Contenders eye Mumbai Marathon record

Mumbai Jan 19 (IANS) The leading mens contenders for the Mumbai Marathon asserted on Friday that Sunday s race could be the fastest over the classic distance ever witnessed in India.

The current course record is two hours eight minutes and 35 seconds set by Kenya s Gideon Kipketer in 2016.

However with seven men in the field having career bests faster than that time the course record may be under serious threat on Sunday.

"I m in very good shape and I think I can run as fast as 2:06. A course record is possible but I also want a personal best " Ethiopia s Solomon Dekisa the fastest man in the field said on Friday.

Deksisa can boast of a best of 2:06:22 which came during his runners-up finish at the 2016 Rotterdam Marathon.

The 23-year-old has been going through hard training for Sunday s race since he finished third at the Toronto Marathon last October.

"I had the option of several other marathons but I chose this race after discussing what I should do with my coach " he said.

Last year s runner-up Joshua Kipkorir of Kenya is unperturbed by the presence of Deksisa and the other top runners and is determined to go one better on Sunday.

Kipkorir set a personal best of 2:09:50 during last year s race but despite the relatively modest time by elite standards he certainly has a very good chance of climbing to the top of the podium this time round.

"I ran 2:13 at altitude for a marathon in Nairobi in November and that was simple. It felt no harder than a long training run. I think 2:06 is possible on Sunday and people tell me the race could be hot but that doesn t worry me " the ambitious Kipkorir said.

His compatriot Evans Ruto the 2014 winner in Mumbai concurred on the question of the winning time.

"I feel I m in good enough shape to regain my title and it might take a course record to do that " Ruto commented.

The women s course record of 2:24:33 looks like a tougher target on paper but defending champion Bornes Kitur of Kenya who will take on Ethiopia s 2016 winner Shuko Genemo is confident of setting a faster time.

"I am in better shape than last year. I cannot say how much better maybe just a little but definitely better " she said.

The more gregarious Genemo was more expansive in her analysis and it is worth noting that she had a 2017 best of 2:26:06 at the Vienna Marathon and ran under 2:29:00 in her other two marathons last year.

"My preparation has been going well and I think my experience of running here two years ago will certainly be an advantage. In 2016 it was windy but not so hot as I expected and that was a big help " she said.

"However of course I would like to win and that s what I am aiming for but if I do get a victory I doubt it will be by more than four minutes. One of the reasons is that my friend Amane [Gobena] is here " she added.

--IANS
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