2010 Rotterdam Marathon Signs 9 Men Sub-2:09 

After his triumph in Paris, Vincent Kipruto also wants to conquer the Coolsingel

Press Release
March 30, 2010

ROTTERDAM – Vincent Kipruto is in reality the biggest rival of James Kwambai’s, who is the favourite to win the 30th Fortis Marathon Rotterdam on Sunday 11 April. The Kenyan Kipruto won Paris last year in 2.05.47 and would very much like to conquer the Coolsingel. The NOS (Netherlands Broadcasting Corporation) will be broadcasting the race live on TV.

Everything is pointing to the 22-year old Kipruto excelling himself in the coming month. “2.05 in Paris, on a slower course and a weaker participants field, is worth 2.04 in Rotterdam,” says marathon-director Mario Kadiks. “We always look at the athletes’ potential.”

The list of starters for Rotterdam’s jubilee marathon includes the names of at least 11 runners who have achieved this classic distance within two hours and nine minutes. Besides Kwambai  (2.04.27) and Kipruto (2.05.47), the list includes their compatriots Patrick Makau (2.06.14), Daniel Rono (2.06.58), Geoffrey Mutai (2.07.01), Francis Kiprop (2.07.04), Isaac Macharia (2.07.16) and Elias Chelimo Kemboi (2.08.15), and the Ethiopians Yirdaw Dejene (2.08.30), Dereje Tesfaye (2.08.36) en Feyisa Lelisa (2.08.47).

 “We have an absolute top field. With athletes who can surprise, such as Mutai. He demonstrated last year in Eindhoven that he possesses what is required for a strong finish,” says Kadiks  “By the way, we will be announcing even more names of strong runners, among whom a few debutants. We are also excited about the participants among the women.”

The Chinese Zhu Xiaolin leads the women’s field with a personal best of 2.23.57. We also have high hopes of, among others, Anne Kosgei (Ken, 2.27.46), Olga Glok (Rus, 2.28.27) and Irene Jerotich (Ken, 2.28.57). Merel de Knegt is debuting at the marathon and is the favourite for the Dutch title.

The favourite for the Dutch title in the men’s section is Koen Raymaekers. His marathon personal best is 2.12.59 with which he won the national championship in Amsterdam last year.

With such a strong field of participants perhaps the Fortis Marathon Rotterdam will have an ending that is just as spectacular as last year. That’s when at the very end James Kwambai was taken unawares by an exciting final sprint by compatriot Duncan Kibet. Both runners achieved 2.04.27 after their names. Only the Ethiopian world record holder Haile Gebrselassie has ever run faster (2.03.59 Berlin 2008). “Rotterdam” delivered the three best marathon times last year (see rankings list below). The images of the much talked about finish were seen all over the world. They can also be seen at www.fortismarathonrotterdam.nl.

 

The marathon top 10 of 2009

(in order of time, placing, name, nationality, marathon time, date):

 

2.04.27 (1)    Duncan Kibet                              Ken     Rotterdam               05-04

2.04.27 (2)    James Kwambai                           Ken     Rotterdam               05-04

2.05.04 (3)    Abel Kirui                                  Ken     Rotterdam               05-04

2.05.10 (1)    Samuel Wanjiru                           Ken     London                   26-04

2.05.18 (1)    Tsegaye Kebede                         Eth     Fukuoka                 06-12

2.05.27 (3)    Jaouad Gharib                             Mor     London                   26-04

2.05.29 (1)    Haile Gebrselassie                        Eth     Dubai                     16-01

2.05.47 (1)    Vincent Kipruto                           Ken     Paris                     05-04

2.06.04 (2)    Abderrahim Goumri                       Mor     Chicago                  11-10

2.06.14 (4)    Patrick Makau                             Ken     Rotterdam               05-04

 

 

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