Official 2019 Rotterdam Marathon Discussion Thread (Race is at 4:30 am ET, 8:30 AM UTC)

Best of the women's entrants look to be Ashete Dido, also known as Ashete Bekere Dido. Dido in 31 next month and won in Valencia this last December in 2.21.14. Ashete is currently ranked 14 and April last year was 4th in Paris in 2.23.27. Her previous fastest was 2.23.43 in Dubai 2015, finishing 9th.

Second place should be Marius Kipserem, ranked 75 and aged 30. In 2018 he was fifth in Rotterdam before winning at Abu Dhabi in 2.04.04. The time is not recognised because the course was short. Ran a poor Tokyo in 2017, finishing 23rd but is a former winner here in 2016, taking 2.06.11.

Runner-up among the women should be Sentayehu Lewetegn, ranked 65, 22yo. 5th in Dubai in January. In 2018 ran 3rd here, 7th Lanzhou, then 6th in Frankfurt in 2.22.45, a huge PB by 7.44.

Third place should be Kaan Kigen Obzilen of Turkey. Now 33yo and ranked 78, his best time is 2.06.10 in Seoul 2016. Represented his country at 2016 Olympics and 2017 World Champs. Was 5th in Amsterdam last year.

Next woman should be Stella Barsosio, ranked 80, aged 25 or 26. Ran her fastest time last year in Paris, finishing 5th in 2.23.43. Then late October was 9th in a deep Frankfurt Field and a fortnight later ran second in Singapore. Is a prolific distance runner, in one 5 week period in 2017 she ran 2 full marathons and two halfs, winning three of those races across Europe. In 2016 ran 8 half marathons, winning 5; and 5 marathons, winning 4.

Fourth place could go to Tsegaye Mekonnen, 23 years old and ranked 122. His best year still remains 2014 when Letsrun considered him as the 4th best marathoner in the world. While still 18 he won Dubai in 2.04.32, following that up with 5th in London in 2.08.06. 2016 was his next impressive result, 3rd in Dubai in 2.04.46. Then in 2017 he won Hamburg in 2.07.26. Reproducing one of those four results puts him right in the mix here, but last year had mediocre performances of 20th in Tokyo [2.10.26] and second in Shanghai in 2.09.18.

4th best marathoner among the women racing here has to be Kellyn Taylor, Kellyn Johnson on her IAAF profile. 32 yo and ranked 152. Like many elites, didn’t finish Boston last year in the wild conditions but stormed back at Grandma’s marathon to win in 2.24.29, a PB by more than 4 minutes. That puts her amongst the top here. In 2017 Kellyn was 13 th in London and 8th in New York. Again enough form to trouble the three ahead of her. 8th at the New York half two weeks ago.

This is a deep field, fifth finisher should be Emmanuel Saina. He is 26yo and ranked 26. If he does well here, i would like to see how he goes in a major. Was 4th in Dubai this January and won his only marathon of last year in Buenos Aries in 2.05.21, fastest ever at the time on that continent. Recorded amazing 5k splits between 25 and 30 of 14.09, then from 30 to 35 of 14.12 to burn off a field including Kipserem.

just wanted to say I enjoy reading all of these

Keep it up!

Thanks. Fifth among the women could be Bethlehem Moges, almost 28yo and ranked 144. Ran two 4th's last year in Hong Kong and Ottawa. In 2017 was third in Hong Kong and won Cape Town where she caught a runaway pacemaker in the last km. Former winner of Beijing in 2015.

Sixth finisher, in my humble opinion, will be Vincent Kipruto. 31yo and ranked 100, with what a career. Hasn't shied away from the majors but has had a few dnf's the last few years. In 2018 was 6th in Hamburg in 2.10.31 bookended by DNF's at Tokyo and Fukuoka. 2017 ran 5th in Berlin in 2.06.14. The previous year won Xiamen in 2.10.18 then dnf in Berlin. 2013 won Frankfurt in 2.06.15. The year before that Vincent was 11th in London and in 2011 had an amazing year [2nd in Rotterdam in 2.05.33 and second in the World Champs]. If rankings were around back then, he might have been top 4. His fastest time dates back to 2010 when he was 3rd in Rotterdam in 2.05.13. You wouldn't think he was in that shape anymore but around 2.08 here puts him among the chances.

Sixth female could be Sara Moreira, who is 33yo and unranked as a marathoner because of a dnf last year in Prague and another dnf at the last Olympics. Back in 2015, Sara was second in Prague in 2.24.49, her fastest time, then 4th in New York. In that same year she won the Portuguese 10000m track title by 21.24 seconds, both girls went to the World Champs where she beat her again by 19.93 seconds, placing 12th and 19th. Moreira has been a prolific half marathoner over the years, with a best of 1.09.18 in that same year.

Three days to go and 7th here may be Markos Geneti. He is now 34yo and not ranked. His best year was 2014 when this site listed him as the tenth best marathoner in the world after 2nd in Dubai in 2.05.13 and 5th in Boston in 2.09.50. Won Los Angeles in 2011 in 2.06.35. Seems to be living on his past glories these days but may still have one more sub 2.10 run in him and beat the rest here.

Seventh female will be Zinash Debebe, who is 22yo and ranked 63. Ran her PB in her last run, second place in Guangzhou just 7 weeks after a third in Sydney.

Noah Droddy is not included in the elite list, but i will include him in these 30 profiles tomorrow.

and Aliphine Tuliamuk if i have time before the race is run tomorrow

My choice for 8th is Vincent Rono, 28yo and ranked 176. Ran a PB finishing 3rd in Eindhoven last year in 2,07.50

Next woman should be Hanae Tanaka, and not because she is ranked one higher than the next female, Eunice Jeptoo. Hanae is 29yo and ranked 119. Has run the Osaka women's marathon the last three years in January. This year and last was 6th in just under and just over 2.28 after running 3rd in her PB [2.26.19] in 2016. In 2013 Tanaka ran two halfs for two second places; 69.18 at Yamaguchi and 70.02 in Philly.

9th for me is Elijah Kemboi, 34yo and ranked 133. Three marathons in 2018, fastest was 2nd in Linz, Austria in 2.11.30; other two were wins in Sydney and Macau. 2017 was 10th in Valencia in 2.09.56. PB dates back to 2013, 3rd in Frankfurt in 2.07.34.