NAIROBI, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Former Dusseldorf Marathon Gilbert Yegon faces a tough test on Sunday as he comes up against another winner Dereje Debele Tulu in quest for the Germany city title.
The two are the fastest in the history of the race and will be seeking to run even faster time with Yegon saying the performance in Dusseldorf will mark his start in hunt for a ticket to the World Marathon Championships in 2019 in Doha, Qatar.
Ethiopia’s Tulu, ran the current course record of 2:07:48 five years ago and will be challenged by Yegon who is hopeful of reclaiming the title after winning it in 2014 clocking 2:08:07. This is the second fastest time ever run in Dusseldorf.
Volha Mazuronak is the big favorite in the women’s race. The athlete from Belarus was fifth in the Olympic marathon in Rio 2016 and has a personal best of 2:23:54. If weather conditions are suitable she will attack the course record of 2:25:47 on Sunday.
Yegon wants to run a fast time to improve on his personal best and clock a course record. He hopes it will be enough to convince Kenyan coaches to give him a shot at the World marathon championships.
“I want to win the race and run a good time. For me this would mean about 2:07.00,” Yegon said on Saturday.
With a personal st time of 2:06:18 back in 2009 when he won the Amsterdam Marathon, the Kenyan knows his chance to represent Kenya will depend on how he runs this season.
“My preparation was good, there were no problems," said 29 year-old Yegon. “I train with Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge and he has inspired me with his win in London. We do all the training together in a group. And we knew that Eliud would win the London Marathon.”
Yegon will also face stiff challenge from compatriot Edwin Kiptoo and course record holder Dereje Tulu.
The Kenyan, can cause an upset as has a modest personal best of 2:11:24. However he ran a great half marathon time of 59:54 in Ras Al Khaimah (United Arab Emirates) in February.
“If the pacemakers can do a good job a faster time might be possible. I will try to run the second half a bit faster than the first,” said Kiptoo.
In the women’s race, Olympiad Volha Mazuronak is the favorite as she targets Agnes Jeruto's (Kenya) course record of 2:25:47 from 2012.
