A total of 14 Kenyans will be battling for top honours at the N Kolay Istanbul Marathon on Sunday.
There will be six women and eight men Kenyan runners. In the men’s category, there are 12 sub-10 runners. Bahrain’s Marius Kimutai and Kenya’s Samuel Kosgei headline the list with times of 2:05:47 and 2:06:03 respectively. With this great strength in depth, it is expected that the Turkish all-comers record of 2:09:27 will be attacked in on the country's major marathon event.
However, Kosgei is the only runner in the field to have broken a world record. At Berlin’s 25k race, he clocked 1:11:50 in 2010.
“That is a long time ago, so I don’t rate this that high anymore,” said Kosgei, who took the Barcelona Marathon with his current PB a year ago.
The Kenyan returned to the race in Spain this spring but this time had to settle for 12th position in 2:08:59.
“I had a hip injury at that time, but I am fine now,” said Kosgei, who hopes to improve his personal best in the future. “If pace making works fine on Sunday, I think we have an excellent chance to break the Turkish all-comers record here.”
Ugandan Geofrey Kusuro is said to be in fine form. He has a personal best of 2:08:46. Ethiopian duo of Abayneh Ayele and Tadesse Mamo will also be contesting for top honours in the anticipated tight race. Ayele and Mamo have personal best times of 2:06:45 and 2:07:04 respectively.
Another Kenyan, Robert Kipkemboi will also be lining up as the fourth fastest in the field with a personal best time of 2:07:09. Kipkemboi placed second during last year’s edition of the marathon in 2:10:23.
Other Kenyans in the race include Evans Kiplagat (2:07:46), Francis Cheruiyot (2:09:57), Moses Kemei (2:10:28), Hillary Kipchumba (2:10:43), Benard Sang (2:10:49) and Sila Kiptoo (2:11:32).
Meanwhile, in the women’s category, Turkey’s Sultan Haydar starts a comeback on Sunday. She is the fastest athlete on the women’s start list with her personal best of 2:24:44. Seven women in the race have PBs of sub 2:28.
An athlete who could be in for a surprise is Stacy Ndiwa. The Kenyan, who will run her marathon debut on Sunday, has a strong half marathon PB of 67:16. She was fifth at the World Cross Country Championships in 2015. Another Kenyan, Judith Jerubet is also another of the Kenyans to watch. She will be lining up as the fourth fastest in the field with a personal best time of 2:26:17.
Other Kenyans in the race will be Winny Jepkorir (2:27:18), Mercy Kwambai (2:27:32), Truphena Chepchirchir (2:27:52) and Betty Chepkwony (2:30:28).
Ethiopian duo of Sechale Dalasa and Melesech Tsegaye will also be lining up as pre-race favourites.
