Stanley Biwott, photo by PhotoRun.net
NEW YORK (USA): Reigning champions Stanley Biwott and Mary Keitany have contrasting reasons for wanting to retain their titles at the TCS New York City Marathon this Sunday when action resumes in Series X of the Abbott World Marathon Majors. Biwott defends his crown knowing victory will move him into second place on the Series X leaderboard, just nine points short of Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge, while Keitany, the reigning AbbottWMM champion, aims to become the first able-bodied woman since Grete Waitz in the 1980s to win three successive New York City Marathon titles. Keitany victory 12 months ago was good enough to claim the women’s Series IX title, but the formidable Kenyan is yet to score in the current campaign. Now 34, she will be keen to get back to winning ways after finishing ninth in London, a race won by Jemima Sumgong who currently leads AbbottWMM Series X with top hopes for overall top place.