Rono ruled out

By Mutwiri Mutuota in Berlin

April’s Boston Marathon runner-up, Daniel Rono, said: "Impossible is possible," as Kenyan marathoners faced media few days ago at the team’s hotel.

Alongside four teammates in Omar Ahmed (Robert ‘Mwafrika’ Cheruiyot), Abel Kirui, Emmanuel Mutai and Benjamin Kiptoo, Rono was seeking to succeed Luke Kibet as the world champion in men’s marathon today.

But calamity knocked on Rono’s door 48 hours before he lined-up in a field of 101 from 39 countries in seeking the honour of being a global champion in ultimate distance running.

"Doctors have ruled Rono out of the marathon and urged him to take 30 days rest. He injured his ankle after stepping on uneven surface during training," team media liaison officer, Peter Angwenyi, disclosed yesterday.

Rono suffered misfortune while training at Tiergarten Park on Thursday.

"He is disappointed but he hopes to represent the country again in future," Angwenyi added on the 30-year-old marathoner who was due to make his debut for his country starting 12:45pm Kenyan time when the men’s marathon final starts.

Following Rono’s exit, the quality Kenyan quartet will be out to secure the country’s third marathon title following Douglas Wakiihuri (1987) and Kibet’s victory 20 years later.

Paper favourite

Four-time Boston Marathon champion, Ahmed is the paper favourite and is eager to erase the disappointment of pulling out of the Olympics last year at the last minute.

"My aim is to help my team win the title and if I win the race, it will be the fulfilment of my dream after missing Beijing last year," Cheruiyot said.

Kirui, the sixth fastest man in marathon history with 2:05.04 recorded at April’s Amsterdam Marathon where he finished third, is relishing his debut for Kenya. "Yes we can!" he rallied.

A former construction worker, Kiptoo comes to Berlin seeking to build a solid reputation, brick by brick, in marathon running. "I was not expecting selection and I was happy when the chance was given to me. I expect to record a good performance since I know excelling here will open up more opportunities for me," Kiptoo, 30, said.

He started marathon running following encouragement from three-time London Marathon champion, Martin Lel, in 2006 after spending eight years engaged as a builder at Eldoret’s Baraton University.

"I went to school with Lel and Mwafrika but unlike them, I did not proceed to run after we finished school," the Chemuswa Secondary alumnus disclosed.