2008-05-07
Participation record and surprise winners in 5th Salzburg AMREF Marathon
Sunny weather with slightly wind made almost perfect conditions at the 5th Salzburg AMREF Marathon. Winner John-Kiprono Kirwa from Kenya finished in 2:18:52 hours and missed the course record only by 11 seconds. Sabine Hofer from Salzburg surprised with her victory. With only 500 metres to go, she passed the favourite Kenyan Sheila-Kasyoka Mbaku and finished in 2:54:01 hours. With 3.346 participants in all running events the organizers proudly announced a new participation record.
Photo by: SAM - Bryan Reinhart — The winner of Salzburg AMREF Marathon 2008: John-Kiprono Kirwa from Kenya

Exciting 5th Salzburg AMREF Marathon

20,000 spectators supported the runners along the course and at the finish line in the famous old town. John-Kiprono Kirwa, who had already won the Linz marathon, and two-times Salzburg winner Josephat-Kiprono Rotich did a lot to inspire the public. Both attacked more than once to gain a winning margin. With his last attack Rotich got some muscular problems in the lower leg - the decision in the thriller. Kirwa won in 2:18:51 hours, Rotich placed second in 2:22:12 hours.

Who thought the men's race has been all of excitement, hasn't seen the women's race. From the beginning the Kenyan Sheila-Kasyoka Mbaku seemed to be unbeatable, she extended her lead up to eight minutes. But after km 35 she got slower and slower, and Salzburg's top long distance runner Sabine Hofer passed her with only 500 metres to go. Hofer couldn't believe it: "I only wanted to be sure to get second, nobody told me I'm getting close to the leader. I just saw her and was completely surprised. I took my chance and now I am simply overwhelmed". Hofer finished in 2:54:01 hours, her strength at the last kilometres is not surprising, four weeks ago she gained a new Austrian record in 6-hours-running.

Marathon Men

1.  Kirwa John-Kiprono, AMREF – 2:18:52 h
2.  Rotich Josephat-Kiprono, AMREF - 2:22:12 h
3.  Wörndl Gerhard, ASV Salzburg – 2:35:44 h

Marathon Women

1.    Hofer Sabine,Dr., LAC Trinkhanf Salzburg – 2:54:01 h
2.    Mbaku Sheila-Kasyoka, AMREF  – 2:54:56 h
3.    Böllmann Elke, TSV Neustadt/Rems – 3:22:35 h

SPARKASSE Half marathon – Favourites in front and strong locals

Timothy Kinoti Raibuni won the half-marathon in 1:05:56 hours, womens top rank was taken by Dorcas-Jerop Kiptarus (both from Kenya) with unbelievable 1:15:44 hours, second fastest time ever in Salzburg. Behind them the local runners took the podium. Karl Aumayr (Union Salzburg) got 2nd in 1:10:01 hours and Oldboy Thomas Frühwald (ASV Salzburg/ 1:13:40) finished 3rd.

Lauren Martin got second with in the womens race. She enhanced her personal record to 1:22:26 hours (up to now: 1:23:03). „It was the first time I really could  enjoy a half marathon, I did an intensive preparation for four weeks, it paid off."

Racing wheel chair driver and Athens Paralympics winner Thomas Geierspichler finished the half-marathon in fantastic 58:52 minutes. „This was like a sightseeing tour, no car on the roads in Salzburg, easy to go for me. I would like to have this more often", he told.

Half-marathon Men

1. Raibuni Timothy-Kinoti, AMREF – 1:05:56 h
2. Aumayr Karl, Union Salzburg – 1:10:01 h
3. Frühwald Thomas, ASV Salzburg – 1:13:40 h

Half-marathon Women

1. Kiptarus Dorcas-Jerop, AMREF – 1:15:44 h
2. Martin Lauren, ASV Salzburg – 1:22:26 h
3. Trost Eva, LG Rupertiwinkel – 1:23:14 h

5k STIEGL race with Bond-Fever

Sportsmen, politicians and actors – a lot of VIP's supported AMREF with their presence. Some even took on their running shoes. Bond-Girl Caterina Murino, accompanied by actor Fritz Egger and entrepreneur Hubert Palfinger jun., ran the 5.5k STIEGL-lap. „I would like to run more and often, but unfortunately I lack the time", the Italian beauty said.  Male winner Markus Stadlmann finished in 19:00 minutes, female winner Sophie Leitner was clocked in 20:31 minutes.
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