By John Kwoba
NAIROBI, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Koln marathon champion Raymond Kipchumba of Kenya will provide unyielding challenge to Kosice Marathon champion David Kiyeng when the two meet on Sunday in Slovakia.
Organizers have assembled some of the fastest runners eyeing to break down the 2:04.00 mark. Kiyeng with 2:06:26 life-time best is the fastest of the top 10 elite.
But that will count for nothing when he comes face to face with Richard Sigei (2:08:28) and Kipchumba, who holds a personal best time of 2:08:39 from last year Koln Marathon win.
"It is always hard in this low class marathon because everyone wants to prove himself. You cannot know exactly what to expect because everyone is a potential threat," said Kipchumba on Wednesday.
"However, that is what makes such races competitive. You just have to trust your training and hope it was hard enough to power you through the distance and win."
These top three Kenyans are having the best times, also in the field three more Kenyans with sub 2:10 bests including Reuben Kiprop, Henry Chirchir and Gilbert Masai.
In the women's race, organisers are hopeful they have secured the right balance and will want them to make a realistic attack on the course record. The course record of 2:27:47 recorded in 2013 by Ethiopian Ashete Dido will inspire many of the challengers.
However, the favourite candidates to break it are Kenyans Janet Rono with 2:26:03 best from Tokyo 2014 and Emily Samoei 2:26:52 from Barcelona 2012.
Also sub 2:30 bests by other Kenyans Sheila Jerotich, Sheila Chepkech and Ethiopians Meseret Alemu with Worknesh Mola.
The winners will pocket 20,000 euros if they are capable of breaking the time mark of 2:07.00 for men and 2:22.00 for women.
