FORMER Chicago marathon winner Moses Cheruiyot Mosop will be trying his luck at the 24th Paris half marathon tomorrow.
Mosop, popularly known as Engine Kubwa by his running folks, will be trying to run on the course that has been dominated by Kenyan runners. Kenyan men have won 14 titles while women have twelve in total.
The former world cross country champion will face tough competition from current course record holder Stanley Biwott who won the race in 2012 in a record 59:44 but Mosop’s manager Nahashon Koech believes he will break the course record especially now that he will have Timothy Kiptoo as his pacesetter on the course.
Mosop who has a full marathon personal best of 2:03:06 set in Boston in 2011 while finishing behind the winner Geoffrey Mutai has had a silent season since winning the Chicago marathon in 2012.
“We want him (Mosop) to break the course record that is currently being held by a Kenyan (Stanley Biwott). Kiptoo is faster and will guide him very well along the course,” said Koech in Eldoret on Thursday morning.
Since the race started in 1993, Kenyans have done well starting in1995 when Clement Kiprotich’s won in 1:03:22.
“It will not be easy for Mosop but we as a team, will rally behind him and hope for the best,” added Koech.
Mosop’s personal best of 59:20 was set in Milan.
In the women’s category, marathoner Emily Chemutai Ng’etich will try to surpass compatriot Pauline Njeri. Chemutai, who was second at the Frankfurt marathon in 2014, setting her personal best of 2:25:14, will be trying her luck on the course.
