Philip Singoei celebrates winning the Eindhoven Marathon (© Eindhoven)
Philip Kipyegon Singoei goes for a third consecutive victory in the marathon of Eindhoven, which will be held for 25th time on Sunday 12 October.
The 33-year-old Kenyan is well known in this city which is situated in the southern part of the Netherlands. Singoei was the winner of the last two editions of the event. In 2007 he set a course record of 2:07:57. A year earlier he was the fastest in 2:08:18.
In 2005 and 2004 Singoei finished second in Eindhoven respectively with times of 2:08:45 and 2:10:07. This year he has so far only clocked 2:12:05 in Rome on 16 April when finishing tenth.
Singoei will meet strong opposition, as the organisers have announced a total of nineteen runners who have each a PB inside 2:12:00.
Ukrainian Dmitri Baranovski, the 29-year-old who won the 2005 Fukuoka marathon and in coming second the following year in that same Japanese classic established a personal best of 2:07:15, is set to be the Kenyan's chief opponent.
Philip Manyim of Kenya, 30, is another athlete who has a faster time than the defending champion, as he won the 2005 Berlin Marathon in 2:07:41.
Others who will be in the fight are David Ruto of Kenya who has a personal best of 2:08:21 and his compatriots Joseph Ngeny Kiprotich (2:09:47), Simon Njoroge (2:09:46) and William Todoo Rotich (2:09:53).
The women's field is not as strong. On paper Nadja Wijenberg, who defends her national title is the fastest with a personal best of 2:28:45.
On the elite starting list there are also, the Kenyans Lydia Kurgat, Christine Chepkonga,Agnes Jeruto Kiprotich, and Joyce Kirui, two Belgians Alemitu Bekele and Anja Smolders, Russia’s Rimma Pushkina, and the Dutchwomen Kristijna Loonen, Ingrid Prigge and Inge van Bergen.
Eindhoven is the third biggest marathon in the Netherlands behind Rotterdam and Amsterdam, with the latter being held a week after Eindhoven. The Eindhoven marathon this year is the venue of the National Championships for men and women.
Wim van Hemert for the IAAF
