Herculean task for Kipruto in quest for London Marathon title

Amos Kipruto, the 2019 world bronze medallist, will be the only male Kenyan elite runner lining up the streets of London for this year's London Marathon set for Sunday 2 October. 

Kipruto is ranked third on the elite list that has the second fastest marathon runner, Kenenisa Bekele and his countryman Birhanu Legese. 

The 30-year old Kenyan left to compete as a lone ranger in the men's race following the withdrawal of Vincent Kipchumba earlier in the week holds a Personal Best time of 2:03:13 set in Tokyo earlier this year when finishing second to Eliud Kipchoge, just 33 seconds adrift of the legendary Kenyan. 

In an interview with Nation Sport, Kipruto says that carrying the hopes of Kenyans single handedly is a challenge he is willing and excited to take. 

“Some opportunities come only once and I have a strong feeling that this is my time. This is a huge opportunity for me to win my first major, and I hope everything goes well for me on Sunday,” Kipruto, who is making his debut at the London Marathon, said. 

Kipruto is faced by a herculean task of beating the Ethiopians led by multiple global champion Bekele and defending champion Sisay Lemma

Lemma, who won in the British capital last year in 2:04:01 has reached the podium in his past four marathon majors. The Ethiopian has a PB of 2:03:36. 

Bekele ran two marathons in quick succession last year, finishing third in Berlin (2:06:47) and sixth in New York City (2:12:52). He warmed up for London with a 1:01:01 clocking at the recent Great North Run. It doesn’t suggest he’s in form to match his 2:01:41 PB, but he should still be competitive.

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Two-time Tokyo Marathon winner Birhanu Legese finished fifth in London last year, but hasn’t raced at all since then. His 2:02:48 PB dates back to his runner-up finish at the 2019 Berlin Marathon. 

Fellow Ethiopian Kinde Atanaw also has a PB from 2019, his 2:03:51 set when winning in Valencia on his marathon debut. He was 10th in Boston earlier this year, but the London course may be more to his liking.

Leul Gebresilase is another athlete whose PB dates back to his marathon debut. He clocked 2:04:02 in Dubai back in 2018, then went on to win in Valencia later that year. Highly consistent around the 2:05 mark, Gebresilase was second in Rotterdam this year in 2:04:56.

Belgium’s Bashir Abdi has proven himself to be capable of performing well at major champs and in big city marathons. When he last raced in London, back in 2019, he set a national record of 2:07:03. 

Now a world and Olympic bronze medallist, Abdi set a European record of 2:03:36 at the 2021 Rotterdam Marathon.