2013 IAAF World Championships Marathon Set to Begin in Moscow

photo: care of http://www.mos2013.ru/en/news/6735.htm

MOSCOW (RUS): 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. 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 Gelana, Aberu Kebede and Meseret Hailu. 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 and Feyisa Lilesa. London Olympic Games Marathon gold medalist Stephen Kiprotich, of Uganda, will also compete. With a top five performance in Moscow, Kebede can extend his lead prior to the fall marathon season. –

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