Tokyo Marathon raises the 2014 WMM series curtain Sunday 23 February

Coming Sunday 23 February will see the start of the 2014 World Marathon Majors (WMM) series at Tokyo Marathon , which will be followed by events in London, Boston, Berlin, Chicago and New York on 13 April, 21 April, 28 September, 12 October and 2 November respectively.

Top contenders among he elite field (Ref. IAAF - Course Records expected at Tokyo Marathon) :

Men [CR 2:06:50 - Dennis Kipruto Kimetto (KEN) 2013]
(with sub 2:06 PB's)
Tadese Tola 27 (ETH) -  2:04:49 Dubai 2013
Abel Kirui 32 (KEN) - 2:05:04 Rotterdam 2009
Sammy Kitwara 28 (KEN) - 2:05:16 Chicago 2013
Peter Some 24 (KEN) - 2:05:38 Paris 2013
Deressa Chimsa 38 (ETH) - 2:05:42 Dubai 2012
Dickson Chumba 28 (KEN) - 2:05:46 Eindhoven 2012 

Women [CR  2:25:28 - Atsede Habtamu (ETH) 2012]
(with PB's)

 Lucy Kabuu 30 (KEN) - 2:19:34 Dubai 2012
Yoko Shibui 35 (JPN) - 2:19:41 Berlin 2004
Tirfi Tsegaye 30 (ETH) - 2:21:19 Berlin 2012
Atsede Baysa 27 (ETH) - 2:22:03 Chicago 2012
Birhane Dibaba 21 ETH) - 2:23:01 Frankfurt 2013
Merima Mohamed Hasen 22 (ETH) - 2:23:06 Toronto 2010 


Statistics :
2013 champions :
M - 2:06:50 (CR) Dennis Kipruto Kimetto (KEN)
W - 2:25:34 Aberu Kebede (ETH)

WR's
M - 2:03:23 Wilson Kipsang (KEN) Berlin 2013 September 29
W - 2:15:25 Paula Radcliffe (GBR) London 2003 Apr 13

WL's
M - 2:04:32  Tsegaye Mekonnen (ETH) Dubai 24 Jan
W -  2:21:36 Mare Dibaba (ETH) Xiamen 2 Jan