Kenya’s Robert Kipkemboi will be looking to become the second man to achieve back to back at the 44th edition of the Istanbul Marathon slated for this Sunday (05) in Istanbul, Turkey.
The 35 year-old who clocked 2:10.18 last year will be looking to follow his compatriot Vincent Kiplagat who defended his title with a time of 2:10.58.
Kipkemboi who has been on a class of his own won the Nairobi City Marathon with a course record time in July, comes to this race with the second fastest time on paper of 2:07.09 that he got four years ago at the Seoul Marathon where he finished in fifth place.
“I am in great shape and ready to rumble in Turkey, expect a good race and good results”, said Kipkemboi.
Kipkemboi will not have an easy ride as he will have to dethrone the fastest man on the start list Abraraw Misganaw of Ethiopia who carries with him a life time best of 2:06.39 that he got early this year at the Dubai Marathon where he finished in fifth place. Misganaw who is also the oldest among the invited elite athletes also took bronze at this year’s Harbin Marathon that was held in China.
“I am ready for a good race. If the weather is suitable and the pacemakers are doing their job then I think the course record could be possible for me”, said Misganaw.
Kipkemboi and Misganaw have one common goal in their sight which is to attack the race course record of 2:09.44 set four years ago by Daniel Kibet from Kenya and also to lower the Turkish all-comers’ record which is 17 seconds away from the course time.
The entry list has high profile athletes with five of them having gone under the sub 2:10 and led by double European 10,000m champion Polat Kemboi Arikan of Turkey and four Kenyans Wilfred Kigen (2:08.45) Alex Saekwo (2:09.08), James Kiplagat (2:09.08) and John Langat (2:09.46).
“We are proud to have assembled a strong international field for Turkey’s premier marathon event once again. Hopefully weather conditions will be fine so that there is a chance of establishing the fastest time ever run on Turkish soil. It is great to see another very big mass race with 45,000 runners. This confirms our significant position for the development of our sport in Turkey. We are of course the only marathon in the world that offers the experience of crossing from one continent to another during the race,“ said Race Director Renay Onur, who also pointed out that the race was held annually without any interruptions.
LEADING TIME
42KM MEN
- Abraraw Misganaw (ETH) 2:06.39
- Robert Kipkemboi (KEN) 2:07.09
- Polat Kemboi Arikan (TUR) 2:08.14
- Wilfred Kigen (KEN) 2:08.45
- Alex Saekwo (KEN) 2:09.08
- James Kiplagat (KEN) 2:09.08
- John Langat (KEN) 2:09.46
- Panuel Mkungo (KEN) 2:10.20
- Benard Sang (KEN) 2:10.59
- Moses Too (KEN) 2:11.45
- Mathew Kemboi (KEN) 2:11.52
- Hüseyin Can (TUR) 2:11.56
- Ömer Alkanoglu (TUR) 2:12.15
- Mestan Turhan (TUR) 2:12.59
- Dominick Kipkirui (KEN) Debüt
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