Hunt for marathon jackpot to spur Kiplagat to victory in New York

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Hunt for marathon jackpot to spur Kiplagat to victory in New York

By John Kwoba (Xinhua) 09:46, October 26, 2013

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Ordinarily, Edna Kiplagat would have closed up her season after clinching the World marathon gold medal in Moscow in August.

But the 32-year-old will be thrust at the deep murky that is the New York City marathon on Nov. 3 in attempt to clinch the lucrative World Marathon Majors crown, which comes with 500,000 U.S. dollars to savour.

"The inspiration and desire to run in New York is burning in me. I still have that extra energy to take on the world best and hope to do well and win the marathon," said Kiplagat Friday in Iten,

"There is too much at stake. I still want to run a world record time, but at the moment, it is important that I focus on winning New York City marathon."

On the little matter of breaking Britain's Paula Radcliffe's world record of 2 hours, 15 minutes, 25 seconds set in 2003 at London Marathon, Kiplagat is optimistic, it can be done before the turns 35, where she plans to run her final race for Kenya at the Rio Olympics.

Her namesake and Berlin marathon champion Florence Kiplagat has also expressed his interest to make an attempt on the world record. "The time has come for us Kenyan women to make the attempt," Florence Kiplagat said.

"It is difficult for one person to manage alone, but with teamwork we can succeed. Four of us have all managed to run under 2:20, and if we plan well and run as a team, it can be achievable."

Edna Kiplagat (personal best 2:19:50), Florence Kiplagat (2:19:44), Rita Jeptoo (2:19:57) and Priscah Jeptoo (2:20:14) are the top Kenyans.

Both Kiplagat (Edna) and Jeptoo (Priscah) are in the New York City Marathon field on November 3, but New York is not known for record times. No woman has run sub-2:22 in New York marathon.

"I believe it can be achievable if we take a joint approach to a particular race like the Berlin or London Marathon," said Jeptoo, mentioning two 26.2-mile events whose flat courses are more prone to faster times. "There will have to be a collective responsibility for all of us to select a race to compete in, and, in the end allow one person to go for the record."

But of course it easier said than done, putting in mind that all the four women have different managers whose demands are selfish because race wins and World Marathon Major points are crucial for their income.

But for now the subject of world record can wait. On Nov. 3, the Kenyan athletes will have just two issues on their mind, winning the race or defending their fort in the battle for the World Marathon Majors (WMM).

Like many other races world wide, every runner in New York City Marathon will have something at stake, whether reaching their goal of winning the race or just finishing it. But only four athletes will have a share of 1 million U.S. dollars and the World Marathon Majors title on the line.

In the men's race, Stephen Kiprotich of Uganda and late entry Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia will duke it out to claim the 2012-2013 World Marathon Majors crown for the men, while Edna (Kiplagat) and Priscah (Jeptoo), both of Kenya, will face off on the women's side as the big-money finish comes down to a high-stakes race-within-a-race in New York.

The WMM has five big-city marathons - in London, Boston, Berlin, Chicago, and New York - plus the Olympic Games and IAAF World Championships making up the 2012-2013 series.

This relay like event has professional athletes vie for points over a two-season cycle leading to a grand, winner-take-all prize of 500,000 U.S. dollars for the top man and top woman. Results from the Tokyo Marathon, which joined the group this year, will begin to count for the prize in the 2013-2014 series.

Including the New York City prize money, the top athletes on November 3 could take home more than 750,000 dollars each.

For the men, the jackpot comes down solely to the outcome on the streets of New York.

Either Kiprotich, the reigning Olympic and World champion, or Kebede, winner of the 2012 Chicago Marathon and 2013 London Marathon, will run away with the top prize. Kebede is in the driver's seat, leading the series with 65 points, with Kiprotich in third with 50. But it will be a high-speed chase game nonetheless.

If Kebede finishes first or second in New York and beats Kiprotich, Kebede will win WMM. However, should Kiprotich win and Kebede finishes third or lower, Kiprotich will claim the WMM

A tiebreak is possible in the event that Kiprotich wins and Kebede finishes second. But Kiprotich will win on head-to-head tiebreak count.

In head-to-head competition, Kebede handily beat Kiprotich in perfect weather in London this April, but Kiprotich returned the favour at the warm and humid World Championships in August, where he outlasted the fourth-place Kebede by nearly a minute.

On the women's side, Rita Jeptoo of Kenya vaulted into the WMM with her victory in Chicago, but either Kiplagat, the two-time IAAF World Champion and winner of the 2010 New York City Marathon, or Priscah Jeptoo, the 2012 Olympic silver medallist and 2013 London winner, can better her total of 65 points under the right -- but challenging -- circumstances in New York.

For Priscah Jeptoo, it's all or nothing. She must cross the finish line first in New York to win a share of the 1 million dollars. Kiplagat must finish first or second and beat Priscah Jeptoo to win the WMM title outright.

But if Priscah Jeptoo finishes second and Kiplagat finishes third all three athletes will be tied with 65 points. The head-to-head tiebreak isn't applicable, so Rita Jeptoo would win the WMM crown.