Ethiopia's Merima Mohammed will ensure defending Mumbai Marathon champion Bizunesh Urgesa will not have an easy run today. Even her men counterparts believe she is a superior runner
Ethiopia's Merima Mohammed will ensure defending Mumbai Marathon champion Bizunesh Urgesa will not have an easy run today. Even her men counterparts believe she is a superior runner
IF elite athletes co-ordinator Ian Ladbrooke is to be believed, then the formidable women's category might see a new Mumbai Marathon champion today.
Ethiopia's Merima Mohammed, a first-timer to Mumbai, is tipped to beat defending champion Bizunesh Urgesa. Last year's runner-up Haille Kebebush too won't give up without a tough fight.
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| Merima Mohammed during a pasta lunch organised for elite athletes on the eve of the Mumbai Marathon on Saturday. PICS/SANTOSH NAGWEKAR |
"The women's category is going to be extremely competitive. There are around 10 athletes with a personal best of 2:30. Bizunesh will face tough competition from Merima, who certainly looks stronger," said Ladbrooke.
Merima recently clocked her best timing of two hours and 23 minutes during the Toronto Waterfront Marathon last September while compatriot Bizunesh was far behind registering 2:31.
Even Merima's male counterparts do not fail to acknowledge her stupendous effort. "Bizunesh is good, but Merima is better. She is stronger and much faster," said an athlete.
The 18-year-old also set a world best time for 18 year-olds in second place clocking 1:08:36 during the Delhi half-marathon in last November.
DeterminedMerima, a World Youth Championships and World Cross Country Championships winner, seemed determined to win. She keenly followed the details of the route during a technical meeting on Saturday.
Bizunesh, meanwhile, was happy with her preparations, but wasn't confident of defending her title. "I don't know whether I will win or not, it all depends on weather," said Bizunesh.
She, however, admitted that the field is tough this time as compared to last year. "It is going to be tough to win this time.
"There are a lot of good athletes this time. I may not be very strong, but I am a good finisher. I can push really hard in the end," she said.
Ladbrooke believes the women's contenders have a better chance of creating a new course record as compared to the men's. The women's full marathon course record belongs to Mulu Seboka, who clocked 2:30:03 in the 2008 edition.
"The weather is quite cooler and I hope it remains the same tomorrow (Sunday) as well. It is a very competitive field in the women's and the gap between the top runners is not much," he concluded.
