Athens Marathon. The Authentic am Sonntag
Kenyans target landmark breakthrough of sub 2:10 on historic course
No marathon runner has ever broken 2:10 on the historic course in Athens.
This is the target which the elite men have set themselves on Sunday for
the 34th edition of the "Athens Marathon. The Authentic." A group of
leading Kenyan runners with Luka Rotich at their head, are planning a race
tempo to achieve exactly that. But while international results these days
frequently feature times of under 2:05 on the fastest courses, Athens
presents a course like no other.
Whoever runs in Athens follows historic footsteps. A record entry of 17,500
runners from 105 countries will compete the same tough course which
produced the first marathon winner of the Modern Olympic era 120 years ago.
It begins from the small coastal town of Marathon and follows the rise and
fall of almost 250 metres before the final descent towards the finish in
Athens' Panathinaic stadium. In 1896 the Greek Spiridon Louis won ahead of
his compatriot Charilaros Vasilakos. On Sunday descendants of both those
Greek marathon heroes will be in the Panathinaic stadium to join in
celebrating the 120 years since their achievements. Another great name in
Greek athletics will be remembered: the triumph of Stylianos Kyriakides,
who won the Boston Marathon in 1946. His victory is among the most
memorable successes in Greek athletics.
A record total of around 50,000 runners are expected to be on the road in
Athens on Sunday, taking into account those participating in the 5 and 10km
events in addition to the marathon. "We have the authentic marathon
course," reflected Kostas Panagopoulos, president of the Greek Athletics
Federation (SEGAS), the organisers of the event, on this record entry. "We
want to develop the Athens Marathon not only in terms of the mass but also
regarding the elite. That's why our goal is to attack the course record. It
is hard on this course but we shall keep on trying and hope that,
gradually, we can continue to raise the standard of the runners we recruit
for the "Athens Marathon. The Authentic." In the continuing tough economic
situation, this is only possible because all our sponsors have continued to
support us. We are very thankful for that and it gives us confidence for
the future."
"Luka Rotich is here with the aim of running under 2:10," announced Rachid
Bin Meziane, the elite race co-ordinator in Athens, during Thursday's press
conference. The Kenyan has a best time of 2:08:12, set in finishing second
in Ottawa in 2013 and will bear bib number 1 on Sunday. The course record
of 2:10:55, set by the Italian Stefano Baldini in winning the Olympic title
in 2004, was broken by the Kenyan Felix Kandie with his 2:10:37. "Since
then Felix has run 2:06:25 - the difference reflects how tough is the
Athens course," explained Rachid Bin Meziane. "I shall try to break the
course record - that is my goal. I have trained in the hills to be prepared
for Athens," said Luka Rotich who is one of four Kenyans who have personal
bests of under 2:10. Augustine Rono is the fastest man on the start list
with his 2:07:23 from Hamburg in 2012. Silas Limo ran 2:08:54 for second
place in Australia's Gold Coast Marathon in 2015. This year Limo defied
windy conditions to finish fourth in Vienna in 2:10:16. Duncan Kwemboi's
best is 2:08:34, set in finishing third at the Serengeti Marathon in
Tanzania in 2014. Another who should be among the favourites is the 2013
Athens champion, Hillary Yego of Kenya, who triumphed three years ago in
2:13:50.
Penina Wanjiru has never run a marathon on such a hilly course as this one
in Athens. The Kenyan won the Brighton Marathon on the English south coast
in 2:34:25 in 2015. She will start as one of the favourites: "I have
trained well and that makes me confident although I have never run a course
like this," said Wanjiru. Among her rivals should be fellow Kenyans Gladys
Kwambai (2:36:16) and Purity Kimetto (2:37:20). Others to be taken into
account are the debutant Nancy Arusei of Kenya and Algeria's Kenza Dahmani.
The latter has a best of 2:33:53. Her last marathon also had links with
Athens and its Olympic history, since Dahmani ran 2:38:37 to finish 50th in
Rio's Olympic Marathon in August.
Further information can be found at: www.athensauthenticmarathon.gr
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