News14 Feb 2013


Inzikuru to make Marathon debut in Brighton

FacebookTwitterEmail

Ugandan distance runner Docus Inzikuru (© Getty Images)

Uganda’s Docus Inzikuru, winner of the inaugural women’s World 3000m Steeplechase title in 2005, will make her debut over 26.2 miles on April 14 at the Brighton Marathon, an IAAF Bronze Label Road Race.

The 31-year-old made a great return to form last year in her specialist event, clocking 9:30.95 – her fastest Steeplechase clocking since 2006. Although she races rarely on the roads, Inzikuru boasts PBs of 15:59 for 5km and 33:27 for 10km.

Dividing her time between Kampala and Iten, Inzikuru has also been preparing for her final business degree exams, but cannot wait to tackle her first outing over the legendary distance.

She will be joined in the race by fellow debutante Eunice Kales. The Kenyan has a PB of 69:50 for the Half-marathon and is a seasoned road runner.

The fastest woman in the field is Ethiopian Aregu Lechisa who lifted the Nice-Cannes title on her debut last year when she ran a time of 2:31:56.

Home hopes rest with former course record-holder Alyson Dixon, who will be targeting a qualifying time (2:31) for the Moscow IAAF World Championships later this summer. Brighton was the scene of Dixon’s greatest triumph when she won the 2011 event, setting a then course record of 2:34:51.

Also in the race is USA’s Emily Harrison who set a PB of 2:32.55 to finish third in the Medtronic St Paul Minnesota race in 2011.

The men’s field includes five men who have broken 2:12, the fastest being Ethiopia’s Fekadu Kedir who has a best of 2:09:15 from Rome in 2010. The 28-year-old has run a marathon a year for the last three years and is hoping to add the Brighton title to his laurels.

One man who could challenge Kedir up front is Kenya’s Ben Kipruto, the most experienced of the field with 12 marathons under his belt, the fastest coming in Padua two years ago when he crossed the line in 2:09:26.

Bernard Rotich has been enjoying good form over the country this year, finishing eighth in Antrim and a fine third in the Cinque Mulini early in February.

Another to look out for will be debutante Justus Moranga, who reduced his Half-marathon PB to 61:07 last year and could be on for a fast time over the full distance in Brighton.

The chase for the top British spot is likely to be between local man Jon Pepper, 24, who made his debut at the London marathon last year clocking 2:21:48, and Martin Williams who recorded a lifetime best of 2:17:36 in Seville two years ago.

Organisers for the IAAF

Pages related to this article
AthletesDisciplinesCompetitions
Loading...