ABBOTT WORLD MARATHON MAJORS

Six Appeal

Three-time Abbott World Marathon Majors champion Irina Mikitenko has extended her marathon career to get her hands on the Six Star Medal. Only Boston stands in her way.

The Six Star Finisher family took a giant leap in March when more than 3,000 runners collected their Six Star medals at the Tokyo Marathon.

For many runners, the wait to finally complete their journey in Japan had stretched back over three years thanks to the untimely intervention of the pandemic. At last, they were able to get their hands on one of the most coveted pieces of hardware in mass participation sport.

With that new world-record-setting figure in Tokyo and now over 10,000 names in the Six Star Hall of Fame, collection season rolls on to Boston, where hundreds more are expected to receive a medal that for many has been several years in the earning.

Among the 2023 Boston cohort will be the legendary Irina Mikitenko. The German star won three Abbott World Marathon Majors series titles in a stellar road racing career. Mikitenko conquered London twice — in 2008 and 2009 —

and also won her home race of Berlin in 2008 and Chicago in 2009.

Four years after her last victory in London she was back on a Majors podium as Tokyo made its Majors bow, taking third place in 2013. New York City followed in 2019, leaving Boston's famous old course as the last Major standing between her and the Six Star Medal.

Mikitneko now makes regular appearances to meet and greet runners at the Abbott World Marathon Majors Expo booth in Berlin and gives Abbott

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