Marathon News - Kelai to Defend Toronto Waterfront Marathon Title

Sep-11-2008

Kelai to Defend Toronto Waterfront Marathon Title
by David Monti
(c) Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved

John Kelai, who last year ran the fastest-ever marathon on Canadian soil, is slated to defend his title at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on Sunday, Sept. 28.

Kelai won a spirited two-man battle against Kenyan compatriot Daniel Rono at last year's race, 2:09:30 to 2:09:36. Kelai's time broke the 30 year-old Canadia all-comers record of 2:09:55 set by German Waldemar Cierpinski at the 1976 Olympic Games Marathon in Montreal.

"I am training hard for Toronto Waterfront and will be ready to defend my title, and run a new PR," said Kelai whose previous best is 2:09:09 set in Eindhoven in 2005.

Kelai's key challenger will be Tariku Jufar of Ethiopia. Kelai and Jufar finished 1-2 at the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon last January. This time they will be competing for Cn$20,000 for first place plus another $20,000 to the winner if he breaks Kelai's record ($25,000 for sub-2:09).

Race director Alan Brookes has contracted five pacemakers for the men's lead group, so the race will definitely keep moving.

The top athletes are:

KELAI, John [KEN] 2:09:09 (2005)
JUFAR, Tariku [ETH] 2:08:11 (2008)
KIPROTICH, Peter KEN] 2:08:49 [2007]
YEGO, Jonathan [KEN] 2:09:57 [2008]
SANGA, Phillip [KEN] 2:10:02 [2008]
MUNGARA, Kenneth [KEN] 2:10:13 [2007]
ABYU, Tomas [GBR] 2:10:37 [2007]
KETEMA, Amersisa [ETH] 2:10:59 [2007]