Kenyans target Dublin event

A serious Kenyan challenge in the men's elite field for the 98 FM-sponsored Dublin City Marathon on Bank Holiday Monday should generate a high-class competitive race.

Samuel Okemwa, winner of the Belfast Marathon in May, brings a personal best time of 2:12.00 while his compatriot John Mutai, second in Dublin in 1997, has a personal best of 2:13.00. Wilson Cheruiyot, also of Kenya, recently won the City of Bristol half-marathon in 65 minutes 44 seconds and holds a personal best over the longer distance of 2:13.48.

The main challenge from Ireland should come from Gerry Healy, who is the current national marathon champion. Healy earned that title in Sligo in April, running 2:18.05. He also won the national half-marathon in Killenaule in August with a time of 66 minutes five seconds. Tommy Maher, running for the Irish Cancer society in honour of his coach P J Fagan who died recently, ran 2:20.38 in the 1997 event but has a personal best which is some three minutes faster.

Noel Cullen makes his first attempt at this distance. Cullen has represented Ireland in four world senior cross country championships. The women's event sees entries from Kenya, Scotland, Poland, Malta and England. Kenya's Esther Kiplagat, winner of the Edinburgh Marathon in September, is the fastest in the field with a personal best of 2:33.09.