M. KisengeHamburg Marathon rescheduled
Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 31.03.21. | 18:15
Marathon record holder, Kipchoge set to return to Hamburg after eight years
The Hamburg Marathon which was initially slated for April 11 has been pushed forward by a week.
The organizers of the race set to give a platform to more than seventy marathoners who will be trying their luck in securing qualifications to the rescheduled Tokyo Olympic games are also understood to have switched the venue thanks to the coronavirus situation in Germany.
World record holder over the distance Eliud Kipchoge who made his debut in Hamburg in 2013 is among the seasoned athletes set to grace the event.
Kipchoge whose last outing ended sourly after finishing eighth in the London Marathon in October last year will be hoping to redeem himself in the race as well as step up his preparations for the Olympics.
My number one goal is to run a beautiful race in Hamburg. A beautiful race will give people hope. It is another step that we are on the right track to normality.#MissionMarathon pic.twitter.com/Lcdm0bP4XI
— Eliud Kipchoge - EGH???????? (@EliudKipchoge) March 18, 2021
The 36- year old was drafted in the Team Kenya's marathon team for the Olympics and will be seeking to defend his title he won in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
Kipchoge said the abrupt change of dates for the Hamburg race was a wake-up call to athletes and humanity to embrace flexibility and stay positive even as the world grapples with the coronavirus pandemic.
"Over the past months, we have learned that we need to be flexible and stay positive. With this in mind, I thank everybody involved from the organization, to sponsors, to my fellow runners, to keep working hard with positive minds to find a good alternative for us as athletes. This race is really important, it is a hugely positive thing for the fans to see that life continues during this pandemic," he said.
I am going back to the genesis of my marathon career. For me, Hamburg is where it all began. I hope to inspire many people around the world by running a great race in the streets of this wonderful city.#MissionMarathon pic.twitter.com/ZAdRUJOzWc
— Eliud Kipchoge - EGH???????? (@EliudKipchoge) February 18, 2021
The managing director of the race Frank Thaleiser regretted the change of dates but promised to roll his sleeves and ensure the event will go as planned.
"Of course we were quite disappointed at first, but we can understand the decision given the current situation. We are now putting all our efforts into the realization of the event at a different location and are optimistic that we will find a solution. We owe this not least to the more than 70 athletes who have trained to the point in recent weeks and want to keep their hopes alive for an Olympic ticket." he said.
