News24 Oct 2008


Can Disi, fastest in the field, wrest title from Kenyans in Marseille?

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Dieudonne Disi wins in Delhi in 2007 (© AFP / Getty Images)

The MarseilleCassis International Classic, an IAAF Silver Road Race Label 2008, will celebrate its 30th edition on 26 Sunday October.

This popular event, attracting no less than 12,000 participants on the south of France’s handsome roads along the Mediterranean Sea, will start at 9:30 am in front of the Velodrome Stadium in Marseille. The race distance, 20,308km is some 800m shorter than the usual Half-Marathon, and the runners will face the main difficulty at the mid-way with a climb of 327m long on ascending the Col de Gineste, before descending to the port of Cassis.

The male and female race records are held by Kenyans James Kwambai and Susan Chepkemei in 59:01 and 1:08:30, respectively, and the list of former winners includes such names as Hendrik Raamala (RSA) or Berhane Adere (ETH).

MEN

Last year’s winner, Wilson Chebet, a 23-years-old road specialist from Kenya, is set to defend his title and has improved his half marathon personal best this season with 59:33 in Rotterdam, taking third place on that occasion.

He is not the fastest in the field though, as Dieudonné Disi, has run marginally faster with 59:23. A sixth place finisher at World Half Marathon Championships in 2007 and 2008, the Rwandese, 30, can claim an impressive collection of victories with a success in New Delhi and two successive wins in Reims during the last couple of years.

John Kyui, Chebet’s fellow countryman, will be the outsider, because in spite of having a slower time reference (60:51), he will use his experience as a multiple Marseille-Cassis participant, including a win two years ago. Marathon specialist (2:06:48) Driss El Himer will hold the main French hopes.

WOMEN

On the women’s race, Ines Chenonge seems to be out of reach with her 68:54 personal best, although dating back to 2002. The Kenyan has shown upcoming shape though in taking third place in Rennes a few days ago.

The main opposition will be come from Ethiopia, with former track specialist Merima Hashim, who translated her old 30:59.92 time at 10,000m into a 68:21 for 20km to place second in Paris this year. Her junior team mate Shewaye Kebede has unknown potential, although she showed solid guaranties in winning Addis Ababa’s race in 75:11 at high altitude this year, and finishing second in Reims in 71:43, her best time to date.

Experienced French runners will include Hafida Gadi, who was second in the 2006 edition, and Fatima Yvelain, 39, a 72:10 performer.

The forecast announced a sunny sky with temperatures around 15 degrees by the time of the race.

P-J Vazel for the IAAF

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