European Athletics is pleased to announce that German marathon star Irina Mikitenko has been selected as the European Athlete of the Month for April.
Mikitenko caused a sensation last year when she won the London Marathon for the first time, but this year her victory was less of a surprise when the German crossed the line in a world-leading performance of 2:22:11.
The former Kazakhstan athlete, who set a new German record of 2:19:19 when she won the Berlin Marathon last September, has now placed herself at the top of the world rankings, currently leads the world marathon majors table by a huge 25-point margin and is favourite to land the $500,000 top prize at the end of the year.
The 37-year-old, who finished fifth in the Sydney Olympic 5,000m in 2000, has yet to confirm if she will compete at the IAAF World Championships in Berlin, although with a second London victory already under her belt she may well be tempted by the possibility of a victory in front of her passionate home supporters.
The runners-up in the women's poll were Norwegian double Olympic 20km Walk silver medallist Kjersti Tysse Plaetzer and Polish Pole Vaulter Sonia Grabowska.
The European Athlete of the Month initiative was launched in January 2007 and is designed to recognise outstanding performers at all levels of the sport in Europe.
