Africans bring quality to a big field

Athletics/Dublin Marathon: Organisers of the Adidas Dublin Marathon have finalised the elite end of next Monday's race, which for the second successive year has attracted more than 10,000 entrants.

Among the contenders for the top prize of €15,000 is the Ethiopian Semeretu Alemayeho, whose best of two hours, seven minutes and 45 seconds makes him the fastest entry in the 26 editions of the race. That time, however, was recorded back in 2002 and the Ethiopian will face strong opposition from a trio of Kenyans - all with personal bests faster than the Dublin record of 2:13:08.

Another Kenyan, Lezan Kimutai, set that mark last year, clipping an impressive 37 seconds off the mark set by Jerry Kiernan back in 1982. Kimutai won't be defending his title.

David Makori is the best of the Kenyans entered; he posted 2:08:49 when winning in Venice.

Michael Ngaseke of Zimbabwe, who ran 2:12:53 in Berlin last year, is another likely to figure.

Gary Crossan is another confirmed starter and therefore on course to become the top Irish finisher for the fourth successive year. Although the Donegalman is unlikely to threaten the Africans, he is aiming to run sub-2:20.

Neil Cusack, whose father and namesake remains the only Irish winner of the Boston marathon (1973), has decided against competing despite some impressive performances over shorter road distances in recent months.

There will also be a new women's champion, and Victoria Kilmina of Russia is by far the fastest entry with her best of 2:28:30. The next best is Olga Nevkapsa of the Ukraine, who has clocked 2:38:42.

The leading Irish woman is Pauline Curley of Tullamore, who makes her long-awaited marathon debut. Now aged 37, Curley won the recent Dublin half-marathon in a best of 76:18.

For Jim Aughney, the race organiser, the final entry of over 10,000 is particularly satisfying: "There was always the danger that the numbers would dip after last year's 25th anniversary," he explained. "But that is clearly not the case. The Irish entry makes up just over half that total, and the number of American entries has risen slightly again. So overall we're delighted with that.

"We've also got the Dublin City Council on board this year as one of the associate sponsors, so I do feel the city is starting to embrace the marathon a little more compared to some recent years."

The are slight alterations to last year's route, the race heading down Capel Street instead of O'Connell Street shortly after the start, and also heading along Chesterfield Avenue next to the Phoenix Park. That latter change was forced because of the recent addition of speed ramps in the Park, the last thing a marathon runner wants to contend with in the effort to go the distance.