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Press Release - Istanbul Marathon - 11/5/21

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                  N Kolay Istanbul Marathon On Sunday:
    Course record holder Daniel Kibet aims to retain title in Istanbul

Defending champion Daniel Kibet intends to retain his title at the N Kolay 
Istanbul Marathon on Sunday. The Kenyan, who was inspired by former world 
record holder Paul Tergat, produced a surprise two years ago when he took 
the race as a pacemaker, improving the course record to 2:09:44. He may 
well have to break this record again to repeat his victory. With a dozen 
runners on the start line featuring personal bests of sub 2:10, organizers 
hope to regain the Turkish allcomers' record they lost to Izmir earlier 
this year. Ethiopia's Tsegaye Getachew won that race in 2:09:35 in April. 
Two Ethiopians are heading the start lists of the N Kolay Istanbul 
Marathon, which is a World Athletics Elite Label Road Race: Bazu Worku and 
Mamitu Daska feature personal bests of 2:05:25 and 2:21:59 respectively.

Including events at shorter distances the total number of entries is over 
35,000 runners. This makes the N Kolay Istanbul Marathon one of the biggest 
races worldwide since the beginning of the pandemic. In view of the Covid 
19 situation strict hygiene regulations are in place during the event. "We 
have completed all preparations and hope to have a Turkish allcomers' 
record in the men's race of the 43rd edition of the N Kolay Istanbul 
Marathon. The increase in the number of Turkish marathoners makes us happy. 
According to the forecasts the weather will be fine on Sunday which raises 
our hopes for the record," said Race Director Renay Onur, who is also the 
general manager of the event organiser Spor Istanbul.

"I am happy to be back in Istanbul and my aim is to retain my title," said 
Daniel Kibet. The 25 year-old is aware of the strong competition despite 
the fact that Ethiopia's sub 2:04 runner Herpasa Negasa had to cancel his 
start due to an injury. "I am ready for a faster time than in 2019, but my 
main focus will be on victory. The question always is: Will the favorites 
in the first group follow the pace of the pacemakers or will they sit back. 
You will not want to be the only athlete to go with the pacers," said 
Daniel Kibet, who has some experience in running the N Kolay Istanbul 
Marathon. 

Back in 2018 he competed in Turkey's most prestigious marathon, which 
starts on the Asian side of the city and then leads into Europe, for the 
first time. "I was in really good shape, but got a hamstring problem after 
32 kilometres which forced me to drop out," recalled Daniel Kibet. "I felt 
bad and wanted to come back to show what I am capable of." Early in 2019 he 
ran a big personal best of 2:06:49 in Sevilla. Then Daniel Kibet took third 
place in Buenos Aires with 2:06:52 in September. Although the race in 
Istanbul was only one and a half months later he decided to go for it. "I 
asked to be included as a pacemaker." After finishing his pacing duties 
Daniel Kibet went on to win. 

"Knowing the course in Istanbul is an advantage. It is fast, but some parts 
are difficult. Especially the last three kilometres with some uphill 
sections are challenging", said Daniel Kibet, who has prepared for the N 
Kolay Istanbul Marathon for two and a half months. While he lives in 
Kapsait he trains in Kapsabet with a group of around ten marathon runners. 
"Most of them are faster than me." Sub 2:05 runners Marius Kipserem and 
Dickson Chumba are among his training partners. 

Two of Kenya's alltime greats inspired Daniel Kibet to start running. "When 
I was at school our idols were world record holder Paul Tergat and the late 
Olympic Champion Sammy Wanjiru," said the 25 year-old who grew up in a 
family with ten siblings and lost his father at the age of 13. "He was a 
soldier but we have a farm which was then run by my mother." Today Daniel 
Kibet provides the main source of income for his mother, six brothers and 
four sisters. "I am the only professional runner, but my two younger 
brothers Philemon and Wisling have started training. I believe they will 
soon be competing internationally as well."

Four Ethiopians are on the start list in Istanbul, who have run faster than 
Daniel Kibet. Experienced marathon runner Bazu Worku heads the list with a 
personal record of 2:05:25, followed by Yitayal Atnafu Zerihun (2:06:21), 
Chele Dechasa (2:06:25) and Abayneh Ayele (2:06:45). Kenya's defending 
champion Benard Sang, who ran his PB of 2:11:49 in Istanbul last year, will 
return to the race.

The women's race will feature eight runners who have personal bests of sub 
2:28. The former Dubai and two time Frankfurt Marathon champion Mamitu 
Daska is the fastest on the start list. However the 38 year-old Ethiopian 
was not able to get near her PB of 2:21:59 for some time. Jackline 
Chepngeno did show promising form recently. The Kenyan improved her half 
marathon personal best to 69:07 in Paris in September. She has a marathon 
PB of 2:24:38. Fellow Kenyans Janet Rono and Sheila Jerotich are number 
three and four on the start list with times of 2:26:03 and 2:26:06 
respectively.

Elite runners with personal bests

Men:
Bazu Worku             ETH 2:05:25
Yitayal Atnafu Zerihun ETH 2:06:21
Chele Dechasa          ETH 2:06:25
Abayneh Ayele          ETH 2:06:45
Daniel Kibet           KEN 2:06:49
Robert Kipkemboi       KEN 2:07:09
Vincent Rono           KEN 2:07:10
Lemi Dumecha           ETH 2:07:43
Solomon Mutai          UGA 2:08:25
Emmanuel Naibei        KEN 2:08:27
Stanley Bett           KEN 2:08:57
Brian Kipsang          KEN 2:09:07
Yavuz Agrali           TUR 2:10:41
Getaye Gelaw           TUR 2:11:03
Mert Girmalegesse      TUR 2:11:07
Benard Sang            KEN 2:11:49
Victor Kiplangat       KEN Debut
Phenus Kipleting       KEN Debut
 
Women:
Mamitu Daska           ETH 2:21:59
Jackline Chepngeno     KEN 2:24:38
Janet Rono             KEN 2:26:03
Sheila Jerotich        KEN 2:26:06
Fetale Tsegaye         ETH 2:27:06
Zinash Debebe          ETH 2:27:15
Pamela Rotich          KEN 2:27:48
Sofiya Shemsu          ETH 2:27:51
Salina Jebet           KEN 2:30:28
Judith Cherono         KEN Debut
Gladys Jerono          KEN Debut

More information is available at: https://maraton.istanbul

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