Biwott aims to redeem career with win in New York marathon

Ever since he dropped out mid-race at the Rio Olympics marathon, Stanley Biwott has had no chance to make amends and the New York marathon on November 6 will be his first stop in his quest for redemption.

At 30 years, Biwott still has a lot to offer in the marathon and as he makes his third attempt on the New York race course, he knows all eyes will be on him as he bids to retain the title he won last in 2:10.34, reports Xinhua.

"I must say Rio Olympics was an anti-climax for me. Everything went as planned but my body just failed to react. I erred and this will be my chance to prove I am still a worthy bet in running," he said.

Biwott was fifth in his New York City debut in 2013, and since then has finished as runner-up at the London Marathon in both 2014 and 2016.

Biwott was part of the lead pack at the Rio 2016 Olympic Marathon before dropping out mid-race.

His half-marathon best of 58:56, run at the 2013 Ras Al Khaimah Half-Marathon in the United Arab Emirates, currently ranks him as the 13th-fastest man in history.

"New York is special to me because it was there that I won my first title in the World Marathon Majors," Biwott said.

"After last year, my name has been spread worldwide, and I have been considered among the top athletes in the world. That's why I always like to return to New York, where I left a piece of my heart."

But Biwott will not be the only elite in the field. His compatriot Lucas Rotich, 26, of Kenya, owns a personal-best marathon time of 2:07:17 from his win at the 2015 Hamburg Marathon.

He began his 2016 racing season with a win at the Lake Biwa Marathon in Japan, finishing in 2:09:11.

Not to forget Ghirmay Ghebreslassie, 20, of Eritrea, who was the marathon gold medallist at the Beijing World Championships, becoming the youngest world marathon winner at the age of 19. He finished fourth at the Rio 2016 Olympic Marathon, just missing out on the podium.

Then there is Lelisa Desisa, 26, of Ethiopia, who settled for the second place last year and finished third in 2015, and he was second at this year's Boston Marathon after winning the race in both 2013 and 2015.

Desisa was also the silver medallist at the 2013 IAAF World Championships Marathon. There is also Uganda's Moses Kipsiro making his New York marathon debut after setting a personal-best marathon time of 2:15:48 earlier this year in Hamburg.

--IANS

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