With Seidel questionable I think Saina or Sisson are your favorites.
Saina is now training partners with Joyciline Jepkosgei and usually has 4 male pacers but one day she said the other women weren't running so she had 12.
Betsy Saina winner of the Sydney Marathon in 2023, talks to us about her Olympic Marathon Trials preparations. Is she or Emily Sisson the favorite?0:00 Betsy...
I know Betsy and some of her pacers. She's an awesome lady.
The pacer she mentioned, Wilfred, ran 2:07:22 last year in Seville and 45:43 at Cherry Blossom in 2022.
Her first pacer here in the U.S. was Dominic Korir who still races extensively on the U.S. road circuit with a 61:45 at Houston Half and a 28:08 at Cooper River Bridge Run, among others.
The 7000 shillings they pay the pacers likely covers housing AND food, plus she gives them ASICS gear, which she referred to as 'facilities.'
She's my pick to win.
Oh, and if anyone ever travels to Iten they should consider staying in her guest rentals. They are very nice, have western toilets, WiFi, and I think the place has both single and shared rooms. Can host about 25 athletes at a time.
Maybe getting into town on Thursday wasn't the best idea......
I remember reading in the Lap Count Merber’s report that Saina was coming in from Kenya three days before. At that very moment, I knew she was never going to win, and would be hard pressed to qualify.
Who gave her that advice? Nevermind the weather; the effect of the time zones alone would be enough to cost you the race when the margins are thin. Alas.