Kirui, Chebet men to beat in Amsterdam

A bruising battle looms between two times former world marathon champion Abel Kirui takes on two-time defending champion Wilson Chebet in the Amsterdam Marathon on Sunday.

Kirui has already warned Chebet that his “Mister Amsterdam” title could go erased as he plans an assault on the course record.

Chebet earned the “Mister Amsterdam” title last year when he emulated Sammy Korir as the only man in history to have retained the marathon title but in a more impressive way – a course record time of 2:05:36.

Korir won the 1997 race in 2:08:24 before retaining the title the following year in 2:08:13.

“I am planning to attack the course record hence let Chebet, the Mr Amsterdam know that his title is under threat,” warned the 32-year-old Kirui in an earlier interview.

BROKE COURSE RECORD

Chebet won the 2012 Amsterdam Marathon race in 2:05:41, breaking Getu Feleke’s previous course record of 2:05:44 by three seconds.

Last year, Chebet would better his record with a new time of 2:05:36. It will be Kirui’s second race after finishing 10th in 2:09:04 at Tokyo Marathon in February on return from a leg injury that saw him fail to defend his World title in Moscow last year. 

Dickson Chumba from Kenya won the Tokyo race in course record time of 2:05:42.

Kirui said he intends to use the race as a build up for an attempt at a third world title in Beijing next year.  The other race he will run in is London Marathon in April.

“I am yet to win any major titles besides the worlds hence my intention to enter the London Marathon. I need to do something major again since am heading towards my sunset period,” said Kirui.