Philip Kangogo: I'm ready to win the Eldoret City Marathon

Philip Kangogo centre [Standard]

A fierce battle is expected on the streets of Eldoret tomorrow as 2018 top finishers meet for a second duel at the Eldoret City Marathon.

Philip Kangogo, the runner-up in the inaugural edition last year said yesterday he was ready to take the title this year.

Last year, Kangogo lost to Elkana Yego, the two-time Kisumu marathon champion who is also his training mate in Iten, and who will be defending his title.

Kangogo, who trains alongside his young brother Justus Kangogo and his wife Esther Ndiema (fifth placed at the Ottawa Marathon 2017) said he lost last year’s race due to "a tactical mistake in the last kilometre."

“I was leading until the final kilometre when I urged Yego to take over. Little did I know that he would sprint to the finish,” Kangogo said.

Kangogo had won the 2014 Kass International Marathon title in Eldoret and went ahead to win the Barcelona marathon (2:08.16) on his international marathon debut.

“This year’s race is likely to be the toughest because most runners are motivated by the prize money. It is bigger than the Sh1.8 million we often target outside the country,” he said.