News30 Mar 1999


Champions return for Rotterdam Marathon

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Kenyan distance runner Tegla Loroupe (© Getty Images)

 Last year's winners of the Rotterdam marathon, Kenya's Tegla Loroupe and Spain's Fabian Roncero have signed up to return for this year's event on April 18, the organisers said on Tuesday (30).

Loroupe will revisit the course where she set her world leading mark of 2:20:47 last year, while Roncero will be hoping to improve on his 2:07:26. But for cramp in the final stages he could also have set a world best.

The fast flat course is ideal for records and this year the organisers are offering a 500,000 guilder ($244,000) incentive.

A total budget of 1.5 million guilders has also drawn nine men who have covered the distance in under two hours 10 minutes including Joseph Kahugo and Simon Lopuyet of Kenya, Julio Ray of Spain and Japanese runners Muneyuki Ojima and Akira Shimizu.

In the women's event, Loroupe will face compatriot and training partner Susan Chepkemei, Spain's Ana Isabel Alonso and Frenchwoman Christine Mallo.

Reuters for the IAAF

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