Athletes from four corners of the World have gathered in Amman for Saturdays Amman International Marathon held under the patronage of HM King Abdullah the second.
Short, tall, fast and not so fast, the 11000 participants not only represent a vast diversity of sizes and abilities, but come from 51 different nations as far afield as Australia in the south and Canada to the north.
While completing the distance will be sufficient for the majority of the field there are at least two dozen elite athletes who have come in search of a share of the US$70,000 prize money.
Speed, stamina and strategies are the tools of the marathoners who will fight it out over a two lap tour of historic down-town Amman. Commencing from the Fountain Gardens of the Greater Amman Municipality, runners face a gradual climb to Al Gaseh circle at the highest point before returning on a fast-running eleven kilometre drop back through Umar Matar, King Talal and Al Jyash to the turn point at Ain Ghazal Bridge.
It is here on the long energy sapping return past, the old Amman railway station, the magnificent Hussein Mosque and the Roman Amphitheatre that the race will unfold.
Teferi Kebede, the winner of this year’s Verona Marathon in Italy in two hours 12 minutes, is one of seven African athletes who look capable of lifting the first prize of US$ 8000.
The 28 year old will not have it easy and faces the challenge of Kenyan David Kipsum and fellow Ethiopian Gezahagn Beyene both of whom have personal bests (PB) faster than two hours 13 minutes for the marathon distance.
At 31, Kipsum is the more experienced athlete, but the greater threat can be expected from Beyene who is the youngster in the trio, and placed third in the Yellow River Marathon in China in May. A 63:59 half marathon time, combined with his seventh place in the Sultra 30km, both run in the rarified 2600m altitude of Addis Abiba, suggests Beyene is ready to take his marathon time below the 2 hour 12 minute barrier. Without question he will find the 700 metre altitude of downtown Amman a considerably easier environment.
There are at least five athletes with two hour 16 minute capability who can be expected to form a more cautious chase group ready and willing to capitalize on any errors should the lead trio run each other ragged.
The weather is also expected to have a say in the race outcome. In overcast or cool conditions the athletes will up the pace to earn additional time incentives. The first place purse will be increased by US$2000 for a winning time faster than two hours 15 minutes while any winner beating the two hour twelve mark adds US$7000 to the basic prize money, to earn a total of US$15000.
The fastest woman in the field is Tadelech Telila who boasts a PB of two hours 31 minutes, but that was set in the 2000 Torino Marathon where she placed third. Her more recent best saw her win last years Zurich Marathon in Switzerland in 2:32:08. Amongst the 34 year-old’s strongest competitors is Joice Kirui who recently ran 72 minutes for the half marathon. The course is likely to suit the Kenyan who is currently based in Coventry, UK has been showing great form in recent months and enjoys hill running.
Etaferahu Getahun placed third in Zurich this year to post a PB of 2 hours 34 minutes and 5 seconds which saw a massive 14 minute improvement in only two years. At 29 years of age she is only now reaching the age of marathon maturity and with a track background that saw her crowned All Africa Champion in 1500 and 3000 metres in 1997, this is a woman who can be expected to go even faster over the 42km distance.
Although not as fast on paper Alemtsehay Kakissa, the current Beirut Marathon Champion, has experience of Middle East racing and conditions which could prove an advantage on a day when temperatures could soar above 30 degrees.
These and the other overseas contenders can be expected to deliver one of the best exhibitions of top class marathon running seen in the Middle East region.
The Amman International Marathon course is debatably the fastest legal marathon course to be found in the city centre and has the capacity to see local runners set new personal bests over both the marathon and 10km distances.
Salameh Al Aqra one of the countrys most prolific distance runners has confirmed his place on the start line with a view to earning the US$ 2000 award for the first Jordanian to cross the finish line in Al Hashimiah Square. Al Aqra is a multiple winner of the Dead Sea Ultra Marathon and has finished in the top three in the six day 254km Marathon de Sables through the Moroccan desert. His personal best of 2:21:53 makes him the fastest of the local athletes and once again the 38 year old professional marathoner will continue his friendly rivalry with Mohammad Al Sweity who is sure to apply the sort of pressure that extracts the best from the competition.
However this old guard can expect a strong challenge from Suleiman Al Ghadran, who at 26 years is still refining his profession, and tomorrow could see him step up to the top of the podium and even improve on his previous best of 2 hour 26 minutes.
The demand to be part of the Amman International Marathon has been so great that the initial participation limit of 11000 was exceeded prior to opening of the race expo and number collection on 13 October. The majority of the competitors are in the 10km race where Mohammad Rizk Abu Rizk starts as favourite for both an overall win and the first Jordanian prize. The 27 year old has previously run 32 minutes 32 seconds, but given the relatively short three kilometre climb and the seven kilometre drop to the finish we can expect this to be bettered on Saturday.
The success of Amman International Marathon will not only be felt by the runners, local commerce has already seen the benefit and there’s more to come.
In addition to the normal contingent of regional participants, over eighty entrants have travelled inter-continentally to be part of the event. Coming from United States, Britain, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, India, Russia, and South Africa these runners and their supporters will boost the local tourism and economy by around 160,000 JD from air fares, tours, accommodation and spending.
In addition the marathon will be televised live on Jordan TV from early morning and will promote Jordan and Amman on the satellite channel.
For safety and in line with International practice all race roads will be closed from early on Saturday morning but transportation to the race starts has been provided from Abdali parking area beginning at 06:30. Residents who are not running or spectating at the marathon are advised to avoid the city centre as many roads will be closed until 16:00 on Saturday afternoon.
With over 11,000 participants making the journey into the City centre runners should plan to be on one of the buses by 07:15. Leaving their arrival for the last bus at 08:00 could see them short of time before the 09:00 10km and 42km start. The 4km race starts even earlier at 08:30.//////
For more Information Contact Randa Jazaeri on + 962 79 620 5554
Amman International Marathon Office on 06-5662999 or www.amman-marathon.com
Editorial Notes:
• A full list of elite athletes is attached.