Mutai aims for repeat Belfast win

John Mutai after his win in last year's Belfast City Marathon

John Mutai will attempt to repeat his 2007 victory in this year's Deep RiverRock Belfast Marathon on 5 May.

Mutai, who is now 41, was only 30 seconds outside Marty Deane's course record when he triumphed last year in 2 hours 16 minutes and 24 seconds.

The Kenyan's impressive CV also includes victories in the Great North Run and the Dublin Marathon.

His compatriot Joyce Kandie will attempt to repeat her 2005 victory in the women's race in Belfast.

Mutai's 2.16.24 winning time last May was the most impressive performance seen in Belfast in years as it was achieved over a new difficult course and it left him a whopping six minutes ahead of runner-up Stephen Ndungu.

He set his personal best of 2:13.20 when winning the Dubai Marathon in 2001 and his most recent outing was a 2:18.50 clocking in Mumbai earlier this year.

Joining Mutai in Belfast will be Ethiopian Abebe Seyoum who recorded a sub 2.18 time in the New Delhi marathon 2 years ago.

Kandie will be chasing the Belfast women's course record (2:41.33) set by Ethiopia's Lemma Urge in 2006.

The Kenyan achieved a virtual solo run win of 2.43.11 when winning in 2005 which left her behind only eight male finishers.

She continued her preparations for the May Bank Holiday race by taking second place behind Newcastle's Kerry Harty in the recent Titanic Quarter 10K.

Kandie says she feels stronger than ever following her break from the sport to have a child.

The women's winner will earn £2,500 while a new course record would earn an additional £1,000.

Entries for the race currently stand at some 1700 for the marathon and 1500 teams for the 5 stage relay.

This leads organisers to estimate that a record 15,000 participants will be pounding the roads on May Day which also includes the Walk and Fun Run.

Entry forms can be downloaded from www.belfastcitymarathon.com.