Record holder Kipsang eager for London marathon showdown

World Marathon Recorder Holder, Wilson Kipsang is given Kalenjin traditional milk ‘Mursik’ by his sister during his homecoming ceremony in Iten, Elgeyo-Marakwet County on October 2, 2013. Kipsang said on January 15, 2014 he is ready to take on a stellar cast of runners in an enticing-looking London Virgin Marathon on April 13. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA

What you need to know:

  • The marathon is likely to be one of the greatest with the best runners over the distance all gunning for history

World marathon record holder Wilson Kipsang is ready to take on a stellar cast of runners among them Britain’s double Olympic champion Mo Farah in an enticing-looking London Virgin Marathon on April 13.

In a phone interview with Nation Sport on Wednesday, Kipsang, who won London Marathon in 2012 and later lost to Uganda’s Stephen Kiprotich at the Olympic Marathon the same year, said the London race required great preparations adding that Farah’s presence was worth taking seriously.

“It won’t be an easy task, but I am equally ready to battle it out. Farah has spent a better part of his training here in Iten and may have an advantage on course endurance,” he said.

The marathon is likely to be one of the greatest with the best runners over the distance all gunning for history.

In the list, released by organisers early this week has six runners with sub-2.05 PBs, including Ethiopia’s Tsegaye Kebede, who has beaten Kipsang before.

Also primed for London are course record holder Emmanuel Mutai, twice New York Marathon champion Geoffrey Mutai, who certainly feels bitter being mentioned, unofficially, as the fastest marathon runner ever.

Ethiopia’s Feyisa, the Daegu World Championships bronze medallist, also makes the list. He raced against his compatriot Kebede and finished second at the 2012 Chicago Marathon.

The 2012 Paris Marathon winner Stanley Biwott is also be in the run.