Eyes on Rotterdam Marathon title

By Jonathan Komen

Wilson Kwambai Chebet and Goeffrey Kipsang will lead Kenyan charges at the Rotterdam Marathon on Sunday.

Rotterdam Marathon will act as the fulcrum upon, which the 42km shows will set off this season. Kenyans will be seeking to reclaim the title Ethiopians Yemane Adhane and Tiki Gelana won last year.

Adhane chalked up the win, beating injured Moses Mosop who was attempting a world record.  The 117th Boston Marathon is scheduled for Monday.

The 27-yearold Chebet is making his third appearance in the race and will be among the over 25,000 participants who have signed up for the race.

The police officer will battle former world cross-country junior champion Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor, half marathon great Sammy Kitwara and little-known Joel Kemboi Kimurer.

Chebet, who went down in history in 2011 as the only runner to have ruled Dutch marathons – Rotterdam and Amsterdam in a season – takes his brilliant 2:05.53 personal best mark to the line up.

Not bad for a runner who developed a love for athletics after he dropped out of school over lack of fees while in Form One at Lelan Secondary School in Marawet West.

Victories in the Dutch flagship races, Rotterdam and Amsterdam, earned Chebet his greatest honour – he was nicknamed Mr Amsterdam.

He won his maiden marathon in 2:05.27 at Rotterdam Marathon and went for a successive win 2:05.57 at the Amsterdam Marathon in 2011.

“I missed Rotterdam last year to compete in Boston but I hope to be back to impressive performance this year,” said Chebet, who won Amsterdam Marathon late last year.

Chebet will be up against training mate Sammy Kitwara, who boasts a 2:05.54 personal best he set at the Chicago Marathon last year.

Kitwara, an alumnus of Embomir Primary and Kerio Valley Secondary Schools, won the 2009 Rotterdam Half Marathon before he made his debut at the 2012 Rotterdam Marathon, where he had acted as a pace setter before.

Former world cross-country junior champion Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor, who turned a wild card to national cross-country squad, also eyes the Rotterdam silverware.

Kipsang, who is based at Global Sports Communications in Kaptagat, is another star to watch out, having finished third in 2:06.12 at the Berlin Marathon last September.

But the 20-year-old Kipsang is fresh from winning the RAK Half Marathon in Dubai last February.

“I feel good now to compete to compete in marathon now,” said Kipsang, who attended Lelboinet Secondary School together with Kenyan-turned-Qatari Albert Chepkurui.

Joel Kemboi Kimurer, who ran a personal best of 1:00.02 at the RAK 21km showpiece, is also in the mix.

Jemima Jelagat Sumgong (2:28:32),  runners-up at the Boston Marathon last year will lead the women assault.