Olympic champion Samuel Kamau Wanjiru will be the main attraction at the 32nd edition of the Chicago Marathon this Sunday. The race will be broadcast on a delayed basis on SuperSport 6 from 7pm Kenyan time.
With 11 Africans – eight Kenyans, two Moroccans and an Ethiopian – on the elite list, the men’s race will be a purely African affair in the dash for the top prize with Wanjiru leading the way.
Currently topping the 2008/09 World Marathon Majors standings with 65 points, a win or even second-place finish will guarantee the 23-year-old his first WMM overall position, which comes with a $500,000 (Sh37.7 million) cash prize.
Wanjiru will also make an attempt to break the world record or at least better his personal best time after missing out on last month’s World Championship in Berlin, Germany.
“My plan is to lower my personal record and the Chicago course offers the best opportunity for me to achieve that this year,” he said.
The world half marathon record holder has had impressive performances since changing disciplines. He has run four marathons, posting two sub-2:06 and two sub-2:07 finishes. His 2:06:32 winning time in Beijing is considered among the most impressive in distance running.
Wanjiru will certainly feel at home with loads of Kenyan company, led by 21-year-old Vincent Kipruto, who won the Paris Marathon earlier this year in 2:05:47 and is touted as one of the brightest prospects in marathon running.
The 2001 World 5,000m champion, Richard Limo, and Wesley Korir, who was fourth in Chicago last year, will be running in Chicago for a fifth time, as will Isaac Macharia, Charles Munyeki and Benjamin Maiyo. Veteran Boaz Cheboiywo will complete the strong Kenyan contingent.
The Kenyans’ opposition will emanate from familiar quarters, with Morocco’s two-time London Marathon runner-up Abderrahim Goumri providing the stiffest challenge. Ethiopia’s Tadese Tola, also debuting in Chicago, has strong half marathon credentials.
The pacemakers are solely from Kenya – 2007 winner Patrick Ivuti, Gilbert Chepkwony, Wilson Kebenei and Mathew Koech.
The Ethiopian duo of Elfenesh Alemu and Teyba Erkesso will lead the African charge in the women’s race, which will have WMM winner Irina Mikitenko, reigning Chicago queen Lydia Grigoryeva and local favourite Deena Kastor.
Pic: Olympic marathon champion Samuel Wanjiru (in black and yellow singlet) trains at the Nyahururu Stadium on Tuesday. Wanjiru left for the US on Wednesday night to compete in Sunday’s Chicago Marathon. Photos/ DAVID MACHARIA
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