Athletics Dublin MarathonThree former winners will lead the chase for the €15,000 prize-winner cheques at next Monday's Adidas Dublin Marathon. Unfortunately for the host city none of them are Irish and the elite end of the race will again be dominated by overseas entries.
There is, however, an increase in the overall Irish presence, which accounts for 5,429 of the some 10,500 setting out at 9am next Monday morning, the October Bank Holiday.
Now in its 27th year, the marathon is reckoned to be worth around €15 million to the city, drawing over 5,000 overseas entries and at least that figure again in overseas support.
The elite entries were finalised yesterday and include two former men's winners - Dmytro Osadchy of the Ukraine, first home last year in two hours, 13 minutes and 14 seconds, and Lezan Kimutai of Kenya, the 2004 winner and course record holder with his time of 2:13.08. Russia's Zinaida Semenova will also be back to defend the women's title, which she took last year in 2:32.52.
A large bunch of African runners, mostly Kenyans, will also be in the hunt for the winner's prize, the likes of Wesly Ngetich of Kenya, who clocked 2:12.10 earlier this year, and countryman Andrew Eyepan, who has a personal best of 2:11.10.
On paper, though, the race favourite looks like being Semeretu Alemayehu of Ethiopia, who ran 2.07.45 to win the Turin Marathon in 2001. Both the men and the women winners collect €15,000.
It's now 13 years since the last Irish winner on the men's side (when John Treacy won easily in 2:14.40) and there's no sign of that wait ending any time soon. Monday's race doubles as the national championships and that at least injects some Irish interest among the elite starters - even if they'll do well to make the top 10.
Donegal's Gary Crossan is hoping to collect his fifth national title, having made it four in succession last year when taking 13th in 2:23.09.
Dublin's Cian McLoughlin, however, has shown far better form in recent weeks and could well ensure a home victory in that end of the race.
Pauline Curley from Tullamore, who won last year's women's national title with her debut effort of 2:42.16, is also set to start again.
Jill Shannon, who last month won the half-marathon title, looks like being her main challenger.
The Dublin organisers, needless to say, are hoping for fine weather (unlike last year) and a smooth-run race - unlike, incidentally, last Sunday's Chicago marathon.
After running through the cold rain and strong winds, Kenya's Robert Cheruiyot was about to break the finish tape, raising his arms in victory, when his foot slipped on a sponsor's mat that was glued to road.
He fell hard onto his back, hitting his head on the ground, and not moving for several seconds.
Cheruiyot was still credited with the winning time of 2:07.38 as his torso was judged to have crossed the finish line, but he was held overnight in hospital with minor head injuries.
He also had the $140,000 winning cheque as further consolation.
