LONDON THRILLER: Kenya's Virgin Money Marathon stars share exciting tales

It was a do-or-die fight in the race that brought to the fore several intrigues in world athletics circles.

The fight between former world record holder Wilson Kipsang and Chicago Marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge caused competition between American sportswear firms – Adidas and Nike. Kipsang is under the Netherland-based Volare Sports that falls under Adidas, while Kipchoge is under Global Sports Communications based in Nijmegen, The Netherlands, sponsored by Nike.

Fans at Eldoret’s Kclique Hotel, where Middle East Bank sponsored a marathon viewing, were thrown into a monumental battle as athletes from Nandi and Elgeyo Marakwet counties locked horns - all struggling to fly their sponsor’s flags high.

Flanked by Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos, the Middle East Bank branch manager, Patrick Kiprop, said it was high time Kenyans took athletics seriously as a business.

Benjamin Limo, the IAAF Athletes Representative, said, “It’s a healthy competition although it tends to compromise teamwork among Kenyans.”

Felix Limo, a two-time London Marathon winner (2006, 2007), said the race was similar to the 2006 edition in which he edged out three-time London Marathon winner Martin Lel.

“Kipchoge decided to run with brains and legs just as I did. He wanted to correct the mistake he made in 2013 when he lost to Kipsang in the Chicago Marathon,” said Limo.

 

POLICE OFFICERS

The race saw athletes from the National Police Service go up against civilians in the 35th Virgin Money London Marathon yesterday. But the civilians - Eliud Kipchoge and women’s runner-up Mary Keitany - prevailed.

Kipsang, Dennis Kimetto and Sammy Kitwara alongside Florence Kiplagat and Edna Kiplagat, are police officers.

Interestingly, Kipchoge and runner-up Kipsang share backgrounds that catapulted them into athletics.

Kipchoge ran casually in school and could not go beyond zonal competitions. But after Form Four at Kaptel Boys High School in Nandi North, he burned with a desire to make a living from running then go back to class.

Unfortunately, the athletics schedule could not allow him full-time study, and the academics-hungry Kipchoge registered instead for a human resource and development course at Halifax College in Eldoret.

“I asked the college for a distance learning course and simply studied from my house. I would train during the day, rest and study at night,” he said.

Kipsang's script is identical. He tried his hand at selling potatoes in Molo, Nakuru County, after Form Four at Tambach High School in Keiyo North, and he’s now a student at Mt Kenya University Eldoret Campus doing a bachelor's degree in criminology.