Kigali — RWANDA's ace athlete Dieudonne Disi is expected in Berlin this afternoon, just two days before competing in the full marathon of the 12th World Athletics Championships which started last week.The national record holder should have a few smiles after reports that world record holder Haile Gebrselassie and 2008 Olympic champion Sammy Wanjiru will not compete in the 42.195km race. Gebrselassie has decided to run the regular Berlin Marathon in September where he set world records in 2007 and 2008 while Wanjiru has preferred to compete in the Chicago Marathon set for October 11.
The duo's absence leaves Kenya's Duncan Kibet and Moroccan Jaoub Gharib as Disi's key threats. Disi, who has been training at the high-altitude areas of Font-Romeu, Montpellier in France will only be making his maiden full marathon appearance at the top level. The 28-year-old switched from the 10,000m after finishing 19th at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Rwanda's other representative at the world championships Epiphanie Nyirabarame won't come in action until Sunday. Nyirabarame, who has been undergoing a two-week training camp at Potsdam will compete in the ladies' full marathon. After finishing 66th at the Beijing Olympics, there is no doubt that she will be chasing for a much better showing in Berlin.
[allafrica.com]
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