Double Rotterdam Marathon winner Marius Kipserem will be the start to watch at the 36th edition of the marathon that will be held on Sunday 24 October in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Kipserem who has participated in this race thrice made a name for himself at the 2016 edition after he stepped out of the shadow of the race favorites as an outsider to take the pole position in a personal best of 2:06.11.
The 33 year-old was not lucky in the 2018 edition as he finished a distant fifth in 2:07.22 in a race won by Kenneth Kipkemoi in 2:05.44. Kipserem came back in 2019 breathing fire smashing the ten years course record of 2:04.27 that had been set by Duncan Kibet and James Kwambai in 2009, both ran the third fastest time ever for the distance. He set a new course record of 2:04.11 which is also his personal best and has now set his sight on lowering it again come October.
\Kipserem will face off with the Tokyo marathon bronze medallist, Bashir Abdi from the Belgium. The 32 year-old took third place in a controversial manner where he was”dragged” to the bronze medal by his friend Abdi Negeeye the Dutch National record holder of 2:06.11. The Dutch National has opted to race at the New York Marathon this fall.
The Belgian top athlete of Somali descent will be chasing for the European record 2:06.16 that is currently held by Kenyan born now Turkey national Kaan Kigen Özbilen. Abdi has a personal best time of 2:04.49, which is also the second fastest European time.
Kipserem has won three marathons in the ten that he has competed in and his worst finish being placed in 10th place at the 2020 London marathon in 2:09.25.
The race organiser, Mario Kadiks, has put together a great team of elite runners with the hope of lowering the course record. “Toppers with such great aspirations as Marius Kipserem and Bashir Abdi will give the event something special. It promises to be an exciting and fast race.”
The 2020 edition of the race was postponed to 2021 due to the covid-19, with all entries automatically remaining valid for 2021, and all registrants given the option of transferring their entry to another runner.
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