WMM Leader Tsegaye Kebede Hopes For Another Series Win in Berlin

Published by Running Times on September 23, 2014

One of the world’s most consistent marathoners, Tsegaye Kebede has made the podium in 14 marathons since his Olympic bronze in 2008, most of them major international competitions. After placing fourth at the 2013 Moscow world championships, the Ethiopian Kebede bounced back to take second in New York last November, securing the 2012-2013 World Marathon Majors prize of $500,000 for the most points in the series.

Following his third place finish in London in April, Kebede leads the standings for the 2013-2014 WMM, and he’s hoping for a second straight win, a feat that only Beijing Olympic champion Sammy Wanjiru achieved among men.

Kebede has 55 points and will run Berlin on September 28. In WMM races—which currently include the 2013 worlds, Tokyo, London, Boston, Berlin, Chicago and New York—the top five places carry scores of 25, 15, 10, 5 and 1, but only four races count towards the total, so Kebede’s maximum possible score is 75 (as the lower of his Berlin or Moscow score will be dropped). His WMM challengers are Kenya’s world record holder Wilson Kipsang , who has 51 points and races New York this fall, and Chicago champion Dennis Kimetto, who has 50 points and races Kebede in Berlin.

The former Olympic and world medalist Kebede won Chicago in 2012 (in a 2:04:38 PR) and London in 2010 and again in 2013, after being left off Ethiopia’s London Olympic team. Kebede spoke to Running Times about his experience, outlook, and how he has remained so consistent.

Running Times: What did you think of Ethiopian track greats Kenenisa Bekele and Tirunesh Dibaba’s marathon debuts this year?

Tsegaye Kebede: I’m impressed with Kenenisa’s race. If he can run 2:05 in his first marathon, at this rate, I believe he can break the world record on his next marathon. [Bekele races Chicago next month.] I admire Tirunesh too. When her water bottle fell and rolled away, if she’d left it and carried on, she might have been, if not first, then 2nd. It’s a matter of experience.