Ethiopian Meseret Mengistu wins in Cassis in 2009 (© Yannick Parienti)
The 32th edition international Marseille-Cassis Classique (20.308m), will start at 9:30hrs CET on Sunday 31 October. Title defender Meseret Mengistu will be the favourite in the women’s race while her Ethiopian teammates Lelisa Desisa and Deriba Merga will try to offer a first male victory to Ethiopia.
The Marseille-Cassis Classique is an IAAF Silver Label Road Race.
MEN
Lelisa Desisa, two weeks after his 7th place at World Half Marathon Championships held in Nanning, has the profile to become the first Ethiopian winner of Marseille-Cassis. The 20-year-old, African Junior 10,000m champion, had placed second in the Paris Half Marathon in March and set his personal best with 59:59 in Abu Dahbi in January.
Desisa's experienced teammate, Deriba Merga, 28, who place 4th at Beijing Olympic Marathon two years ago, arrives in South of France with questionable form, as he pulled out of his last two Marathons in Chicago and Chuncon this month, feeling out of shape.
Kenyans, who have won 12 out of the last 15 editions of Marseille-Cassis, will also line-up a strong squad, including Philemon Limo, 25, unbeaten this month after a fast 10km in Rennes (27:35) and a convincing win in Biella with 26:23 for a 9.6km race. Richard Limo, a track specialist (12:56.72 at 5000m in 2001 and 26:50.20 at 10,000m in 2002) converted in Marathon (2:06:45 in 2007), has strong arguments as well for the top place. His two Marathon this year, 2:09:48 in Los Angeles and 2:09:58 in San Diego confirms his consistency
A Tanzanian might disturb the classic fight between Ethiopians and Kenyan. Samwel Sharui, 2nd in Marseille-Cassis last year, has the advantage of knowing the course the best in the absence of titleholder Dieudonné Disi (RWA).
WOMEN
However, Meseret Mengistu will be there to defend her women’s title, and seems to be in even better shape than last year, as she has just set a new personal best in Nanning with 69:31 for 6th place. In April, the 20-year-old had made debuts at the Marathon, finishing 8th in Rotterdam with 2:34.07. Her teammate Emebet Itaa Bedada, 20 as well, has proved her shape a month ago in willing in Turin Half Marathon with 70:54, which is the longest race she ever ran as she is relying on her speed which enable her to win 1500m and 300m at African Junior Championships in 2007, and a 3rd place at World Junior Cross-Country Championships in 2008.
Of course Kenya will send strong athletes to rival the Ethiopians. Jane Kiptoo, a former track specialist (31:15.79 at 10,000m) has now developed into a fine road runner (winner of the Milan Half Marathon with 69:52). Joséphine Kimuyu has recently gained confidence by winning in Saint-Denis last week in a new personal best of 71:07.
Europe’s chances will be defended by Ukrainian Olea Burkovska, 5th in Berlin Marathon with 2:28:31 a month ago.
With no less than 15,000 registered runners, the start of the first French Classic, organised by SCO Sainte-Marguerite will take pace at the Velodrome Stadium in Marseille. The main difficulty of the race course is a 327m climb on ascending the Col de Gineste (10th km). The last half of the race takes place on the Carpiagne Plateau before joining the port of Cassis.
The weather forecast, unlike the previous years, predicts a cool temperature with light showers which might be more adequate to improve the old race records (59:01 by James Kwambai in 2002 and 1:08:30 by Susan Chepkemei in 2000).
P-J Vazel for the IAAF
