Irina Mikitenko

IRINA MIKITENKO
GERMANY

BIRTHDATE:
23 August 1972

PERSONAL BEST:

CAREER NOTES:

Irena Mikitenko made a sparkling marathon debut at Berlin in September 2007. She came in second in 2:24:51, making her the third fastest German woman of all-time behind Uta Pippig and Katrin Dorre.

At the 2008 Flora London Marathon she joined Dörre as the only German champion there. Mikitenko led for much of the race but it was 5:13 for mile 24, the second quickest of the day, which proved to be decisive, going on to victory by 25 seconds in 2:24:14.

An injury forced her out of the Beijing Olympics but she was in top form for the real-, Berlin Marathon. For the first half of the race she trailed several African women, and then Mikitenko came on strong, passing them all as she smashed the German record and sub-veterans (age 35+) world record with a 2:19:19. Only three women have run faster and the time was the seventh best in history.

Returning to London in 2009, Mikitenko successfully defended her title. Running a tactical race, she dropped her last challenger, Mara Yamauchi, with a 5:18 for mile 22, going on to victory by more than a minute.

She planned to compete at the Berlin World Championships marathon in her home country, but lack of sufficient training due to the death of her father caused her to withdraw.

Instead Mikitenko headed to Chicago in October where Liliya Shobukhova, who she beat at London, turned the tables on her and Mikitenko had to settle for second.

Mikitenko has set German national records for 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters, with lifetime bests of 8:30.39 and 14:42.03. Her 10,000 meters PR is 31:29.55.

In April 2007 Mikitenko came in second at the Vattenfall Berliner Halfmarathon in 1:09:26, won the Korschenbroicher 5K in 15:41 and was second at the Internationaler Neusser Sommernachtslauf 5K in 15:45. She also had another good result in Berlin, winning the Vattenfall City-Nacht 10K in 32:10.

On the track Mikitenko had a second place at the German national 10,000 meters championships (32:42.95).

Mikitenko began 2008 in top form as she set a new course record of 1:08:51 at the International Paderborner Half-Marathon on March 22 and became the second fastest German half-marathoner of all time to Pippig.

In her final tune-up for the 2008 real,- Berlin Marathon she ran a 10km road PR of 30:57 at the German Road Running Championships on September 13.

PERSONAL NOTES:

She was born Irina Volynskaya in Bakanas, Kazakhstan and represented that nation at the 5000 meters in the 1996 Olympics; in March 1998 she changed her nationality to Germany. Her father Leonid participated in the 1968 Olympic Games and had a best of 13:36 for 5000 meters. She is married to her trainer Alexander Mikitenko and they have a son Alexander and daughter Vanessa.

UPCOMING MARATHONS:

Virgin London Marathon 2010