DENNIS KIMETTO AND FLORENCE KIPLAGAT WIN 2014 AIMS BEST MARATHON RUNNER’ (BMR) AWARDS

The world running organisation the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) is delighted to announce Dennis Kimetto and Florence Kiplagat as the male and female winners of the AIMS Best Marathon Runner Award for 2014, as voted for by the AIMS Members, made up of over 370 of the world’s leading and most prestigious distance races from over 100 countries and territories.  
 
Dennis Kimetto and Florence Kiplagat’s outstanding achievements were given global recognition tonight (Friday 7 November 2014) at the AIMS Best Marathon Runner’ (BMR) Award Gala in Athens, Greece. The BMR Gala was presented by the Patron of AIMS, OPAP S.A., the leading gaming operator in Greece.

Dennis won the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in October 2013 (in 2:03:45) before setting a new world record time of 2:02:57 in winning the BMW Berlin Marathon in September 2014, breaking the previous record by 26 seconds.

Dennis Kimetto comments: “It is very special for me to have won the AIMS Best Marathon Runner Award. I have had a great year and this award reflects that. I am honoured to receive a truly global award voted for by the AIMS members, over 370 races around the world. I would like to thank AIMS and tonight’s sponsor OPAP for their recognition of my achievements.”
 
Florence set a new World Record time for the women’s Half Marathon of 1:05:12 in the eDreams Mitja Marató de Barcelona (February 2014), improving on Mary Keitany’s previous record by 38 seconds. Florence would go on to finish 2nd in the Virgin Money London Marathon in a time of 2:20:24 in April 2014.

Florence Kiplagat comments: “It is incredibly special for me to receive this prestigious award. It makes it extra special that I have received it in the spiritual home of the marathon in Greece. I am well aware of the 2,500 year history of the marathon and I am delighted to feel a small part of it. I would like to thank AIMS for recognising my achievements.”

AIMS President Paco Borao comments: “I am delighted that AIMS 370 races from over 100 countries have recognised the great achievements of these athletes in the spiritual home of the Marathon Movement, Athens. The athletes recognised tonight are an inspiration to people all around the world in promoting the marathon and running movement. It is our pleasure to recognise such fine athletes.”
 
There were several other awards presented at the Best Marathon Runner Award Gala. The awards and winners are as follows:
 
AIMS Green Award
The BMW Frankfurt Marathon received the ‘AIMS Green Award’ for 2014 in recognition of the event’s excellent environmental practice including developing new projects each year in six ‘spheres of action’* where continuous improvement of environmental protection is targeted. Also shortlisted for the award were were the Volkswagen Prague Marathon in the Czech Republic and the Querétaro Maratón in Mexico.

Jo Schindler, Race Director of the BMW Frankfurt Marathon comments: “We are delighted and honoured to receive this award. We are delighted to be in Athens, the home of the Marathon and AIMS Headquarters for the AIMS BMR Gala, to receive this award. We believe that the AIMS Green Award is an excellent initiative in promoting the excellent environmental practice of so many races around the world. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to AIMS and their sponsors for recognising us with this award.”

AIMS Social Award
The ‘AIMS Social Award’ for 2014 was presented to the Tokyo Marathon for it’s outstanding work raising money for chosen charitable causes (over 2.42m US Dollars in 2014).

Tadaaki Hayano, Race Director of the Toyko Marathon comments: “It is a great honour for the Tokyo Marathon to be recognised with the AIMS Social Award. We are very proud of our TSUNAGU** (unite) program under the slogan ‘The Day We Unite’ as it recognises not only the 36,000 runners who take part in the Tokyo Marathon but the 10,000 volunteers and 1.6 million people who cheer the runners on. We are also delighted that we continue to break our record for money raised through the TSUNAGU program for our chosen charity recipients. We would like to thank AIMS and their sponsors for recognising us with this award.”
 
AIMS Lifetime Achievement Award
The AIMS Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to George Hirsch in recognition of his significant role in the development of the Marathon Movement, particularly in the United States of America. George was worldwide publisher of Runner’s World magazine and, in collaboration with Race Director Fred Lebow, George helped start the five-borough New York City Marathon in 1976 to celebrate the nation’s bicentennial. He is currently the chairman of the board of the New York Road Runners, the organizers of the TCS New York City Marathon.

George Hirsch comments: “I am delighted and honoured to receive this award from AIMS. I have watched with great pride as the Marathon Movement has grown and developed particularly since the 1970’s. I would like to extend my thanks to AIMS for choosing to recognise me in this way. The award feels extra special that I have received the accolade in the shadow of those who created the event 2,500 years on. It is a very humbling experience.”

Source: AIMS