Mumbai Marathon: Athletes eye course record

Mumbai: Kenyan long distance runner Levy Matebo is the fastest man on show in the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon after the late withdrawal of Ayele Abshero. Matebo has a personal best of 2:05:16 from the 2011 Frankfurt Marathon and will be looking to break the course record of 2:08:35 in the men’s full marathon, set last year by another Kenyan, Gideon Kipketer.

Matebo is confident the mercury drop may assist his course record bid. On Sunday, the temperature is expected to be around 11-13 degrees at the start of the elite full marathon. Also the first prize of  $42,000 and a $15,000 bonus for the course record will be added motivation. Athletes will be flagged off by two-time Olympic 800m gold medallist, David Rudisha.

Matebo faces a stiff challenge from Ethiopia’s Seboka Dibaba, who was second in Mumbai last year. Kenya’s Jacob Chesari and Eritrea’s Beraki Beyene will also be in the mix. Runners from Tanzania, South Africa, Ukraine, Russia will also be on show besides the Kenyans and Ethiopians. Three runners will set the pace.

The favourite for the women’s race is Ethiopia’s Dinknesh Mekash, a two-time winner here after having triumphed in 2014 and 2015. Her personal best is 2:23.12.

Ethiopian and Kenyan athletes are likely to dominate the women’s race.

Among the Indian men’s elite full marathoners, Olympian Kheta Ram will be challenged by Army Sports Institute, Pune, training partners; Elam Singh , M.D. Yunis and Sanjith Luwang . Elam Singh has run the Mumbai Marathon five times, finishing thrice on the podium.