If you rock a name like "Benson Barus" and you have been training with 2-04-27 Rotterdam heroes Duncan Kibet and James Kwambai, it seems downright modest to shoot for a 2:07 marathon. We almost wonder if that is enough nowadays to win the Turin Marathon which has always been one of the spring biggies. Sunday will tell.
Barus will face his fellow countrymen Philemon Tarbei, the Turin winner 2007; Joseph Kimosop Lomala, third in Turin with his 2:10:22 PB and winner in Venice in 2008; Thomas Chemitei (PB 2:09:21); and Benjamin Kipchumba (PB 2:09:23).
Turin's history is Vienna's masses in marathon lingo: 28,000 runners and 300,000 spectators. The hype in Vienna surrounds an Olympic champion: 29 year old Reuben Kosgei won the steeple in Sydney. That's right, nine years ago. Will he be a contender on the long course? Still a steepler last year, his first road race will be the marathon. Sounds scary? It is! If nothing, it makes for a good story.
But there are more newcomers. One who has asked for a 64 minute halfway pace is Joseph Maregu. The 31-year-old has a promising personal half marathon best of 59:45 minutes from 2007. Last year he was ninth at the World Half Marathon Championships in Rio de Janeiro and had run 59:52 in Rotterdam earlier. “These half marathon results give me confidence regarding the marathon. I want to start my marathon career with a good time and hope to go for 2:07,” Maregu said. A true Kenyan, he's never shy to reach for the stars. We like that attitude.
Another targeting a 2:07 to 2:08 debut time is Jonathan Maiyo. The 21-year-old has run very good half marathons as well, clocking 1:00:10 and 1:00:12 in Rotterdam in 2007 and 2008. “Additionally I have some sort of marathon experience, because I have been running in big events as a pacemaker,” Maiyo explained. The Kenyan paced Haile Gebrselassie until the half way point during his Berlin World record race in 2008. Additionally he had been the pacemaker in Rotterdam in 2008 until the half marathon.
Another targeting a 2:07 to 2:08 debut time is Jonathan Maiyo. The 21-year-old has run very good half marathons as well, clocking 1:00:10 and 1:00:12 in Rotterdam in 2007 and 2008. “Additionally I have some sort of marathon experience, because I have been running in big events as a pacemaker,” Maiyo explained. The Kenyan paced Haile Gebrselassie until the half way point during his Berlin World record race in 2008. Additionally he had been the pacemaker in Rotterdam in 2008 until the half marathon.
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