Cheruiyot, Prokopcuka Lead World Marathon Majors Series

NEW YORK - (November 5, 2006) - The World Marathon Majors (WMM) leader board saw plenty of movement following Sunday's ING New York City Marathon. Held in near-perfect conditions, women's victor Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia and a surprise win by Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil on the men's side, saw the former move to the head of the WMM standings, and the latter, install himself in a three-way tie for second with Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia and Felix Limo of Kenya.

The 2006-07 World Marathon Majors series began with the Boston and Flora London Marathons last April, and proceeded with the real,- Berlin, LaSalle Bank Chicago and finally, ING New York City races. With the inaugural year now complete, Robert K. Cheruiyot (KEN), the winner in Boston and Chicago, retains his commanding lead by a 25-point margin, while Prokopcuka holds a 10-point margin over Berhane Adere (ETH) and Rita Jeptoo (KEN).

The World Marathon Majors series functions on a two-year cycle, meaning that it will conclude with the 2007 ING New York City Marathon, at which time the leading man and woman will take an equal share of a $1,000,000 prize purse. Thereafter, the two-year WMM seasons will overlap, meaning that they will run as follows: 2007 / 2008; 2008 / 2009; 2009 / 2010, etc., with the prize money awarded at the end of each year.

The top five male and female finishers receive World Marathon Majors points, with 25 for first, 15 for second, 10 for third, 5 for fourth and one for fifth. Added to the 15 she earned in Boston, Prokopcuka thus sits atop the World Marathon Majors leader board at the conclusion of the series' first year. Of the others among ING New York City's top five, only Jeptoo, the winner in Boston - ahead of Prokopcuka - already appeared in the World Marathon Majors standings. The five points she accumulated here boosted her overall total to 30 points, placing her in equal second position with Adere. Deena Kastor of the United States is fourth in the standings with 25 points (her win at London).

Dos Santos' win, in contrast, placed an entirely new and unexpected name among the WMM contenders. The 25 points he earned puts him in second place, aside the Flora London and real,- Berlin winners, Felix Limo (KEN) and Haile Gebrselassie (ETH).

At the mid-way point of the 2006-07 World Marathon Majors series, the standings are as follows:

MEN
1) Robert K. Cheruiyot, KEN, 50 points
2) Felix Limo, KEN, 25
2) Haile Gebrselassie, ETH, 25
2) Marilson Gomes dos Santos, BRA, 25

WOMEN
1) Jelena Prokopcuka, LAT, 40 points
2) Berhane Adere, ETH, 30
2) Rita Jeptoo, KEN, 30
4) Deena Kastor, USA, 25

source RunningUSA