World Leader Scratches From World Championship Marathon

German Irina Mikitenko will not be able to compete in front of her home crowd in Berlin.

Irina Mikitenko, 2009 London marathon champion, will be unable to run at the world championships in Berlin due to the death of her father. Mikitenko has the world’s best time in 2009 with her London victory mark of 2:22:11. The German star is the regining World Marathon Major champion, and may return to the distance in September at the real,- Berlin Marathon.

Without Mikitenko in the race it may mean that American Kara Goucher is one step closer to a podium spot in Berlin. The American distance star was third at Boston in 2009 and recently won the Rock ‘N’ Roll Chicago Marathon outright in 1:08:05.

The world championship marathon will take place in Berlin on August 23rd.

For More: Guardian