Jason Mbote Vows To Improve His Course Record
While the 2011 IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Daegu is just around the corner, the JoongAng Seoul Marathon has attracted an impressive international men’s field; four of whom have this year depicted close to two hours, eight minutes and thirteen
seconds, the course record set by Jason Mbote back in 2006. With such a strong field contesting for the title, the course standard would most likely be challenged on Sunday, where Mbote would also attempt to improve it.
The IAAF Bronze Label Road Race at Seoul would observe more than 22 thousand runners from 19 countries striving for the title. Out of this huge number, thirteen thousand and six hundred would contest for the marathon title only.
The JoongAng Seoul Marathon was first organized in 1988 in the wake of Summer Olympic Games organized in the city. The intention was to establish and maintain high marathon running standards. Starting and ending at slightly hilly tracks, the course provides
the runners a chance to have a scenic tour around the Korean capital.
For men’s international elite field, there would be 14 athletes from 5 countries led by 4 Kenyan pacemakers and grappling for altogether $134,500 of prize money. Moreover, under the title, 54 men and 21 women from Korea would battle for around $16000 for
the men’s and women’s domestics divisions.
Mbote, the 33-years old current course record holder and favourite for the race has been in good form. While participating into this year’s Houston Marathon, the guy depicted two hours, eight minutes and fifty eight seconds and bagged the third position.
Moreover, with finishing in one hour, one minute and fifty eight seconds, he topped the half marathon held at Glasgow. While running with the motivating and challenging company of young Kenyan and Ethiopian runners, the guy is expected to break his record
on the Seoul track.
Besides Mbote, David Kemboi Kiyeng, the 27-years old runner with a personal best of two hours, six minutes and twenty six seconds, would also be contesting the Seoul title. Kiyeng had been placed fourth in last year’s Seoul international marathon, where
he clocked two hours and nine minutes exact.
A close compatriot of Kemboi Kiyeng, Charles Munyeki would also be participating into the event. Debuted at Chicago Marathon in 2009, the guy clocked an impressive time of two hours, seven minutes and six seconds and had ended at the fourth position. Earlier
that year he participated at Rotterdam as a pacemaker where he covered the thirty kilometres distance in mere one hour, twenty nine minutes and seventeen seconds. Munyeki also holds the 2008 Boston Half marathon title by depicting one hour, two minutes and
forty six seconds, prior to that he had depicted impressive fifty nine minutes and forty four seconds at Rotterdam Marathon which declared him as the tenth fastest man of the year 2008.
Among other emphatic performers, there the spectators would also have the young Nicholas Kipruto Koech, the 22-years old athlete who also happens to be the youngest runner among the Kenyan elites. Koech holds the Pargue Half Marathon in 2009 while making
to the finishing line in mere one hour, and seven seconds. At Prague Marathon, the guy ended third while clocking his personal best of two hours, seven minutes and twenty three seconds. Another prominent athlete, 31-years old Yusuf Songoka had been the winner
at this year’s Hannover marathon. While participating into Virginia Beach Half Marathon the guy had clocked one hour, two minutes and forty six seconds.
Just like it has always been, this year’s race is also primarily looking like a competition between Kenya and Ethiopia. Among Ethiopian runners, we would have Teferi Wodajo, the 28-years old runner who made it to the finishing line in two hours, seven minutes
and forty eight seconds, while competing into the 2009 Amsterdam marathon. Moreover, there are Abebe Negewo, and Wgayehu Girma Tefera.
Prominent Athletes from other nations include Norman Dlomo, Stephen Mokoka, Tadesse Abraham, and El Hachimi. Among women runners, Athens Olympian Kyung Hee Choi, Soon Duk Kang, Eun Jung Kim, and Joon Sook would battle for the title.
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