by Larry Eder
Paula Radcliffe does not expect the men’s marathon world record to fall again next month in New York, despite the inclusion of Wilson Kipsang in the field.
Speaking on Monday, the day after Dennis Kimetto smashed Kipsang’s previous WR mark by 26 seconds in Berlin, Radcliffe, who holds the 3 fastest women’s times in history, told RunBlogRun that the chances were slim, given the nature of the course.
With both Kipsang and Geoffrey Mutai, formerly the fastest marathon runner in history, racing on November 2nd, some have speculated that the time might be challenged once more.
However Radcliffe was not convinced: “Certainly Kipsang will be frustrated and will be trying to do that, (break the WR) but I don’t think it’s really possible on the New York course. I would say the New York course is definitely tougher than Berlin.”
While Mutai will simply be hoping to retain his title for third successive occasion and beat Kipsang for the first time, his rival is likely to have his sights on regaining his record as quickly as possible. With his first opportunity coming when he makes his NYC debut.
Although the Brit, who has won the race on three occasions, admitted the quality of the two contenders would make the contest an exciting one, she didn’t think it was enough to aid a record attempt: “Yes they’ve got a good race where they can push each other, but I think the nature of the New York course, makes it highly unlikely. It’s harder on the body, there’s more concrete than tarmac and just the twists and the turns and the pulls over the bridges and the hills in Central Park ,just make it that much tougher a course to run very, very fast times on.”
As for Kimetto’s run in Berlin, Radcliffe hailed the Kenyan’s sub two hours three minute performance as a big breakthrough in the event. As well as describing his rise over the last four years as phenomenal: “He’s made huge breakthroughs; to come from basically being a farmer and not having much running background in fours years to setting the world record and to look as easy as he did in the race, it’s phenomenal the improvements he’s made.”
Wherever the new star of distance running races next he will be sure to be full of a new found confidence, and the women’s WR holder, believes that will in turn transfer into even greater performances in the future. Similarly to how she followed up her first WR of 2:17:8 in Chicago in the Autumn of 2002 with the current record of 2:15:25 on her next attempt in London. With nothing needing to change: “I think he’ll concentrate on the plan he’s been using up to this point and certainly he’ll probably race and train in the future with more confidence and more belief in his ability. Which will then transfer into ever better performances, over the shorter distances especially but maybe in the marathon too.”
