Kenya: Boston Hero Mutai Decides to Skip Daegu Marathon

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

William Njuguna

4 May 2011

Boston marathon champion Geoffrey Mutai has decided to skip the world athletic championship in Daegu, South Korea in August. Mutai who set the world’s fastest time of 2:03:02 in Boston this year, said he has run in Daegu before but the course has proved unlucky for him.

“I have ran in Daegu. Each time I was jinxed. I have therefore decided to give the event a miss,” he said.

Instead Mutai is switching his attention to either the Chicago or New York marathons later in the year. “I’m looking at running in Chicago or New York later in the year and I will be talking to the organisers very soon about my intentions to running in either of those events.”

Mutai made the revelations as Athletics Kenya were preparing to name the provisional squad for the World event today. Those to be considered in the men’s category will include London marathon champion Emmanuel Mutai who set a new course record in London of 2:04:38. Three time London champion Martin Lel may also get the nod from the selectors as he has a time of 2:05:55 set at the London event this year though injuries have plagued him.

The 2010 Rotterdam marathon champion Patrick Makau is also a frontrunner with a personal best of 2:04:48 set last year .Wilson Chebet who won this year’s event in Rotterdam clocked 2:05:53 and Eliud Kiptanui who finished fourth may also throw his name in the hat after his time of 2:09:08 set at this year’s event

This year’s Paris marathon champion Benjamin Kiptoo could be considered by the panel after posting 2:06:31 last month with second placed Bernard Kipyego who clocked 2:07:16 another one to be considered.

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