Virgin London Marathon – Men’s Preview: Kipsang And Co – The Greatest Ever Field

Wilson Kipsang will defend his Virgin London Marathon men's title a week on Sunday against an elite men's field described as the greatest ever assembled for single race.

The 2013 London Marathon men's line-up features 11 men who've completed the marathon distance quicker than two hours six minutes, including six of the 10 fastest men of all-time, and four of the five quickest ever over the London course.

Among them are all three medallists from the London 2012 Olympic Games, two medallists from the last World Championships, three World Marathon Majors champions, and winners of 2012 marathons in Berlin, Chicago, Frankfurt and Dubai.

Top of the tree are the two quickest men of all time – world record holder Patrick Makau, who dropped out last year, and defending champion Kipsang, who is also the Olympic bronze medallist.

Kipsang missed out on the London Marathon course record by just four seconds 12 months ago when he crossed the line more than two minutes clear of his closest rival, Martin Lel.

Makau missed out on the Olympics after his disappointing run here, but he returns to the British capital for his third London appearance after a morale-boosting victory in Frankfurt last October. Lel is back for his seventh London outing hoping to add to his incredible record of three wins and three runner-up places in six appearances.

Kipsang will also face the two men who beat him in the final stages of the London 2012 Olympic race – Uganda's surprise champion, Stephen Kiprotich, and the double world champion, Abel Kirui, who is yet to make the London podium.

The course record holder, Emmanuel Mutai, should not be overlooked either – the 2011 champion is running London for the sixth time after finishing seventh last year – while the current World Marathon Majors champion, Geoffrey Mutai, makes his London debut following victory in Berlin last September.

The Ethiopians will be strong contenders too, not least the 2010 champion, Tsegaye Kebede, who won the Chicago Marathon last October in his best ever time.

Kebede's countryman Ayele Abshero is also capable of spoiling the Kenyan party after running the sixth fastest marathon ever when he won the 2012 Dubai Marathon in 2:04:23, while Deressa Chimsa is another sub 2:06 man with potential to cause an upset.

Adil Annani produced one of the surprises of 2012 when he finished fourth, and the Moroccan will be seeking a podium place this time alongside his compatriot Hafid Chani.

European hopes rest with Poland's Marcin Chabowski and the experienced Portuguese runner Rui Silva, who is making his marathon debut.

There will be much for British fans to cheer too thanks to the presence of Mo Farah, the double Olympic champion who is running as a guest to half way with the elite field as part of his preparations for a full marathon debut in 2014.

Olympian Scott Overall and fellow Briton Tomas Abyu are unlikely to challenge for victory but if they beat their personal bests they could secure a top 10 finish and selection for the 2013 World Championships.

Many of the elite men will be present at a Virgin London Marathon press conference at the Tower Hotel, London, on Wednesday 17 April, while the leading British runners will appear on Thursday 18 April.

Click here for full details.

 

Elite Men: Entries

 

Bib no.       Name                                   Nation          PB                  Bib name

   1              Wilson Kipsang                      KEN            2:03:42           KIPSANG

   2              Patrick Makau                        KEN            2:03:38           MAKAU

   3              Geoffrey Mutai                       KEN            2:04:15           G MUTAI

   4              Ayele Abshero                        ETH            2:04:23           ABSHERO

   5              Tsegaye Kebede                     ETH            2:04:38           KEBEDE

   6              Emmanuel Mutai                     KEN           2:04:40           E MUTAI

   7              Feyisa Lilesa                           ETH           2:04:52           LILESA

   8              Abel Kirui                               KEN           2:05:04           KIRUI

   9              Stanley Biwott                        KEN           2:05:12           BIWOTT

10              Martin Lel                                KEN           2:05:15           LEL

11              Deressa Chimsa                       ETH           2:05:42           CHIMSA

12              Stephen Kiprotich                    UGA           2:07:20           KIPROTICH

13              Yared Asmerom                       ERI            2:07:27           ASMEROM

14              Adil Annani                             MAR           2:07:43           ANNANI

15              Marcin Chabowski                   POL            2:10:07           CHABOWSKI

17              Tomas Abyu                           GBR           2:10:37            ABYU

18              Scott Overall                          GBR           2:10:55            OVERALL

19              Hafid Chani                            MAR           2:11:11            CHANI

20              Patrick Rizzo                          USA            2:13:42            RIZZO

21              Derek Hawkins                       GBR            2:14:08            HAWKINS

22              Ayad Lamdassem                   ESP             2:14:39            LAMDASSEM

23              Phil Wicks                              GBR            2:15:38            WICKS

24              Anuradha Cooray                    SRI             2:16:38            COORAY

25              Philip Anthony                        GBR            2:16:40            ANTHONY

26              Yared Hagos                           ETH            2:19:32            HAGOS

28              Rui Silva                                POR            Debut               SILVA

29              Mo Farah                             GBR           Guest                FARAH

 

Source: Virgin London Marathon

 

Click here to see all the 2013 Virgin London Marathon entry lists.