London Marathon male runners to watch: Dennis Kimetto, Wilson Kipsang and more

 
Capital gains: Kipsang runs the marathon for the fourth time having won in 2012 and 2014

The 2015 Virgin Money London Marathon will see some of the top men's runners in the world compete for supremacy.

Former world-record holder Wilson Kipsang will defend his London Marathon title against Dennis Kimetto in what is being billed as a straight head to head between the two Kenyans.

But behind those two there will be plenty of interesting stories to keep an eye on.

Here's our pick of five male runners to watch on Sunday.

London Marathon - Matt Majendie's top five male runners to watch

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Dennis Kimetto

The world record holder for the marathon, the Kenyan set his time of 2:02.57 in Berlin last year. The 31-year-old was a relative latecomer to the sport, previously a farmer before his talent was spotted by fellow marathon runner Geoffrey Mutai. Since that point, the pair have regularly trained together. Kimetto made the fastest marathon debut in history in Berlin in 2012 - behind Mutai - the only one of the four marathons in which he’s competed that he’s not won.

Wilson Kipsang

Until Kimetto’s remarkable run in Berlin, arguably the world’s fastest marathon course, Kipsang was the holder of the world record, his time of 2:03.23 set on the same course a year earlier. This year’s London Marathon has been billed as a battle between the record holders past and present over 26.2 miles but Kipsang has experience on his side in that quest having proved victorious on the streets of London last year.

Emmanuel Mutai

This will be Mutai’s eighth consecutive appearance at the London Marathon, and he is a former winner over the course and previously a course record holder following his run of 2:04.40 in 2011. Last year, he struggled with the pace to end up seventh overall but showed superb form at the Berlin Marathon to finish second in the second quickest time in history - 2:03.13. It was also in Berlin that he won World Championship silver back in 2009.

David Weir

The athlete, labelled the Weirwolf for his heroics at the 2012 Paralympics in London when he won four gold medals, is targeting a record at the London Marathon. Currently he is tied with Tanni Grey-Thompson for the record of London wins at six but one more this Sunday would give him the record outright. The dad of three has been in good form this season but it would be a big ask to win having raced in Monday’s Boston Marathon.


Scott Overall

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