by Justin Lagat
2021 NN Mission Marathon, 18 April 2021, photo by NN Running
2021 NN Mission Marathon, 18 April 2021, photo by NN Running
Our long time Kenyan correspondent, Justin Lagat, surely was happy with Eliud Kipchoge’a amazing run in The Netherlands today!
The NN mission Marathon today completed the mission of offering a number of runners the opportunity to run and meet the Olympic qualification times for the marathon. Fifteen men ran below the Olympic qualifying time of 2:11:30 while nine women ran below their respective qualification time, with one running the exact time limit of 2:29:30.
Besides the great organization, a flat course and the cool weather were part of the ideal conditions that contributed to a great race for many and some of the personal best times that were recorded by the Olympic hopefuls.
2021 NN Mission Marathon, 18 April 2021, photo by NN Running
Germany’s Steinrück Katharina improved her personal best time from 2:27:26 to 2:25:59 to win the women’s race. Moreira Sara of Portugal ran a recent Olympic qualifying time of 2:26:42 to finish 2nd ahead of two other German runners; Schöneborn Rabea (2:27:03) in 3rd and Hottenrott Laura (2:28:02) in fourth. The host country had Ruth van der Meijden finishing 10th and miraculously running the exact qualification limit of 2:29:30.
Replicating the German women, three Ugandan men also ran Olympic qualifying times with the former Olympic and world champion, Stephen Kiprotich finishing 5th in 2:09:04, Geoffrey Kusuro 6th in 2:09:53, and Filex Chemonges 8th in 2:09:59.
2021 NN Mission Marathon, 18 April 2021, photo by NN Running
However, the man of the day was Eliud Kipchoge, the world record holder. Coming into this race, the risks outweighed the gains for him. He was already named to the Kenyan Olympic Marathon team. He is as well the defending Olympic Champion. Looking at it, he clearly had little to gain from this race, but a lot to risk in case he had ended up with another bad run.
What would have happened if, having finished 8th in his last race at the London Marathon, Kipchoge had again failed to impress here? Probably, the Kenyan selectors may have been forced to reconsider his position in the team and may have forfeited a chance to defend his Olympic title. Fans, and brands working with him, may have started to lose confidence in him.
2021 NN Mission Marathon, 18 April 2021, photo by NN Running
But, after him delivering the “beautiful race” that he had promised to run today at the Twente airport in Enschede, Kipchoge has reassured his fans that he is still the king of the marathon. His decision to run was a great show of confidence in himself.
Kipchoge appeared relaxed throughout the race, even as he rapidly began to ease away from Philemon Kacheran and his training partner, Jonathan Korir in the last 10km of the race. In no time at all, he was alone at the front creating a gap of over 2 minutes from his next competitor to win the race in 2:04:30. Korir came second in 2:06:40 while Eritrea’s Kifle Goitom finished in 2:08:07 to finish 3rd.
