Tanui predicts a sub-two hour race

Elite marathoners on Sunday expressed optimism that it is only a matter of time before a Kenyan runs a sub-two hours marathon.

The jubilant Kenyan celebrated Patrick Makau’s jaw-dropping 2:03.38 world record mark at yesterday’s Berlin Marathon, which erased the previous best 2:03.59 held by Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie.

The men’s world marathon record battle has stood out as a Kenyan versus Ethiopian affair.

Athletics Kenya vice-chairman, Paul Mutwii, said Makau showed promise from an early stage and that he had encouraged him to join the distance running group led by Patrick Ivuti.

“I was coaching the track athletes and I encouraged him to join the marathon group led by Ivuti and Jimmy Muindi,” said Mutwii, who is also AK’s Eastern branch chairman.

Makau’s athletics talent was discovered while he was a student at the Kinyui High School, near Tala.

In Eldoret, Kenya’s athletics nerve centre, two-time Boston Marathon winner Moses Tanui paid glowing tribute to Makau for the record, and envisaged a Kenyan sub-two hour mark in the near future.

Tanui, the first man to run the half marathon under one hour (59.45), said he was not surprised by Makau’s sterling show.

“I am happy that we finally have the world record here in Kenya. Makau is a boy I brought up in athletics and he participated in 5,000m and 10,000m.

“He is one who listens to advise and that is why he excels,” said Tanui, who won the 1991 world championships’ 10,000m gold medal.

“We were the first group to run 2:05 and 2:06 between 1998 and 1999. And right now the mark looks a bit low.

“If somebody wants to run under two hours, then should do 58/61 or 61/58 for the first 21km and the final one, and the 1:59 mark will come soon,” he said.

He warned athletes against stepping up to marathon running at an early age.

Geoffrey Mutai, who basks on a 2:03.02 world best time he posted at this year’s Boston Marathon, said he was happy Makau won the world record he was craving for.

“I am happy that Makau has brought the record home that this Ethiopians had denied us the chance. I had earlier hinted that a Kenyan will break it,” said Mutai.