Solomon Busendich winning his marathon debut in Amsterdam (© Race organisers)
Before they start in the 33rd edition of the ING Amsterdam Marathon in the Olympic Stadium on Sunday (19 Oct) former winners Robert Cheboror and Solomon Busendich have an another duty to perform.
Helping the race’s green credentials, the two victors will plant first two trees of more than a hundred which will be dug into place alongside the race’s route in the Vondel Parc.
The Amsterdam Olympic stadium is 80-years-old this year, and to mark the occasion, four trumpeters from the top of the Olympic Tower will announce the approach of the leading runners on Sunday. This same method of announcing was made at the 1928 Olympic marathon as the leaders came towards the stadium.
Eight below 2:10
Cheboror, the winner in 2004 with a personal best of 2:06:23, and Busendich, who was successful two years ago in 2:08:52, also a personal best, are just two of the favourites for the event which is an IAAF Silver Label Road Race.
Choboror confirmed at todya's press conference that, "the victory of William Kipsang in Rotterdam gave me back my motivation. I train with Kipsang and I was happy for him. Last year I was plagued by malaria. I got good treatment and I am ok now. I trained a lot of times with my compatriot Silas Soek who is also starting in Amsterdam."
"I was also plagued by malaria last year,"said Busendich. "I am feeling fine now and I was very happy with my result in the half marathon in Lille in France last month where I finished third in 1:00:45. I am looking forward to the race on this very fast course."
The Amsterdam organisers have assembled a strong men’s field with eight runners with personal best times within 2:10:00. Beside Cheboror and Busendich, they are Paul Kiprop Kirui (PB. 2:06:44), James Rotich (PB. 2:07:12), Jackson Koech (PB.2:08:02), Paul Malakwen Kosgei (PB. 2:09:15), Albert Matebor (PB. 2:09:33) all Kenya and Ethiopian Dejene Berhanu (PB. 2:08:46).
Four of the ten fastest times in the world in 2007
Four of the ten fastest times on the 2007 world list marathon were clocked in Amsterdam. Due to extremely nice weather circumstances last year Emmanuel Mutai clocked 2:06:29, which was to make him the second fastest runner of the year behind Haile Gebrselassie who had set a then new World record (2:04:26) in Berlin three weeks earlier.
Other Amsterdam finishers in 2007, second placed Richard Limo had the fourth fatest time of 2007 (2:06:45), while James Rotich and Paul Kiprop Kirui, both crossing the finishline in the Olympic stadium in the same time (2:07:12), though separated into 3rd and fourth places in the race, took joint 7th place on the 2007 world marathon list.
There will be another four runners on the starting line in the Amsterdam Olympic stadium, which this year is 80-years-old, with personal best times under 2:11:00. These challengers are El Hassan Lahsinni (Fra, 2:10:10), Jonathan Kipkorir Kosgei (Ken, 2:10:18), Abiyote Guta (Eth, 2:10:38) and newcomer Silas Toek (Ken, 2:10:40).
A strong outsider will be 2005 World Half Marathon champion Fabiano Joseph Naasi of Tanzania (2:13:24). Others to watch are Francis Kibiwott (Ken), Jonathan Maiyo (Ken), Dennis Ndiso (Ken), Benjamin Limo (all Ken) and Solomon Tsige (Eth) who are all running their first marathon.
Fabiano Joseph confirmed that, "after my 9th place in the Beijing 10,000 metres final I am feeling confident. After Beijing I did concentrate me for six weeks on this marathon. I have trained in Kenya with fast runners who I miss in my home country Tanzania. I expect a far better race than in 2006 when I finished tenth here in my personal best of 2:13:24."
"I am full of confidence," said dubutant Benjamin Limo. "Some weeks ago I ran the Dam tot Dam from Amsterdam to Zaandam here. Although felt a little bit ill it all went well. I wanted to run my first marathon on a flat and fast course. I was told that the course in Amsterdam in flat and fast."
WOMEN - Cheromei to surprise on debut?
The women’s field looks less stronger. There are three sub 2:30:00 women starting: Beatrice Omwanza (Ken, 2:27:19), Adenech Zekiros (Eth, 2:27:32) and Mindaye Gishu (Eth, 2:28:30).
But perhaps the victory will be taken by debutant Lydia Cheromei (Ken) who will run her first marathon in Amsterdam. Cheromei won the Fortis Half Marathon in Rotterdam this year (Sep. 14th) in a personal best of 1:08:32.
"I am back in running after the birth of my daughter who is now two years old," said Cheromei. "Last November I started running again. I started in small races and everything went fine. I was very happy with the victory in a personal best (ed.1:08:35) in the (14 September) Rotterdam half marathon. I am motivated by the fact that Gete Wami won here her first marathon several years ago.''
The weather forecast for Sunday (19) looks good: temp 12-15 degrees CT, sunny and a moderate wind. The start will at 10.30 hrs (GMT +2hrs).
In total 24,000 runners are expected to compete over several distances: 8000 in the full marathon and 11,000 on the half marathon. The 8000 marathoners come from 64 countries.
Wim van Hemert for the IAAF
