Kirui, Kiplagat for Dutch race
Abel Kirui of Kenya crosses the line to victory in the men's marathon at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships in Daegu on September 4, 2011. He and women’s champion, Edna Kiplagat, will take part in the JCL Montferland Run 15km on Sunday. Photo/AFP
Reigning World Marathon champions Abel Kirui and Edna Kiplagat will test their 2011 momentum on the roads at the JCL Montferland Run 15km on Sunday.
The Kenyans, who cruised to World titles in Daegu three months ago, will both figure prominently in the race in the small village of Heerenberg, situated between Arnhem and the German border.
Kirui, who won his second successive World Marathon title in Daegu, will face some stiff competition from a trio of fellow countrymen: John Mwangangi, this year’s winner at the Paris 20K; Philip Langat, winner of the Singelloop 10km in Utrecht in September, clocking 27:28; and the talented 19-year-old Gideon Kipketer, who was recently third and just a few seconds behind Kenenisa Bekele in the 4 Miles of Groningen.
Ethiopian Hailu Mekonnen, the winner here in 2005, is also a serious contender for the win.
Koen Raymaekers and Michel Butter, the two fastest Dutch marathoners in 2010 and 201, complete the strong men’s field. Kiplagat, last year’s New York City Marathon winner, will look for a solid performance in Heerenberg after a minor injury forced her to withdraw from her title defence in New York earlier this month.
Strong victory
Her chief competition includes Dutchwoman Hilda Kibet, this year’s runner-up at the Rotterdam Marathon in 2:24:27, and the Ethiopian Abebech Afework, who will arrive after a strong victory at last Sunday’s Great Ethiopian Run.
The women’s course record of 48:32, set by Ethiopian Bezunesh Bekele, dates back to 2005.
The men’s record is 42:36, set by Haile Gebrselassie in 2007.
