Kenya’s Lucas Rotich and Magdalyne Masai (2:26:02) have a chance to improve on their last year’s performance after the organisers of Hamburg Marathon announced the race will go ahead on September 13 with both elite and mass races.
Rotich was fifth in 2:09:48 in a race dominated by Ethiopia’s Tadu Abate (2:08:25) and Ayele Abshero (2:08:26) who took the first two places. In the women’s category, Masai (2:26:02) placed second behind Ethiopia’s Dibabe Kuma while another Kenyan Veronica Nyaruai (2:29:14) was fourth.
The organisers have also set out a comprehensive hygiene policy, based on international expertise.
With the guidelines in place, organisers are hopeful that 10,000 marathon runners and 4000 participants in the half marathon will be able to race. If this does go ahead, given the current situation caused by the coronavirus, the race in Hamburg would most likely be the first significant international marathon to take place with an elite and mass field since the start of the pandemic.
“We are optimistic that the Hamburg Marathon will go ahead on 13 September,” said chief organiser Frank Thaleiser. “We have the plans and the infrastructure required. We will now make detailed plans together with the city to realise the race.”
The Hamburg Marathon was originally planned for 19 April. The rescheduled race will have a reduced elite field of about 30 athletes. The athletes will have to undergo testing before the race and will only be drawn from certain countries, given the restricted travel situation. Participation by athletes from countries where the coronavirus poses a higher risk will not be allowed – either in the elite or in the mass field.
Last week chancellor Angela Merkel met the presidents of Germany’s federal states and the decision was agreed that major events would not be permitted to take place until the end of October but exceptions can be made for events where contact tracing and adhering to hygiene regulations are possible. Individual federal states are also permitted to set their own regulations.
The half marathon and marathon will have different start and finish lines as well as different start times. Most of them will be in batches of 1000 per starting group who will be sent on their way at roughly 10-minute intervals. Disinfection stations will be set up both in the event area in general and along the course.
“I am very much looking forward to this race,” said Germany’s 2:12:50 marathon runner Philipp Pflieger. “It was a frustrating situation when all events were cancelled. I stopped training for a while, but now there is a major goal again.”
