Kipchoge, Keitany Lead Kenyan Charge in London

Published by IAAF on April 22, 2016

Ethiopia may have claimed a clean sweep in the men’s race at the Boston Marathon on Monday but Kenyan runners went one better in the Virgin Money London Marathon last year, filling the first four places. Twelve months on, Kenyan runners are again expected to dominate proceedings in this IAAF Gold Label Road Race on Sunday (24).

That is not to say the Ethiopians will be completely outmatched. Arguably the greatest track and cross country runner in history, Kenenisa Bekele, makes his comeback after two years of injury problems to contest his fourth marathon. Bekele hasn’t finished a race in 18 months and while he outlined that his long-term goal is to break the world record at the distance, Bekele told the press he is only “90 per cent fit” ahead of his debut in this race.

His team-mates Sisay Lemma, Tilahun Regassa and Abera Kuma haven’t attracted as much attention but they have recent form to their names. Lemma made his breakthrough last year with victories in Vienna (2:07:31) and Frankfurt (2:06:26) before finishing fourth in Dubai this year in 2:05:16 while Regassa was the leading non-Kenyan finisher last year, finishing fifth in 2:07:16. Kuma won the Rotterdam Marathon last spring in 2:06:47 and has a 2:05:56 PB to his name.