Home Latest News King of the road Kipchoge makes it four in a row

King of the road Kipchoge makes it four in a row

September 30, 2019

The Abbott World Marathon Majors – the world’s elite series for marathon running – has crowned their Series XII Champions following today’s BMW BERLIN-MARATHON.

Eluid Kipchoge kicked-off the elite men’s Series in style with a new world record time of 2:01:39 at the 2018 BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, and followed up with a new course record on his Virgin Money London Marathon win to take top spot on the leaderboard and secure his fourth consecutive series title.

In the elite women’s competition, fellow Kenyan Brigid Kosgei takes home her first Abbott World Marathon Majors trophy thanks to her victories at the 2018 Bank of America Chicago Marathon and the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon.

Tim Hadzima, Executive Director of the Abbott World Marathon Majors said, “Series XII of the Abbott World Marathon Majors has been full of nail-biting finishes, world records and new emerging talent. Congratulations to all our champions.

“Stand-out moments like Kipchoge breaking the world record here in Berlin last September; and Manuela Schär winning every race from Berlin to Berlin reinforces the incredible talent that we witness across the Series. The Abbott World Marathon Majors is a series where the world’s best come to compete.”

The wheelchair competition was one of the most memorable with a new men’s champion being crowned in 21-year old Daniel Romanchuk from the USA. Battling against a vastly experienced field at every Major, Romanchuk took the tape at four races this series: Bank of America Chicago Marathon, TCS New York City Marathon, Boston Marathon and the Virgin Money London Marathon. He became the first ever American to win the wheelchair race in New York City and Boston.

Manuela Schär of Switzerland achieved the unimaginable in the last 12 months – she powered through the finishing tape ahead of the pack at all seven races in the series one after the other from Berlin 2018 to Berlin 2019. The victories included her world record-setting performance at the 2018 BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, consecutive victories at the TCS New York City Marathon and the Tokyo Marathon, and a maiden triumph in Chicago.

Schär’s remarkable feat was also recognized with a specially created gold version of the Six Star finishers medal. Never before has an athlete won every race in succession.

Her grit, resilience and success in the sport has been documented by the Abbott World Marathon Majors and can be viewed here.

In the race for second with the elite men, Lelisa Desisa and Birhanu Legese ended the Series tied on 41 points, so it was down to a Race Directors vote to determine that Desisa would secure second, Legese in third.

Desisa reigned supreme in the TCS New York City Marathon last November and followed up with a second place in Boston after being narrowly beaten across the line. Legese championed in Tokyo at the start of the spring races and wrapped the series with a second place in Berlin today.

For the elite women, second place goes to Ruti Aga of Ethiopia thanks to her Tokyo Marathon victory and second place in the 2018 BMW Berlin Marathon. Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya picks up third place after finishing second in both the TCS New York City Marathon and the Virgin Money London Marathon.

Today’s men’s wheelchair winner Marcel Hug of Switzerland finishes the series in second after a solid season of two wins (Tokyo Marathon and 2019 BMW Berlin Marathon), two second place (Bank of America Chicago Marathon and TCS New York City Marathon) and two wheelchair bonus sprint points (Tokyo and Berlin).

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Canada’s Brent Lakatos claims third spot after his 2018 Berlin victory and second at the Virgin Money London Marathon.

Tatyana McFadden from the USA takes back to back second position in the women’s wheelchair series with 72 points from her second placings in New York City, Tokyo, Boston and London, along with the sprint bonus points in New York City.

Australia’s Madison de Rozario finished in third place, her first Series podium, after claiming second in Chicago (also taking the sprint bonus points), and third in Boston, London and Berlin.

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon will be the first major of Series XIII on 13 October 2019.

Series XII of the Abbott World Marathon Majors consisted of: