PAUL TERGAT CONFIRMED FOR GREAT IRELAND RUN IN DUBLIN ON APRIL 5TH Former world marathon record holder Paul Tergat of Kenya is the biggest name yet announced for the Great Ireland Run in Dublin on Sunday April 5th. Tergat is universally acknowledged as one of the greatest distance runners of all-time winning five successive world cross country titles and two Olympic 10,000 metre silver medals during a glittering career.
The 39-year-old Kenyan set a world marathon record in 2003 of 2:04:55 which stood for four years. He has also broken several other world records on the road and track.
Now he is targeting victory and another success at Ireland’s premier road race over 10 kilometres in the Phoenix Park.
Andy Caine, the Run’s Elite Athletes Manager said: “Tergat is ambitious, training hard and remains a world class athlete who will be a strong contender in Dublin. I’ve been speaking to his agent since the beginning of the year about his participation and I’m delighted Paul accepted the invitation believing he can do himself justice over a distance he is very familiar with. But for Haile Gebrselassie who over the years he has fought some magnificent battles with, there is little doubt that he himself rather than his close Ethiopian friend, might have been acclaimed the world’s greatest-ever distance runner. His record speaks for itself and I’m sure we can expect a great performance from him at the Great Ireland Run.”
Caine said with Tergat’s signing for the race completed, he plans revealing other top names for both the men and women’s races in coming days.
The Great Ireland Run is the country’s largest mixed 10km race and 10,000 runners are expected in 2009. Entries are open through www.greatirelandrun.org or 1890 930139.
Further details:
Andy Caine, Elite Athlete Manager, Great Ireland Run: +44 751 5050527
Roy Dooney, The Media Group: 01 2301815 / 087 2414165