including events at shorter 
distances. Among them were 6,250 marathon runners.

"Today we witnessed a superb event with an impressive entry record and we 
have further established the international standing of the GENERALI MUNICH 
MARATHON. We hope that we can continue staging this race," said Race 
Director Gernot Weigl, who also pointed out the huge financial benefit the 
marathon generates for the city of Munich. It is estimated that this is in 
the region of twelve million Euro.

Nehemiah Kipyegon, who had recently improved his half marathon PB to 60:34 
in Copenhagen, took the lead right after the start with four runners 
following behind him. Without any pacemakers he then reached the half 
marathon point in 64:13. At this point only Siyum Tola and William Kibor of 
Kenya were still behind him. However Kibor dropped back soon after half 
way. The Kenyan suffered badly with muscle problems and later finished well 
behind in 2:26:13. In a duel of two debutants Tola could not hold on for 
long. When Kipyegon ran sub 3:00 kilometre splits between 24 and 26k the 
Ethiopian was beaten. "He did not help pacing, so I decided to make a 
move," said Nehemiah Kipyegon, who lives and trains in Keringet which is in 
between Nairobi and Eldoret. "This is my biggest career win so far. I think 
I can run times of around 2:05 in the future."

In the women's race four runners passed the 10k mark in 34:54. Running 
without pacemakers as well Shamilah Kipsiror did most of the pacing. While 
Ethiopians Gelane Senbete and Gadise Negasa were dropped Asmare Assefa 
stayed behind the Kenyan. When the two passed the half marathon point in 
73:34 they were almost a minute ahead already. With less than ten 
kilometres to go Assefa finally passed Kipsiror and quickly build a big 
lead. The Kenyan was so exhausted that she collapsed after crossing the 
finish line and needed medical treatment.
 
"I was able to stay behind Shamilah for a long period and it went very well 
for me. However it was getting difficult when the rain turned stronger at 
around 27k. I think in good weather conditions I would have been three 
minutes faster," said Asmare Assefa. "I would like to come back to Munich 
for this race next year."

More information about the GENERALI MUNICH MARATHON is available at: 
www.generalimuenchenmarathon.de

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