Ethiopia’s Derara Hurisa will defend his title at the 18th edition of the Mumbai Marathon that will be held on January 15, 2023, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
Hurisa who will be clocking 26 years in July, ran a calculated race last year when setting a new course record of 2:08.09 to obliterate the previous record of six years that had been set by Kenya’s Gideon Kipketer of 2:08.35.
The win saw Hurisa take home a total cash prize of US$60,000 (45,000 for the win + 15,000 bonus for the course record).
“I’m up and ready for the challenge and have set my sights to defend my title,” said Hurisa.
Hurisa who was stripped of his victory in last year’s Vienna City Marathon after the soles of his running shoes were found to be one centimetre too thick, will not have an easy time as he has been lined up to face two of his compatriots, the 2009 World Junior Cross Country Champion Ayele Abshero and Hayle Lemi and Canadian all-comers’ record holder in marathon Philemon Rono, a training partner of the World Marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge.
Abshero who was second behind Hurisa at this event last year, comes to this race with the fastest time on paper of 2:04.23 that he got at the 2012 Dubai Marathon, where he took the top honors.
The 2016 Boston Marathon champion, Lemi is optimistic as he will be making his debut at the event with the hope of managing the torturous course.
“I’m excited about my first Tata Mumbai Marathon. I’ve heard it’s a tough course,” said Lemi.
Rono, who is Popularly called ‘baby police’ due to his small body as a police officer, established himself globally as a pace maker, pacing for former world marathon record holder Wilson Kipsang (2:03.23). The 31 year-old who is based at the Global Sports Communication alongside marathon giants Abel Kirui, Laban Korir, Augustin Choge among others, comes to this race with the third fastest time of 2:05.00, that he got at the 2019 Toronto Marathon, where he took the honors.
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