After the sensational success in the women's race last year, the aim is to break the 15-year-old record in the top discipline in the men's race in time for the anniversary race in 2022.
Even 15 years after its achievement, 2:07:33 is still the valid benchmark over the marathon distance in Linz, set by the Ukrainian Alexander Kuzin at the 6th Linz Danube Marathon in 2007. For the anniversary in 2022, this mark is to be undercut: A new course record is the goal for the men in the supreme discipline!
A particularly dense and top-class elite field has been emerging for weeks in the entry list for the 20th Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon. This is made possible by a new, major commitment from main sponsor Oberbank Linz and, at the same time, the signing of international athlete manager Christoph Kopp. The renowned Berlin running veteran is convinced of the potential of the Linz course and is working on a top-class mix of familiar faces and young talents to match.
The entire, final elite field will be presented at the traditional press conference on October 19 in Linz, in advance with the Ethiopian Ayele Abshreo (PB 2:04:23) and the Ugandan Filex Chemonges (PB 2:05:12) can already be named two fixed starters.
Growing up in Chebenai village near the NN Running Team training camp in Kapchorwa, elite runner Filex Chemonges' breakthrough came at the 2015 Ugandan Championships with a personal best of 29:09.41 and third place in the 10,000m. In 2018, Filex was selected to run for Uganda at the World Half Marathon Championships in Valencia. It was a proud moment for the young long-distance specialist, who was very happy to be able to compete with the best in the world from now on. His debut over the marathon distance came in Beirut in 2018 with a solid 2:11:57 and second place - a performance that convinced him of his future in the supreme discipline.
In just his second start in the marathon, Filex made another leap forward: 2:09:19 meant second place at the 18th Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon! Six months later, Chemonges ran a personal fabulous time of 2:05:12 to finish third at the Toronto Marathon, just 12 seconds behind the winner - a huge four-minute improvement on his best and a new Ugandan record. "I brought the right attitude to the training. But I also know I need to rest properly and eat at the right time, and I try to follow those things."
The fastest runner in the Linz 2022 field, with a personal best of 2:04:23, will be long-distance specialist Ayele Abshreo of Ethiopia. His best performance - a course record set at the beginning of the 2012 season at the Dubai Marathon - dates back several years, but he has regularly run times around 2:07 and 2:08 in recent years.
Ayele made his first international appearance in the junior race at the 2008 World Cross Country Championships, where he won silver. In 2009, he won gold in the junior race at the World Cross Country Championships in Amman. In 2011, he won the Egmond Half Marathon. His clear goal at the 20th Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon is to fight for victory with the leaders. Recent top finishes and top times from the marathons in London and Hamburg will help:
2012 2:04:23 Dubai 2012 1st place
2013 2:06:57 London 2013 3rd place
2014 2:06:31 London 2014 4th place
2015 2:08:53 Gongju 2015 3rd place
2017 2:08:37 Gongju 2017 4th place
2018 2:07:19 Hamburg 2018 3rd place
2019 2:08:26 Hamburg 2019 2nd place
2020 2:08:20 Mumbai 2020 2nd place
"A highlight of this year's anniversary marathon will be the men's elite race. After the women's course record from last year, the men's best performance is to be cracked this year." (Dr. Franz Gasselsberger MBA, General Manager Oberbank AG)
"I hope that the elite field we have put together will realize the set goal of setting a course record. The potential is definitely there. The fans can look forward to an exciting race." (Christoph Kopp, Elite Coordinator 20th Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon)
"We are delighted that Filex has found his way back to Linz. When an athlete of his class returns to Linz, it proves the qualities of the race through the Upper Austrian capital." (Günther Weidlinger BSc., Organization Linz Marathon)
