Dennis Kimetto good value to build on world record in London Marathon
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Kenya’s Dennis Kimetto, also known as Kipruto Koech, set a new world record time of 2 hours 2 minutes and 57 seconds in last year’s Berlin Marathon, so Coral make him a super fantastic 5/2 to follow up in London this weekend.
Only the English endurance race, plus Paris and New York equivalents, are missing from his major road-running gold medal collection, after wins in the German capital, Tokyo and Chicago.
Compatriot Wilson Kipsang is the defending London Marathon champion, however, and is a narrow 9/4 favourite to retain his title this time. He will want to try and wrestle the world record back from Kipruto Koech, though conditions may not be ideal for such an attempt.
Others to watch out for in the men’s elite race also come from a strong Kenyan contingent decamping to the British capital. Eliud Kipchoge (third-favourite at 5/1) is the reigning Chicago Marathon champion, while Emmanuel Mutai (7/1) recorded the second fastest time in history in Berlin last season.
Namesake Geoffrey (12/1), seventh on the men’s all-time list behind Kipchoge, must improve on sixth place finishes in London and New York if he wants to challenge for a medal.
In the women’s action, Mary Jepkosgei Keitany (5/2), a back-to-back winner of this Marathon in 2011 and 2012, is just ahead of Florence Jebet Kiplagat (11/4) in the betting.
Also representing Kenya, Jepkosgei is the fastest woman alive still competing, and only Paula Radcliffe has completed a road race over Marathon distance quicker in history.
Florence Kiplagat competed over 10k on the track at Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games, scooping silver last summer. This is a serious step up in trip, and she needs to shave 30 seconds off her Marathon personal best just to get into the all-time 10 times.
Namesake Edna, yet another Kenyan, cannot be discounted at 5/1, as she is the reigning Marathon world champion, winning both Daegu and Moscow.
Priscah Jeptoo (11/2) completes the main medal contenders, having had to settle for silver in South Korea and the London Olympics three years ago. Ethiopia’s only real hope of being in the mix this year is Aselefech Mergia (6/1) after winning a third Dubai Marathon in January.
