Zhou Chunxiu wins in London (© Getty Images)
Xiamen, ChinaThe stage is set for the seventh Xiamen International Marathon on Saturday (3) with about 18 of its 23 elite male runners from Kenya and at least four former Beijing Olympic contenders in both the men's and women's marathons.
Under a cloudy sky with a light wind from the north east on the seaside city of 2.3 million, 33,000 runners from over 40 countries will compete in the 5 km and 10 km races, Half-Marathon, and Marathon.
Kiprotich Kenei returns to one of the most scenic IAAF Gold Label Road Race courses where he won in 2008 with 2:09:49. His personal best is still 2:07:42 from the 2007 Hamburg Marathon.
Kiprotich was glad to have a wider field of elite athletes and better motivation to finish the race well. "I can see there are very good competitors whereby you can compete."
Second in line in terms of time is David Kemboi Kiyeng with a personal best of 2:07:53 from the Reims Marathon in October. Fellow Kenyans Sammy Kiptoo Kurgut (PB: 2:08:38) and Frederick Cherono (PB: 2:08:38) are also expected to run.
"Maybe we can break the world record," said Kiyeng. "We will do our best."
Olympic runner Alexsey Sokolov of Russia is the field’s fifth fastest with a PB of 2:09:07set in Dublin in 2007. He came in 21st in Beijing ahead by four positions of the first Chinese male competitor, Hiayang Deng who was third in the 2008 Xiamen Marathon when he established his PB of 2:10:43.
But Sokolov and his wife Natalia Sokolova, who will run the Half Marathon, are worried about the windy conditions in Xiamen. "I am mainly afraid about the wind, because the wind is so strong," said Sokolova adding partially in jest, "We need to run behind the Kenyans."
The only other Chinese to finish the Beijing Olympic marathon is Zhuhong Li (PB: 2:10:46) who also participated three times in the Xiamen marathon. (At the moment, Deng’s and Li’s participation is not confirmed.)
Kenyans Jonathan Kipkorir Kosgei (PB: 2:09:22) and Benjamin Kolum Kiptoo (PB: 2:09:24) are ahead of French Olympic marathoner Simon Munyutu who came in 57th in Beijing though his PB is 2:09:24. William Biama (PB: 2:09:53) and Elias Kiptum Maindi (PB: 2:10:19) are just ahead of Ukrainian Vasyl Matviychuk who was 27th in Beijing with his PB set a few months prior in Torino at 2:10:36.
Olympic follow-up for Zhou – women’s race
Among the women, Beijing Olympic bronze medallist Zhou Chunxiu of China, who clocked 2:27:07 in the Chinese capital, will grace the city where she has also ran and won in 2003 and 2005. Her personal best of 2:19:51 that she achieved in Seoul in 2006 is considerably faster than last year’s Xiamen winner and record setter, Zhang Yingying with her PB of 2:22:38.
Fellow Olympic contenders Zhu Xiaolin (PB: 2:19:51) who ranked 4th in the Olympic run, and Zhang Shujing (PB: 2:23:17), who came in 41st, have also run the Xiamen marathon, but their attendance could not be confirmed.
Chinese Sun Yingjie (PB: 2:19:39), a strong runner in the 5 km and 10 km who also ran the Xiamen marathon last year with a timing of 2:38:21, will also be present on the course.
The marathon winners will claim a prize of 30,000 USD, $15,000 for second place and $8000 for third, with prize money awarded to the top-eight.
A $15,000 course record bonus is also on offer. The men’s record stands at 2:09:03, set by Ethiopian Hailu Negussie in 2003; the women’s mark of 2:22:38 was set last year by Zhang. A $1 million bonus is on offer for a World record.
Cyrille Cartier for the IAAF
