Lagos, Nigeria - The defending champion and course record holder of the annual Vienna City Marathon, Henry Sugut of Kenya, will face a tough opposition when he competes in 30th edition of the race in the Austrian capital 14 April.
According to the online RaceNewService, there will be an elite men’s field for this year's race.
The Kenyan will be up against tough opposition, including compatriot Jafred Chirchir Kipchumba, who features a personal best of 2:05:48.
With this time, the Kenyan will be the fastest runner ever entered into the marathon race.
The Vienna City Marathon is an IAAF Gold Label road race. Adding other running events, organisers expect a record number of more than 38,000 runners to take part in this year's race.
A year ago, Sugut improved the course record of the Vienna City Marathon significantly, winning the race with 2:06:58, which was 40 seconds faster than the time fellow-Kenyan Abel Kirui had achieved in 2008.
Additionally it was the first sub 2:07 result on Austrian soil and Sugut became the first man to repeat a victory in Vienna since 1992. His first victory had come in 2010.
Next month, he could make another significant contribution to the history of the race. If the 27 year-old can win again, he will become the only athlete besides Austria’s Gerhard Hartmann (1985 to ’87) to take the Vienna Marathon three times.
Pana 12/03/2013