Kimutai, Kosgei set to light up Istanbul Marathon with records in mind

Twelve runners with personal bests of sub 2:10 will feature in the N Kolay Istanbul Marathon on Sunday 6 November. 

Marius Kimutai of Bahrain and Kenya’s Samuel Kosgei head the start list with times of 2:05:47 and 2:06:03 respectively. 

With this great strength in depth it is expected that the Turkish allcomers’ record of 2:09:27 will be attacked in Turkey’s major marathon event.

The intercontinental course leads runners from the Asian side of the city into Europe and then features a tough uphill stretch to the finish on Sultanahmet Square in the historic center. 

With both the 2:09:44 course record of Kenya’s Daniel Kibet from 2019 and the Turkish allcomers’ record in mind the race organisers plan for a fast half marathon split time of 63:30 to 63:45. 

A negative split is not likely in Istanbul because of the uphill section late in the race, which leads the runners to the spectacular finish. 

“I am okay with this sort of pace if the weather conditions are suitable and there is good pacemaking," said Kimutai, who switched from Kenyan citizenship to Bahrain in 2017. 

“I have trained for three months in Kapsabet for this marathon and I am also prepared for the climb up to the finish."

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Kimutai has trained alongside Kosgei in the high altitude training camp in Kapsabet but on Sunday, they will be foes as each eyes glory for their respective country. 

“We will probably help each other during the race as we are training partners," said the Kenyan, who is the only one in the field who once broke a world record when he clocked 1:11.50 on Berlin’s 25k race in 2010. 

“That is a long time ago, so I don’t rate this that high any more," said Kosgei, who won the Barcelona Marathon with his current PB of 2:06:03 a year ago. 

The Kenyan returned to the race in Spain this spring but this time had to settle for 12th position in 2:08:59. 

“I had a hip injury at that time, but I am fine now," Kosgei, who hopes to improve his personal best in the future explained. “If pacemaking works fine on Sunday I think we have a good chance to break the Turkish allcomers’ record here."

A year ago there was a surprise victory by Victor Kiplangat in Istanbul. While the defending champion will not run on Sunday there could still be another Ugandan triumph since Geofrey Kusuro is said to be in fine form. He has a personal best of 2:08:46. 

Another athlete who is tipped to do very well in Istanbul is the former long distance track runner Yenew Alamirew. He was 12th in the 5,000 m final of the London Olympics in 2012. So far the 32 year-old has only run two marathons with a personal best of 2:08:56 from Dubai in 2018.

Men's elite list

Marius Kimutai BRN 2:05:47

Samuel Kosgei KEN 2:06:03

Abayneh Ayele ETH 2:06:45

Tadesse Mamo Temechachu ETH 2:07:04

Robert Kipkemboi KEN 2:07:09

Alemayehu Mekonen ETH 2:07:23

Evans Kiplagat KEN 2:07:46

Dechasa Alemu ETH 2:08:07

Yergalem Shewalem ETH 2:08:32

Geofrey Kusuro UGA 2:08:46

Yenew Alamirew ETH 2:08:56

Francis Cheruiyot KEN 2:09:57

Moses Kemei KEN 2:10:28

Hillary Kipchumba KEN 2:10:43

Benard Sang KEN 2:10:49

Mert Girmalegesse TUR 2:11:07

Mengistu Nigatu ETH 2:11:15

Chalachew Tiruneh ETH 2:11:21

Sila Kiptoo KEN 2:11:32