by Larry Eder
Merga vs Mutai, Bogata, Columbia, photo by PhotoRun.netCheck this one out! Victah, our photographer, sent this from Bogata, Columbia this morning!
Defending
Champion Deriba Merga of Ethiopia will face a stern challenge from the
world’s fastest marathoner Geoffrey Mutai in Sunday’s Media Maratón de
Bogotá, South America’s only IAAF Gold Label Road Race event.
Champion Deriba Merga of Ethiopia will face a stern challenge from the
world’s fastest marathoner Geoffrey Mutai in Sunday’s Media Maratón de
Bogotá, South America’s only IAAF Gold Label Road Race event.
Merga
ran away from the field last year, taking off on his own at 4 km and
running solo to a course record 1:02:31 win. But he isn’t likely to get
away from Mutai so easily. Mutai is undefeated on the road this year,
winning the Boston Marathon in April in an astonishing 2:03:02, the
fastest time ever recorded for a marathon, then returning to Boston this
June to win the inaugural BAA 10K
in 27:19 and then capturing the historic Castelbuono 10K in Italy on
Tuesday of this week over a field that included both the Virgin London
and ING New York City Marathon Champions, Emmanuel Mutai and Gebre
Gebremariam.
ran away from the field last year, taking off on his own at 4 km and
running solo to a course record 1:02:31 win. But he isn’t likely to get
away from Mutai so easily. Mutai is undefeated on the road this year,
winning the Boston Marathon in April in an astonishing 2:03:02, the
fastest time ever recorded for a marathon, then returning to Boston this
June to win the inaugural BAA 10K
in 27:19 and then capturing the historic Castelbuono 10K in Italy on
Tuesday of this week over a field that included both the Virgin London
and ING New York City Marathon Champions, Emmanuel Mutai and Gebre
Gebremariam.
Challenging
both in a strong international field will be four-time Bogota champion
Isaac Macharia and 2011 Rotterdam Marathon champion Wilson Chebet, both
of Kenya. Add 2011 Bay to Breakers 12K champion Ridouane Harroufi of
Morocco and USA Half Marathon champion Mohamed Trafeh to the mix, and
the course record from last year will be under serious threat.
both in a strong international field will be four-time Bogota champion
Isaac Macharia and 2011 Rotterdam Marathon champion Wilson Chebet, both
of Kenya. Add 2011 Bay to Breakers 12K champion Ridouane Harroufi of
Morocco and USA Half Marathon champion Mohamed Trafeh to the mix, and
the course record from last year will be under serious threat.
On
the women’s side, Shewarge Alene of Ethiopia is back to try to defend
her title, but will face opposition from both her Ethiopian team mates
and a strong Kenyan contingent. Mare Dibaba has the fastest half
marathon best in the field at 1:07:13, and is coming off a win in her
last race, the Yangzhou Half Marathon in China. But Kenyan Peninah
Arusei has run almost as fast at 1:07:48, and has a bronze medal from
the 2010 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Nanning, China and
won the Paris half Marathon this year.
the women’s side, Shewarge Alene of Ethiopia is back to try to defend
her title, but will face opposition from both her Ethiopian team mates
and a strong Kenyan contingent. Mare Dibaba has the fastest half
marathon best in the field at 1:07:13, and is coming off a win in her
last race, the Yangzhou Half Marathon in China. But Kenyan Peninah
Arusei has run almost as fast at 1:07:48, and has a bronze medal from
the 2010 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Nanning, China and
won the Paris half Marathon this year.
But
both will be challenged by Joyce Chepkirui of Kenya. Chepkirui is
coming off a course record wins in the Lago Maggiore Half Marathon in
Italy April and the Goteborg Half Marathon in Sweden May, and then a
30:43, world-leading, 10K in Appingedam , Netherlands just two weeks
ago.
both will be challenged by Joyce Chepkirui of Kenya. Chepkirui is
coming off a course record wins in the Lago Maggiore Half Marathon in
Italy April and the Goteborg Half Marathon in Sweden May, and then a
30:43, world-leading, 10K in Appingedam , Netherlands just two weeks
ago.
The
race will broadcast live in Colombia on the Caracol TV and is available
worldwide as a live webcast beginning at 10:15 AM Sunday, EDT a this
web address: http://www.caracoltv.com/senal-vivo
race will broadcast live in Colombia on the Caracol TV and is available
worldwide as a live webcast beginning at 10:15 AM Sunday, EDT a this
web address: http://www.caracoltv.com/
Men Bibs
1. Deriba Merga(ETH)
2. Issac Macharia(KEN)
3. William Naranjo(COL)
4. Geoffrey Mutai(KEN)
5. Jason Gutierrez(COL)
6. Marlinson Dos Santos(BRA)
7. Stephen Mokaka(RSA)
8. Juan Carlos Cardona(COL)
9. Constantion Leon(PER)
10. Mo Trafeh(USA)
12. Wilson Chebet(KEN)
16. Ridouane Harroufi(MOR)
19. Abderrahim Bouramdane(MOR)
Women Bibs
61. Shewarge Alene(ETH)
62. Emily Chebet(KEN)
63. Yolanda Fernandez(COL)
64. Yulia Gromova(RUS)
65. Gladys Tejada(PER)
66. Erika Suarez(COL)
67. Peninah Arusei(KEN)
70. Joyce Chepkirui(KEN)
71. Atsede Baysa(ETH)
72. Mare Dibaba(ETH)
