Marathon is breeding ground for world beaters

Immediately after the Daegu conquest, Jerotich skipped the 42km run at the Nairobi Standard Chartered race and decided to compete at the Singapore Standard Chartered Marathon, and took a second consecutive marathon win at the race. The performances are a vindication of the importance of such races to the development of our athletes and the culture of sports in our country.

Kimetto, who won the 21km race in 2011, went ahead to shine in well-heeled marathons around the world, with two victories in Chicago, where he became the first person to win a marathon under two hours and three minutes.

Given this history, we are well within the limits of modesty to say yesterday’s winners –Peter Kosgei and Eunice Jeptoo – stand in good stead to repeat similar feats. But this will only happen if they plan and regulate their races well.

As we wish the winners well in their future endevours, we would also like to remind other athletes that it is through hard work that champions are built. Contrary to popular belief about chance and fate playing out in such competitions, to emerge victorious you have to put in a lot of effort.

We certainly need to raise the profile of such such competitions, because they not only act as training grounds for our athletes, but also offer lessons our sportsmen and women need to succeed.