Irina Mikitenko testing the Marathon course for the IAAF World Championships 2009 | marathonscene.com

Irina Mikitenko testing the Marathon course for the IAAF World Championships 2009

On Sunday 3rd of May Irina Mikitenko, two-time London Marathon winner and THE german marathon hope for the World Championships in Berlin had a first feel of the official marathon course for the IAAF World Championships.

Mikitenko witnessed the official measurement of the 10 km long lap course in the midle of Berlin city. The official measurement gave the result that there was only a deviation of 3meters on the 10km loop. About the course Mikitenko said: “The course is flat and quick and as a runner coming from the track I like it. At the lap course the spectators will be even closer but at the end of the day every runner will still be alone against the 42,195m” .

Only one week after regaining her London title the 36-year old stated that “London is already behind me now. I will have one more recovery week with my family and then the preparations for World Championships will start.”

Mikitenko can now rightly claim to be currently the top female marathon runner in the world after winning in both London and Berlin in 2008, clocking the fastest time of last year when she ran 2:19:19h to win the latter race, and despite missing out on competing at the Olympics due to a injury reasons.

She hopes to make up for her absence in the 2008 Beijing Olympic at the IAAF World Championships on home soil in Berlin this summer, with the women’s marathon being on the program on August 23, the date of her 37th birthday.