Biwott
expects a fast men's race, while Japanese are favourites for women's title in
Rotterdam
Wim van
Hemert for the IAAF
19 April 2002 - Rotterdam - In what is called the "marathonweek" in the
Netherlands, the Rotterdam Marathon will be the last stop after London and
Boston. Rotterdam, that had the fastest marathon time last year with Kenya’s
Josephat Kiprono clocking 2.06.50 (equalling the former world best and course
record set by Ethiopian Belayneh Densamo in 1988), knows that it will be
impossible to beat London this year.
However, with an excepionally good weather forecast of 10 degrees centigrade at the start (12.00 hrs Sunday) going up to 16 degrees later in the day, sunny and nearly no wind, the weather circumstances look ideal.
Rotterdam often called the “birthplace for good marathoners” offers an nearly flat course which has proved to be a very fast one over the years. That was the topic during the pre-race press conference held at the Rotterdam Novotel hotel late this morning. All the top women and men present confirmed they know or had heard about the course was fast and the perfect organization in the second city of The Netherlands, which will host the 22nd edition of the event this weekend.
With the Kenyans Kenneth Cheruiyot (winner in 2000 and second last year), Elijah Lagat (pb 2.07.41), Simon Biwott (pb 2.07.41), Joseph Kahugu (pb. 2.07.59) and Spaniard Alejandro Gomez (2.07.54) there are five athletes with a personal best under 2.08.00 in the men’s race.
Simon Biwott, who finished second to Gezaghegne Abera of Ethiopia in the World championships in Edmonton last year, said he is looking foward to the confrontation with his compatriots.
“I’m glad to be here again (Biwott ran his pb in Rotterdam in 1999, finishing fourth). I trained for this race in Kenya with Kenneth Cheruiyot and we both feel we are in very good shape. As the weather conditions are said to be good, I expect a very fast race. This is a great marathon.’’
The tall Kenyan was asked what happened in Edmonton last year just before entering the stadium to which he replied, “I saw Abera was misled by a motorcycle and wanted to go to the wrong side. I told him that he was going wrong. I could have said nothing and probably won the race. That is not my style. I want a clean race.”
Kenneth Cheruiyot, who won here in 2000 and finished second to Kiprono last year said his preparation was very good. “I trained three months for this race in Kiptagat. My wife did not like it (him being away from home) but I wanted to run a good race at Rotterdam.”
Eljah Lagat, the most experienced runner in the field, was also happy to be back in Rotterdam, after five years. Lagat, who works for the Kenyan government in the Department of Education, is not a full time athlete. “I have every cooperation (from the Government) when I have a race but I have a normal life. I train before I go to work and after it.”
He also confirmed that he trained for Rotterdam with Rodgers Rop. “When I saw him winning last Monday in the Boston marathon I knew my preparation must also be good. I expect a close battle with my countrymen.’’
The top men in the race aim to reach to a time around 2.07.00.
The women's race will probably be an all Japanese contest with Takemi Ominiami, Junk Akagi and Masako Chiba. The three Japanese women all hope to better their personal best. Neither of them have ever raced in Rotterdam but all three said they had heard of the fast and flat course and the enthusiasm of the spectators.
For the Dutch - men and women - the national title is at stake and also the qualification for the European Championships at Munich in August. Dutchman Luc Krotwaar, who trained for seven week in Kenya and ran a 28.10, 10 kms a fortnight ago at Brunssum ((Ned) is poised to better the national record of 2.09.01 set by Gerard Nijboer (now national coach) at Amsterdam, 22 years ago. The race will be screen directly on TV in the Netherlands and several other countries (Japan).
Course records of
Rotterdam -
Men: 2.06.50 Belayneh Densamo (Eth) 1988 and Josephat Kiprono (Ken) 2001
Women: 2.20.47 Tegla Loroupe (Ken) 1998
