Marathon Worlds 2013 Preview

World Marathon Majors

Red Square and Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow will set the stage as Olympic and World Championships gold medalists and World Marathon Majors (WMM) champions compete in the 2013 IAAF World Championships Marathon.

The course will start and finish at Luzhniki Stadium, the site of the 1980 Olympic Games. Comprised of one loop of 7.5 kilometers and three loops of 10 kilometers, the course runs through the city center, passing many of Moscow’s famous landmarks.

World Marathon Majors points are at stake in the Women’s and Men’s World Championships Marathons, to be held on August 10 and August 17, respectively. The World Championships Marathon is part of the 2012-2013 WMM Series, which also includes the Tokyo, Boston, Virgin Money London, BMW Berlin, Bank of America Chicago, ING New York City, and London Olympic Games marathons.

At the conclusion of the 2012-2013 WMM Series in November, the top female and male marathoners in the Series, based on their total number of points, will each earn $500,000.

Women’s Race Preview: Saturday, August 10 at 2:00 p.m. (14:00) Moscow Time
A change at the top of the women’s WMM Series standings is possible, as four of the top 10 in the current standings will compete in the World Championships. Defending World Championships gold medalist Edna Kiplagat will lead the Kenyans against an Ethiopian contingent that includes London Olympic Games Marathon gold medalist Tiki Gelena; 2012 BMW BERLIN-MARATHON champion Aberu Kebede; and 2013 Boston Marathon runner-up Meseret Hailu.

A repeat victory in Moscow would give Kiplagat a total of 55 points and the overall lead in the standings entering the fall marathon season, which includes the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON on September 29, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 13, and the Series finale at the ING New York City Marathon on November 3.

Men’s Race Preview: Saturday, August 17 at 3:30 p.m. (15:30) Moscow Time
Four of the top 10 men in the current WMM Series standings will compete in the World Championships, including an Ethiopian trio of Tsegaye Kebede, the current WMM Series leader and 2013 Virgin London Marathon champion; Lelisa Desisa, the 2013 Boston Marathon champion; and 2011 World Championships bronze medalist and 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon runner-up, Feyisa Lilesa. London Olympic Games Marathon gold medalist Stephen Kiprotich, of Uganda, will also compete.

Kebede’s 60 points in the 2012-2013 WMM Series standings currently give him a commanding 24-point lead over Kenya’s Wilson Kipsang. With a top five performance in Moscow, Kebede can extend his lead prior to the fall marathon season. Tied with 25 points apiece, Desisa or Kiprotich can only move into second place with a win in Moscow.

2012–2013 WMM Series Leaderboards

Top 10 Men

Top 10 Women