Course record holder Henry Sugut will face an even tougher task when he will try to win the Vienna City Marathon for an unprecedented fourth time on 13th April. The Kenyan will face a runner from Ethiopia who has been more than two minutes faster than Sugut’s PB of 2:06:58, which is also the course record. Organisers confirmed today that Getu Feleke was added to the start list. With a personal best of 2:04:50 the 27 year-old is the fastest runner ever entered for the race. The 31st Vienna City Marathon is an IAAF Gold Label Road Race.
Feleke has a special connection to the Vienna City Marathon. It was here where he competed in his first race outside Ethiopia. In 2009 the organisers staged a unique debutants’ only marathon and Feleke was among the athletes invited. He finished seventh five years ago with a time of 2:11:47. “I have very good memories of the Vienna City Marathon. The city and the atmosphere were both impressive. I will never forget my first race outside Ethiopia,” said Feleke, who is looking forward to return to the place where his international career began.
After his debut marathon in Vienna Feleke developed very well. In the same year he improved to 2:09:32 in Amsterdam. In 2010 he clocked a fine half marathon time of 59:56 and then returned to Amsterdam, winning the race with a course record of 2:05:44. This is his only international marathon victory so far. However he managed to improve significantly again in April 2012, when he ran his personal best of 2:04:50. Feleke was second in Rotterdam with this time. A year ago he added another second place finish in Rotterdam. In warm weather conditions Feleke clocked 2:06:45.