NAIROBI, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Philip Sanga Kimutai says he has the capacity, strength and determination to break the Krakow marathon course record in Poland on Sunday.
The race, with an IAAF Bronze Label status, has a strong field and Kimutai feels he will be the man to bring down the current course record of 2:11:34 set by Berga Birhanu Bekele. The Kenyan is the fastest man in the field.
The 35-year-old Kenyan has bettered 2:07 three times in his career, topped by 2:06:07 in Frankfurt in 2011 and has achieved podium finishes in multiple major races, including Vienna, Rome and Eindhoven.
"It is about preparations. I have endured hard training in hope that I will find it easy to cruise through the course and run a personal best time. The intention is to win first, then see if the course record can fall in the strides. But I will not break my strides just for the record," said Kumutai on Saturday.
Cybrian Kotut could start as the marginal favorite. The Kenyan won the 2016 Paris Marathon in a best time of 2:07:11 and finished third in Frankfurt in 2:07:28 the same year, but this will be a comeback race for him as he has competed since December 2017 and has struggled with injuries.
"I feel good after two years trying to get back to my best form. But it is to put the body under pressure and see how fast I can run. I hope to be on podium," he said.
With a best of 2:08:35, Japan's Kentaro Nakamoto might not be the fastest in the field, but he is hugely experienced and extremely consistent, having finished in the top 10 at four global championships.
France's Abraham Kiprotich, who is ranked 75th in the world, is another top contender. He won in Daegu in 2013 in 2:08:33, his current personal best time and followed it with victories in Istanbul and Chinese Taipei in 2017.
Kenya's Josphat Leting, Philip Kangogo and Wycliffe Biwott all stand good chances of making it on to the podium, as does 2016 Krakow runner-up David Metto, who won three marathons last year, including two in Poland.
Kenyan duo Gladys Kipsoi and Eunice Jeptoo will start as the favorites for the women's race.
Kipsoi clocked 2:27:32 in Houston last year, while Jeptoo has gone even faster, with a 2:26:13 win in Eindhoven in 2017. On target is to be at the course record of 2:28:14 by Tetyana Gamera.
Nastassia Ivanova's best of 2:27:24 dates back to 2012, but the Belarusian has competed well in recent seasons, winning in Warsaw in 2017 and 2018 and finishing fifth at the 2018 European Championships.
Germany's Katharina Heinig has bettered 2:30 in each of the past three seasons, with a best of 2:28:34 set in Berlin in 2016.
Two Ukrainians in the field are also possible contenders. Natalia Lehonkova won in Dublin in 2017 with 2:28:58, while 2008 Krakow winner Olga Kotovska a best time of 2:28:47.
