by Alfonz Juck
Wilson Kipsang, photo by PhotoRun.net
W. Kipsang in Tokyo
TOKYO (JPN): Former world marathon record-holder Wilson Kipsang will headline the first WMM race of the year Tokyo Marathon on 26 February, informs organisers. Kipsang will face teammates Bernard Kipyego (2:06:19) and Dickson Chumba (2:04:32) who finished second and third in last year’s race along with leading Ethiopians Tadese Tola (2:04:49) and Tsegaye Kebede (2:04:38). Top names in the women’s race include Ethiopians Amane Beriso (2:20:48), Amane Gobena (2:21:51) and Birhane Dibaba (2:22:30) while Kenyan track star Betsy Saina (67:22 HM) will make her full marathon debut. The fastest entrant is Lucy Kabuu (2:19:34) who is on the comeback trail.
RunBlogRun Opines: Wilson Kipsang set the WR in 2013 in Berlin, with his fine 2:03:23. It was broken in 2014 by Dennis Kimetto with his 2:02:57 run in 2014, also in Berlin. Kipsang won London in 2014 and placed second in the iconic Berlin race in 2016 against Kenenisa Bekele, where Bekele won and Kipsang ran his PB of 2:03:13. Now, a revitalized Wilson Kipsang heads to Tokyo to win his third World Marathon Majors race . Remember, Wilson has run five sub 2:05 marathons, and is an Olympic bronze medalist!
