William Kipsang running in the 2008 Rotterdam Marathon (© AFP / Getty Images)
The organisers of the Fortis Marathon Rotterdam have announced their starting fields for the 29th edition of the event which takes place on Sunday 5 April.
The Fortis Marathon Rotterdam is an IAAF Silver Label Road Race.
The entry list has three athletes with personal bests inside 2:07:00. The fastest is the course record holder William Kipsang who last year ran a personal best of 2:05:49 when winning in Rotterdam. The other two are also from Kenya: Abel Kirui (2:06:43) and Richard Limo, second in the Amsterdam marathon last year in 2:06:45.
With two other Kenyans, Duncan Kibet (2:07:53) and Jackson Kipkoech (2:08:07) and Moroccan Lahouchine Mrikik (2:08:20) there are three other exceptionally fast runners on the starting line.
The organisers are also very happy to have lined-up Hillary Kimaiyo. The 27-year-old Kenyan has a personal best of 2:09:54. He clocked that time at high altitude in Monterrey on 14 December last year. It was his third victory of the year. Earlier he won in Leon and Mexico City. It was his second victory in the Mexican capital’s 2200m of altitude, as he also won their in 2007.
On the start list are also Tanzanians Fabiano Joseph (2:13:54), the 2005 World Half Marathon champion and Dickson Marwa (2:12:53).
2007 and 2008 World Half Marathon silver medallist Patrick Makau, the second fastest half marathoner of all-time (58:52) and his Kenyan compatriots Robert Kipchumba (in 2006 second in the Fortis Half Marathon Rotterdam; 59.28 PB) and Joseph Maregu (half marathon in 59:45) are debuting in the marathon.
Kenyan Lydia Cheromei is the fastest woman on the Rotterdam start list with her personal best of 2:25:57. With that time she won last year the marathon of Amsterdam. Romanian Adriana Pirtea wants to improve her personal best time of 2:28:52 (London, 2008) on the proven fast Rotterdam course. Also starting are: Russian Nailya Yulamanova (2:30:17, first in Istanbul in 2008) and British Sue Harrison (2:36:13).
Wim van Hemert for the IAAF
