Michelle Cook (organisers) for the IAAF
Germany’s Irina Mikitenko has been added to the stellar line up to contest the women’s division of 15km race around the streets of Melbourne on 29 November. The past two Olympic marathon champions – Kenyan Sammy Wanjiru (Beijing) and Italian Stefano Baldini (Athens) – had already been declared for the men’s field.
Both Mikitenko and Wanjiru were recently crowned World Marathon Majors champions in New York, after their sensational performances on the prestigious international marathon circuit.
Becoming the first non-African runner to win the World Marathon Major series in 2007/2008, Mikitenko stamped her dominance again this year, securing the title and the US$500,000 cheque.
Taking out the 2008 and 2009 London Marathons, the 37-year-old became the fourth fastest female marathon runner in history when she clocked 2:19:19 to win the Berlin Marathon in 2008.
Placing second at the 2009 Chicago Marathon last month, the former Kazakhstan athlete will arrive in Melbourne in top form, ready to battle Olympic bronze medallist Deena Kastor of the USA and Australia’s best including our No 1 distance runner Benita Willis (formerly Johnson), the 2004 world cross country champion.
“I will not be thinking of times but rather concentrating on a great competition with the other girls. I have great respect for both my competitors who have impressive achievements in running. It will be an exciting race,” said Mikitenko.
The Great Australian Run will mark Mikitenko’s second visit to our shores, her first being in Sydney for the 2000 Olympic Games, where she finished fifth in the final of the 5000 metres.
“Out of my three Olympic Games, the best was the one in Sydney. I am looking forward to returning to Australia and hoping for a similar atmosphere at the Great Australian Run.”
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