Kenya’s Kiplagat touted to retain marathon title

A change at the top of the women’s World Marathon Majors (WMM) series standings is possible, as four of the top 10 in the current standings will compete in the IAAF World Championships in Moscow, which starts on Saturday.

Points for the world’s most lucrative marathon series are at stake in the  women’s and men’s World Championships marathons, to be held on Saturday and August 17, respectively.

Defending World Championships gold medalist Edna Kiplagat will lead the Kenyans against an Ethiopian contingent that includes London Olympic Games Marathon gold medalist Tiki Gelana, last year’s BMW Berlin Marathon champion Aberu Kebede and 2013 Boston Marathon runner-up Meseret Hailu.

A repeat victory in Moscow would give Kiplagat a total of 55 points and the overall lead in the standings entering the fall marathon season, which includes theBMW Berlin Marathon on September 29, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 13, and the Series finale at the ING New York City Marathon on November 3.

The women’s marathon will be run at 1pm Kenyan time.

Red Square and Luzhniki Stadium  will set the stage as Olympic and World Championships gold medalists and the Majors champions compete in the global competition’s marathon race.

The course will start and finish at Luzhniki Stadium, the site of the 1980 Olympic Games. Comprised of one loop of 7.5 kilometers and three loops of 10 kilometers, the course runs through the city centre, passing many of Moscow’s famous landmarks.

The World Championships marathon is part of the 2012-2013 WMM series, which also includes the Tokyo, Boston, Virgin Money London, BMW Berlin, Bank of America Chicago, ING New York City, and London Olympic Games marathons.

At the conclusion of the 2012-2013 WMM Series in November, the top female and male marathoners in the Series, based on their total number of points, will each earn $500,000 (Sh43.5m).

The top three athletes in the women’s series are all Kenyans, with Prisca Jeptoo, who won silver in Daegu two years ago and in London Olympics last year, on top, followed by Rita Jeptoo, the wiunner in Boston this year and 2006, and Sharon Cherop, bronze medalist in Daegu.

Edna Koplagat is sixth behind compatriot Mary Keitany. Wilson Kipsang and Wesley Korir are second and third in the men’s table.

Four of the top 10 men in the current WMM series standings will compete in the World Championships, including an Ethiopian trio of Tsegaye Kebede, the current WMM series leader and 2013 Virgin London Marathon champion, Lelisa Desisa, the 2013 Boston Marathon champion and 2011 World Championships bronze medalist and 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon runner-up, Feyisa Lilesa.

London Olympic Games Marathon gold medalist Stephen Kiprotich, of Uganda, will also compete.