Thirty days until the Gold Coast marathon, here are sixty profiles, two each day.
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Has a runner on debut over the classic distance ever won a gold label event? I am tipping Zane Robertson to achieve this next month here. I believe he can break his brother’s national record of 2.08.26 but not get Deek’s 33 year old Oceania record of 2.07.51. Zane is 29 and ranked 170 as a road runner. Last year had two road runs, over 10k and 10 miles, finishing 5th and sixth. He is listed with a dnf from Amsterdam 2017 but the IAAF still talk about this as his debut. That event was just five weeks after running a half in Britain in 61.42. His best over that distance was 59.47, second at Marugame in 2015.
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The course record is 2:08:42, will it be broken?
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The first woman over the line, IMO, will be the third placegetter from last year here in 2.27.46, Agnes Jeruto Kiprotich (also known as Barsosio). Agnes is now 37yo and ranked 159. Her PB was in 2017, finishing second in Paris in 2.20.59. Her previous best came in 2013 with a third in Daegu in 2.24.03. Also in 2017 over the half marathon, Barsosio won Ceske Budejovice in 69.53, her best at the time, winning by 3.12, and reduced that later in the year to 68.21 in Copenhagen, finishing sixth.
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BergLaufer wrote:
The course record is 2:08:42, will it be broken?
There are three 2.06 runners to drive Zane on, what do you think? -
Aussiestatman wrote:
BergLaufer wrote:
The course record is 2:08:42, will it be broken?
There are three 2.06 runners to drive Zane on, what do you think?
I'm thinking 2:07-2:08 range. -
Second overall should be Yuta Shitara, 27yo and ranked 50. Achieved his PB in running second in Tokyo in 2018, his time was 2.06.11. The previous year finished two majors, both in under 2.10. Also in 2017 was his best time in a half in the Czech Rep, 60.17.
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Next female may be Rodah Jepkorir, born 91 and ranked 187. Her PB was just this April, 2nd in Enschede, NED, in 2.27.38. Just 4 weeks later was second in Geneva in 2.29.15. This marathon in early July will be her 4th this year. In 2018 was third in Dalian in 2.32.54.
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Aussiestatman wrote:
BergLaufer wrote:
The course record is 2:08:42, will it be broken?
There are three 2.06 runners to drive Zane on, what do you think?
You seem very ladascaical.... so based on their previous performances they must surely beat the record.... but who really knows what sort of shape are they..... do you? have you checked their tweets and instagrams? and who knows what weather will they find (Callum Hopkins almost had a heat stroke in that nick of the world if i recall).
Dont take it too seriously pal... and a paragraph doesnt make it a "profile".... blogs are full of wannabe journos..... -
Get-a-grip-mate wrote:
Aussiestatman wrote:
BergLaufer wrote:
The course record is 2:08:42, will it be broken?
There are three 2.06 runners to drive Zane on, what do you think?
You seem very ladascaical.... so based on their previous performances they must surely beat the record.... but who really knows what sort of shape are they..... do you? have you checked their tweets and instagrams? and who knows what weather will they find (Callum Hopkins almost had a heat stroke in that nick of the world if i recall).
Dont take it too seriously pal... and a paragraph doesnt make it a "profile".... blogs are full of wannabe journos.....
No worries, mate. I know you tried hard to spell lackadaisical, good try. Not a wannabe, a published author, mainly NBA basketball. And a profile is anything I want it to be. -
Third place for me is Ezekiel Chebii, 28yo and ranked 195. His PB is 2.06.07 from 5th in Amsterdam 2016. 2017 saw him finish 7th in Chicago after winning Lake Biwa in 2.09.06. Also was second in Amsterdam 2015 in 2.07.18.
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Third woman could be Truphena Chepchirchir, turning 29 later this month and ranked 128. Recorded her PB just this April in Dongying, third in 2.27.52. Last year was second in Marrakesh in 2.28.11.
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Next man to finish is the legend that is Yuki Kawauchi. His wife is running here too. Last year they both won their sections of the Vancouver marathon. There is so much to write, more later.
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Aussiestatman wrote:
Next man to finish is the legend that is Yuki Kawauchi. His wife is running here too. Last year they both won their sections of the Vancouver marathon. There is so much to write, more later.
He wanted to reach the phenomenal milestone of one hundred marathons under 2.20 by the time of the Tokyo Olympics next year. I guess he has toned that down now. I believe he sits at 86 at the moment. His best time of 2.08.14 was in Seoul 2013 where he was 4th. He is 32yo and ranked 190. That ranking shows the flaws in its system, there would hardly be twenty men who could outrun him over the classic distance any given day, especially in harsh conditions. And all of them would be well rested and recuperated from their previous events, maybe only 2 or 3 marathons each year for all of them. 2013 was also a year when he won here on the Gold Coast, as well as second here last year. He and his wife’s Vancouver wins came three weeks after Yuki attempted to defend his Boston title and in between he ran a half in 64.27. Look up the word ‘prolific’ in the dictionary and you will see a picture of him there. -
Aussiestatman wrote:
Next man to finish is the legend that is Yuki Kawauchi. His wife is running here too. Last year they both won their sections of the Vancouver marathon. There is so much to write, more later.
Sorry, that Vancouver marathon was this year. -
Next female will, IMHO, be Mercy Kibarus, 35yo and ranked 76. Was 5th this last March in Seoul in 2.27.20 after being sixth in the corresponding event in her PB of 2.27.06 then winning Sydney and Macao in 2018. Back in 2013 ran her PB at the half in Italy in 68.18 then the next year had three times under 70 min.
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Fifth finisher may be Kenneth Mungara, winner here last year in 2.09.49, now 45yo and ranked 58. Was 7th this last Feb in Hong Kong in 2.12.47 and his best was in 2011 in Prague, second in 2.07.36.
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Fifth woman should be Alice Kibor (Jepkemboi), 33yo and ranked 300. Her PB of 2.28.19 recorded in Rome last year when finishing third took 4.09 off her previous best. That prior run was 2017 in Marrakesh, also third.
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There are so many great stories to tell in the next ten runners lives.
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Next man will be Philip Sanga Kimutai, 35yo and ranked 302. Fifth here last year in 2.11.44. His best time was back in 2011, 2.06.07 for 4th. Also 2012 and 2013 ran a marathon both years under 2.07. Has already run two marathons this year with a best of 2.15.31.
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Sixth female and first Aussie may be Milly Clark, 30yo and ranked 425 as a road runner. Her best marathon time is 2.29.07 for third in Amsterdam in 2015. Competed at the last world champs and was 18th in the Rio Olympics in 2.30.53.
