Christopher Cheboiboch of Kenya ran the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon's third-fastest time ever to win last year's race in 2 hours, 9 minutes, 17 seconds. Minutes after finishing, he said he wasn't tired and could have run three or four minutes faster.
Given that the world record is 2:04:55, Cheboiboch might have been guilty of hyperbole, feeling the runner's high. Cheboiboch will return to defend his title in the ninth annual race on June 4 and take a crack at Phil Taurus' race record of 2:08:33.
Joining Cheboiboch will be fellow Kenyan Stephen Kiogora, who finished second last year in 2:09:51.
Also in the men's field: two-time Olympic steeplechase gold medalist Matthew Birir of Kenya.
Defending women's champion Gete Wami of Ethiopia will not be back. The woman in this year's field with the fastest marathon personal record (2:25:52) is Hellen Kimutai of Kenya. Kimutai placed third here a year ago.
For the third year in a row, the race is expected to attract more than 17,000 runners and walkers.
– DON NORCROSS
