by Larry EderThe Bank of America Chicago Marathon always has great races up front. This year, should be no different. I would not be surprised to see Moses Mosop versus Dennis Kimeto. Kimeto was training with Wilson Kipsang, and word is, Mr. Kimeto is quite fit. Speaking of quite fit, Moses Mosop admitted that he was 85 percent fit in 2011, when he won. In 2013, ” I am 95 percent fit.” admitted a confident Mosop.
CHICAGO PREVIEW
CHICAGO (USA): USA’s fastest legal marathon course and IAAF Gold Label Road Race, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, features top class elite fields for both men and women, informs the IAAF. Sunday’s 35th edition of the race includes five men who have run sub 2:06 and seven women who have run sub 2:24. 2011 Champion, Moses Mosop of Kenya is the fastest runner in the field, having run 2:03:06 in Boston in 2011. The race will also feature the fastest ever debut marathoner (2:04:16, Berlin 2012) and 2013 Tokyo Marathon champion Dennis Kimetto (KEN), 2011 London Marathon champion Emmanuel Mutai (KEN, 2:04:40), 2012 Dubai Marathon champion Ayele Abshero (ETH, 2:04:23, debut), 2012 Houston Marathon champion Tariku Jufar (ETH, 2:06:51) Sammy Kitwara (KEN, 2:05:54), who was 4th in Chicago last year, Kenyans Mike Kigen (2:08:24) and Micah Kogo (2:10:27), who are both racing their second marathon after making their debuts earlier this year, Five-time World Half-marathon champion and World Half marathon record holder Zersenay Tadese (ERI, 2:10:41). The US challenge will likely come from Olympians Dathan Ritzenhein (2:07:47) and Matt Tegenkamp (debut). The US debut record is 2:09:41, held by Alan Culpepper. The women’s race will feature the top two from last year’s race Atsede Baysa (ETH, 2:22:03) Rita Jeptoo (KEN, 2:22:04) who finished only one second apart and both set personal bests, Merima Mohammed (ETH, 2:23:04), 2013 Rotterdam Marathon champion Jemima Jelagat (KEN, 2:23:27), 2nd placer in Dubai this year Ehitu Kiros (ETH, 2:23:39), 2nd placer in Rotterdam this year Abebech Afework (ETH, 2:23:59), 2003 World Cross Country champion Werknesh Kidane (ETH, 2:26:15), Yukiko Akaba (JAP, 2:24:09) and Belarusian record-holder Aliaksandra Duliba (2:26:08). Jeptoo is fourth in the current World Marathon Majors rankings; a win here would give her a 10 point lead with one race left (NYC Marathon). Cash prizes on offer include 100000 USD for the male and female winners and 75000 USD for course records. The course records, which are both US all-comers records, are Tsegaye Kebede’s 2:04:38 and Paula Radcliffe’s 2:17:18.
