JOEL Kipsang Kositany goes for his third victory in Monday’s DeepRiver Rock Belfast Marathon in what will be the 35th running of the event.
The marathon and its ancillary races retain the standing of the biggest participation event in Northern Ireland with 17,500 expected to hit the streets on Monday morning.
Of that figure, 2700 runners have signed up for the full marathon while 1800 relay teams will boost the number by another 9000. The remainder will be engaged in the wheelchair race, the eight-mile walk and the fun run.
Kipsang, who boasts a best of 2:09:50, won Belfast for the first time in 2013 before suffering defeat at the hands of Freddy Sittuk two years ago. He made no mistake last year as he seized control at the 24-mile mark after a tense battle with Project Africa runner Gideon Kimosop before going on to win in a modest 2:19:36.
There will be no Kimosop this year with the Kenyan back home in the Rift Valley and unfortunately waking his father this week. In his absence the main opposition to 28-year-old Kipsang is likely to come from Ethiopian teenager Bekele Zekele who reportedly ran an excellent time of 2:15:23 in China recently.
Pre-race favourite Ethiopia’s Berhan Aregawi Gebrenmichal won the women’s event in 2:40:57 while Eddie McGinley and Sharon Barlow picked up the prizes for first Northern Ireland finishers in male and female categories.
Also making a return to Belfast are journeymen Tamas Nagy of Hungary, third last year, and Morocco’s Musafa Channi, who was fifth. Twelve months ago McGinley ran a canny race to finish fourth overall and lift the prize for first Northern Ireland finisher. But in his absence, it’s difficult to select a standout local performer this year for the leading local award.
The women’s field may also lack a depth of quality with last year’s third place finisher Katalin Garami of Hungary heading the line-up. She will be challenged by 41-year-old compatriot Helen Csonge and Belgrave Harrier Sophie Carter who ran a personal best of 2:48:29 in London last year.
