From left: 21km men Philemon Rono (3rd place), Wilferd Kimutai (centre) and Hillary Kipchumba poses for the picture on March 6, 2016 at Nyayo Stadium.[PHOTO:DENNIS OKEYO/STADARD]

Kiprotich will be the first Olympic champ to compete in the Canadian race

Uganda’s 2012 Olympic champ Kiprotich and NewZealand’s Jake Robertson will also line up on Sunday.

Stephen Rutto and Jonathan Komen

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Philemon Rono seeks a third win at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label race, in Canada on Sunday.

Kenneth Mungara is the only athlete who has enjoyed more success in Canada’s biggest city, winning four times (2008-2011). But Rono made further history a year ago when he also ran the fastest marathon ever on Canadian soil.

His time of 2:06:52 was also a personal best.

“I have prepared well. I will strive to win for third time. I understand the course well and I believe it gives me an edge over my competitors,” Rono said yesterday before leaving for Canada.

Last year, Rono staged a historic run as he won in a personal best time of 2:06:51. The previous all-comers 2:06:54 record was set by Tsegay in 2014.

He will be up against training his partners at Global Sports Communications in Kaptagat, who include Uganda’s 2012 Olympic champion Stephen Kiprotich and Abraham Kiplimo. Kiprotich will be the first Olympic champion to compete in the races’ history.

The diminutive Rono is nicknamed ‘Small Police’ due partly to his youthful face and the fact he is also a policeman in good standing with National Police Service.

John Kipkosgei Korir, the  younger brother of former Cherangany MP and 2012 Boston Marathon winner Wesley Korir, is also in the mix.

Kipkosgei will line up in his second marathon after finishing second in his marathon debut at the 2018 edition of the Scotiabank Ottawa marathon in May.

The 22-year-old Kipkosgei posted 2:09:14 behind Yemane Tsegay of Ethiopia. Kipkosgei longs to step out of his elder brother’s shadow as he longs to improve his personal best.

Korir is preparing to compete in BLOM Bank Beirut Marathon on November 11.

Besides training with his elder brother, Kipkosgei runs with graduates of Transcend Running Academy – an institution founded by Wesley, together with the Canadian filmmakers and prepares young Kenyans for running and academics at United States institutions.

Wesley and his wife Terah McKay Korir also run Kenyan Kids Foundation in Canada and some athletes mentored by the organisations will be competing in half marathon during the Toronto race.

Ethiopia’s Tsagaye Mekonnen, 23, will be going to the race as the fastest runner after brilliant shows in Dubai and Hamburg marathons.

Mekonnen clocked 2:04:46 at the Dubai marathon and last year, he held off Uganda’s Olympic champion Stephen Kiprotich to the second position at the Hamburg marathon in a time of 2:07:26.

 

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