Five big city marathon grand slam planned

Organisers of the five big city marathons are planning to launch a grand slam format with a special bonus for any athlete who wins the London, New York City, Boston, Chicago and Berlin races.

"I can confirm there have been discussions but there's nothing in place yet," London race director Dave Bedford told Reuters.

Sources close to another of the big marathons said the five race directors had met in France last month during the world cross country championships to discuss closer co-operation.

They said a grand slam proposal was likely to be announced during the world athletics championships in Helsinki this August.

New York race director Mary Wittenberg said all the race directors were in constant contact.

"We see the opportunity to take the sport to a new level," she said.

Wittenberg said history, tradition and media coverage had led to the four majors in golf and the four grand slam tournaments in tennis.

"They have four in a year, that's not what we have," she said. "We have to be more creative."

Wittenberg would not comment on the prospect of a grand slam, which because of the special demands of marathon running would not be completed within a calendar year.

"We are just talking about a lot of things," she said. "About how we can make this more compelling."

Norwegian Ingrid Kristiansen, the only person to win in London, New York, Chicago and Boston, welcomed the idea.

"It would be nice," she said. "I think it's a smart idea. All the best runners could go for all the races."

Boston Marathon

Hailu Neguisse of Ethiopia ended Kenya's dominance of the Boston marathon yesterday by winning the 109th running of the world's oldest annually contested marathon in a time of two hours, 11 mins and 44 secs.

Defending champion Ndereba of Kenya became the first four-time woman's winner of the marathon coming from behind to overtake Ethiopia's Elfenesh Alemu in 2:25:12.