NAIROBI, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan runners have dominated the Los Angeles marathon and this year, the organizers have called up the winners of the last three races to fight for the 100,000 U.S. dollar prize purse on Sunday.
Champions from the last three years are set to compete, eyeing to set fast times and beat the standing course record of 2:06:35 set in 2011 by Markos Geneti.
The 2017 winner Elisha Barno, Weldon Kirui, who won in 2016 and the 2015 champ Daniel Limo all from Kenya will be the men to beat as they return to put claim to the title and test their experience against a deep international field.
"It was a good run last year and looking at the rivals I have against me this time round, I need to be on top form to be able to retain the medal. We will see how the race progress after the 30km mark and decide if I will need to push for fast time," Barno said on Friday.
The Kenyans will be seeking to dominate the Los Angeles marathon for the 15th time. Last year, Barno clocked 2:11:53 after battling with Daniel Limo for most of the race. Limo finished 24 seconds behind Barno, while Wily Koitile was the third Kenyan on the podium.
Barno holds a personal best time of 2:09:45 but he will not be the fastest man on the starting line-up. That role has been left for Ethiopian Gebresadik Adhana (2:06:21).
In the women's race, Former Boston Marathon winner Dire Tune (2:23:44) from Ethiopia continues her comeback to racing in the Los Angeles Marathon. After a six-year absence, Tune returned to action with victory in the Florence Marathon in November in 2:28:55. The fastest entrant is Ukrainian veteran Olena Shurhno (2:23:32).
The two must be on the lookout as Kenya's reigning champion Hellen Jepkurgat (2:31:07) will be back to defend her title.
There is also another Ethiopian in the line-up: Tsehay Desalegn. The four women will be eyeing to run fast to set a new course record. The current record of 2:25:10 set in 2006 was recorded by Lidiya Grigoryeva.
