Yadav,Kelai to defend their marathon titles

In the main marathon,the men’s field sees the return of John Kelai,attempting to make it a hat-trick of titles. Kelai clocked 2:12.27 while claiming the title for the first time in 2007 and lowered it to 2:12:22 last year.

He will be aiming to further lower that timing to break the existing course record of 2:12.03 that was set by Daniel Rono in 2006. Kelai will face a strong challenge from fellow countryman Japhet Kosgei,who has a personal best of 2:07.

Though Kosgei failed to finish among the top places in 2008,the experience should hold him in good stead. He also has to his credit a 2:09 finish last year to prove his credentials.

The other big names in the men’s field are French/Kenyan Simon Munyutu,who clocked 2:09 in Paris last spring,and Ukrainian Olexander Kukin,who boasts a best of 2:07 and likes to run in hot conditions. Moroccan Adrerahime Bouramdane,with a best of 2:08.20,set in 2007 and Russian Oleg Kulkov,with a best of 2:11,recorded in 2008 are the other athletes of note.

The women’s field is led by Kenyan Margaret Okeyo,a former London Marathon winner,making her debut in Mumbai. Okeyo has a personal best of 2:25 and will be pushed hard by fellow Kenyan Lenah Cheruiyot,who ran 2:26:00 in Paris in 2008. The Ethiopian challenge will be led by Shitaye Gemechu (2:26) and Leila Aman,while Russian Irina Permitina (2:26:51) and China’s Xin Zhang (2:26:32),are also strong challengers.