Ismail Sghyr (FRA) wins 2003 European Cup 5000m - But is aiming for Olympic Marathon selection (© Getty Images)
Kenyan runners Raymond Kipkoech and Beatrice Omwanza are the principal names among the 34,500 starters for the 2004 Paris Marathon to be held in the French capital on Sunday 4 April 2004.
It will also be a race in which Smail Sghyr, one of four French runners who have already qualified for the Olympics, will try to enhance his marathon credentials in the tight national selection battle for the three Athens spots.
2002 Berlin winner
Raymond Kipkoech, a winner of the 2002 Berlin Marathon in 2:06:47, was left as the main favourite following the withdrawal on Monday of two big contenders, Titus Munji of Kenya due to a virus, and Spaniard Julio Rey because of an injury.
A major surprise aside from, there shouldn't be a repeat of last year's phenomenal race that saw no fewer than four men - Michael Rotich 2:06:33, Benoît Zwierzchlewski 2:06:36, Wilson Onsare 2:06:46 and Driss El Himer 2:06:48 - finish below 2:07 on a racecourse that is not reputed for being fast.
Besides Kipkoech, no other entrant indeed has a PB below 2:08. The 25 year-old will above all have to keep an eye on fellow countrymen David Ruto, winner of the 2003 Miami marathon and 5th in Paris with a best time of 2:08:10, Robert Cheruiyot 5th in Amsterdam last year in 2:08:13, Jackson Kabiga who's trying to make a return after a series of injuries or Henry Tarus.
The Ethiopian contingent will be made of Ashebir Demissie (2:09:14 in 2003), Ambessa Tolosa (2:10:11 in 2002) and Gashaw Melese (2:10:40 in 2003 and a runner-up at the All-African Games in Abuja).
Possible Congolese upset
The surprise may eventually come from an athlete well-known in Paris, Mwenze Willy Kalombo from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Fourth in the marathon in 1996, 2nd in 1998, 3rd in 1999 with a national record of 2:08:40 and 5th in 2000, the 33-year old had completely dropped out of sight after the 2000 Olympic Games where he did not finish. Stuck in his country, he only managed to get back to his training base in France during the summer 2003 and is now convinced he is back to top level in regard to his recent training sessions.
Sghyr hopes to reinforce Athens team selection bid
Though the best Frenchmen won't be in the mix, a performance by a French athlete is not to be discounted in the prospect of the selection for the Olympic Games. With already four qualifiers for three spots (Benoît Z, Driss El Himer, Smail Sghyr and El Hassan Lahssini), only an excellent result can secure in the team.
After achieving 2:11:27 for 10th for his debut in Rotterdam last October, Smail Sghyr announced that he is now targeting a time below 2:10 while Abdellah Behar and Hakim Bagy will also try to defend their chances.
Women’s race – Omanza’s to lose?
In the women’s race, 26 years-old Beatrice Omwanza comes back to Paris with the intention to repeat last year’s performance when she took the victory setting a PB of 2:27:44. It will be the Kenyan’s second outing on the distance within a month, following her participation in Los Angeles on March 7 (8th in 2:41:51).
Leading the entry lists with a PB of 2:25:14, Japan's Kayoko Obata will seek to overcome a performance below par at Osaka marathon on January 25th that annihilated her chances to clinch a selection for the Olympics (she finished 17th with a time of 2:39:11 in wintry conditions).
Two experienced runners from Russia, Olga Kovpotina and Larisa Zyusko are likely to provide the main challenge, while 2002 Commonwealth champion in the 10.000m, Salina Kosgei of Kenya will make her debut on the event.
Finally, the race will provide All-African Games surprise winner Clarisse Rasoarizay of Madagascar (PB 2:38:21) with an opportunity to test her real potential and get closer to the Olympic standards, thanks to strong competition until the last meters of the race, something that was lacking last year when she both won the All-African Games and the Indian Ocean Islands Games with a huge lead over depleted fields.
