Not even a huge thick cloud of dust covering Britain and disrupting transport across Europe can succeed to keep away top class runners from Sunday’s Virgin London Marathon, which has attracted the world’s five fastest marathon runners.
The race has lined up the world’s second fastest man in history, Duncan Kibet, world champion Abel Kirui and Olympic and defending London champion, Samuel Wanjiru.
Others include Olympic and world bronze medallist Tsegaye Kebede (Ethiopia) and the Olympic silver medallist, Jaouad Gharib of Morocco.
Nipped in the bud
Add World Championships silver medallist Emmanuel Mutai and you have every chance that the battle for the Virgin London Marathon will be as fierce as that which saw three-times champion Martin Lel take the title in 2008 and Wanjiru 12 months ago.
But Lel’s hopes of a fourth victory have been nipped in the bud for the second year in a row through a hip injury.
Wanjiru, the pre-race favourite at 2:05:10, is the third quickest in the field as both Kibet and Kirui have faster personal best times.
Only Ethiopia’s world marathon record holder Haile Gebrselassie has run faster than Kibet’s 2:04:27 while Kirui backed up his 2:05:04 when he went on to win the world title in Berlin setting an impressive championships record in the process last year.
Wanjiru, who has been training in Nyahururu, is, however, focused on retaining his title, a move that will see him also reclaim the World Marathon Majors title for the 2009/2010 season.
With 50 points to his credit from victories in London and Chicago last year, Wanjiru needs a victory in London and a fifth place finish in Berlin in September to be guaranteed the Sh39 million ($500,000) jackpot.
This is alongside the money he will win in appearance, prize money and time bonuses in either of the two races.
The World Marathon Majors is a two year, overlapping series that covers five races in Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York.
It also includes either the Olympic Games or World Championships in Athletics marathon races if they coincide with the series.
Wanjiru won the last World Marathon Majors after Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (2008) and Martin Lel (2009) had taken the first two jackpots of the series.
“I have not had good preparations but I’m focused and hopeful to do well. I have had a back injury and it took some time to heal, which left me months off my preparation time.
ShareThis