Kelvin Kiptum faces stern test in Rotterdam as former champion confirms participation

NN Rotterdam Marathon

ATHLETICS Kelvin Kiptum faces stern test in Rotterdam as former champion confirms participation

Abigael Wafula 13:24 - 10.02.2024

The 2022 NN Rotterdam Marathon champion will be returning to torment Kelvin Kiptum as he seeks to break the sub-two-hour marathon barrier.

Reigning World marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum will face stiff competition as another marathoner has been announced for the NN Rotterdam Marathon on Sunday, April 24.

Kiptum will be up against Abdi Nageeye who will also be on a record hunt at the event. The Dutch Champion and national record holder Nageeye will be returning to the event after a third-place finish last year.

The Olympic Games silver medallist aims to improve his Dutch record (2.04.56) in the streets of Rotterdam. He also has a mastery of the course owing to the fact that he won the edition of the marathon in 2022.

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Meanwhile, the Chicago Marathon champion, Kiptum, will attempt to break the sub-two-hour marathon barrier as he heads to the event.

The reigning London Marathon champion is somewhat familiar with the Dutch city, having been a pacemaker at the 2019 Rotterdam Marathon. He had intended to make his marathon debut there in 2022, but injuries prevented his participation.

He went on to make his marathon debut in Valencia later that year, running a stunning 2:01:53, and then later improved on that with his 2:01:25 triumph at the 2023 London Marathon before making history in Chicago with his 2:00:35 world record.

“I want to return here to run fast. This flat course lends itself to fast times and the enthusiastic masses of people along the road push us forward. I would like to be part of the rich history of this marathon,” he said in a previous interview.

On his part, Kiptum will be wearing the Amazfit Cheetah Pro watch in training and races plus the Amazfit Helio Ring to optimize his recovery. This is after he signed a sponsorship deal with the global wearables brand which was launched as recently as 2015 and which is owned by health company Zepp Health.

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