Kiptoo to contend with Bekele in Schneider Marathon

By FEVERPITCH REPORTER

Veteran track star Mark Kipto

Veteran track star Mark Kiptoo (pictured)  is set to battle it out with legendary Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele as the latter makes his marathon debut at the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris in France on April 6.

Kiptoo, 37, who will be making his second appearance to assault the 42km event after chalking impressive 2:06.16 in his maiden race in Frankfurt last year, is among an elite cast revealed for the IAAF Golden Label Road Race by the organisers.

Azmeraw Bekele is another big threat to Kenenisa after he smashed his marathon personal best by more than three minutes when he finished fifth in Dubai early this year with 2:07.12.

The men’s race in the past three editions has been won by Kenyan athletes and Kiptoo will be looking to continue the tradition with his never-say-die tradition.

With a victory in Rome two years ago with a PB of 2:08.04, another Kenyan Luka Kanda will be looking for victory in another European capital city on 6 April alongside Kiptoo.

His 21-year-old compatriot Gideon Kipketer is hoping to be on the podium after below par performance at the Tokyo Marathon last month, while shaggy Mike Kigen is warming up for the race with his 1:00.44 half-marathon clocking in the city of Paris earlier this month.

Former Kenyan Simon Munyutu is the top French entrant and set his Personal Best of 2:09.24 in this race six years ago.

Fellow Olympian and World Championships representative Grigoriy Andreyev of Russia is also in the mix.

In women’s category, Valentine Kipketer hope to continue after taking significant chunks off her personal best in each of her completed marathons to date.

After a 2:28.02 debut in Hamburg two years ago, she won in Mumbai last year with 2:24.33 and rebounded from a DNF at the IAAF World Championships with a 2:23.02 victory in Amsterdam.

Another Kenyan, Flomena Cheyech, who has also won two marathon editions in 2013 with her best result of 2:24:34, will spice the ladies class after maiden victory in Vienna.

Martha Komu, the winner back in 2008 with a PB of 2:25.33 and a member of Team Kenya at the Beijing Olympics before shifting her running

royalties to the host nation, is the only former winner competing at the 2014 edition.

Kenya’s France-based Sarah Chepchirchir will also be making her marathon debut in Paris.

With a 1:08.07 half-marathon PB, she could spring a surprise.