Kosgei hopes for third time lucky while Logan goes for a double in Baxters Loch Ness Marathon

Veteran Kenyan athlete Isaiah Kosgei is hoping it will be a case of third time lucky when he competes in Sunday’s Baxters Loch Ness marathon which has attracted a record 5,200 entries.

The 44 year-old African, who lives in the town of Iten which is famed for producing a remarkable array of world class distance running talent, finished fifth in the 2017 race and was third last year when Manchester-based Jordanian Mohammad Aburezeq completed a hat-trick of wins.

Kosgei believes he is ready to challenge for top spot on the podium and suggests that the course record of 2hr 20min 13secs, set by his compatriot Simon Tonui a decade ago, could be threatened.

He said: “I am in a good and better shape for Loch Ness than before. I can’t say I will win because everybody is preparing for it but my aim is still to go for the course record. If all goes well 2:19 will be good, although the course is not an easy one.”

Kosgei has added motivation for featuring as highly as possible on the prize list as he generously uses any money received from his running success to support not only his family but also the wider community back home.

He said:” I will try my level best to win prize money. It is so important to me because it helps me sustain the life of my family for some time, as well as giving back to my community by helping the needy children in my village to get access to education by paying school fees.

“I will be running Loch Nesss to raise money to buy uniforms, shoes and school learning material for 21 children under the Kosgei-Walepole foundation.”

Although race title-holder Aburezeq has, as yet, not declared an intention to compete, Kosgei will still have to overcome other potentially tricky opponents.

Thirsk-based Kenyan runner Tarus Elly, who won the Loch Ness race in 2013 and 2015, is making his first appearance in the race since the last of his two victories while Frenchman Gabriel Briand could also be a contender for one of the top prizes as he has some decent shorter distance times to his credit.

Fife’s Sheena Logan is showing good form in the lead up to the defence of her women’s title.

The Auchtermuchty runner won last year in a personal best 2:51:11 and Sunday’s race will be her first marathon outing since then.

She has, however, done well over shorter distances and wasn’t too far away from her best time when winning the Scottish half marathon at Musselburgh earlier in the month where she recorded 1:21:49.

Logan said: “I have been busy with other things so I haven’t raced so much this year but I’m pleased with the way my preparations have gone and I was happy with my run at Musselburgh.

“My run at Loch Ness last year was a bit of a dream and I really enjoyed it. However, I have no specific time in mind on this occasion. I suppose anything is possible but you need so many things to align on the day to get a good performance. I’ll just try my hardest and we’ll see what happens.

“I’m not sure who else is likely to be competing but even if I did know, that doesn’t make a difference as I can only influence what I do, so there’s no point worrying about others.

“It’s a great course and we had brilliant conditions last year so fingers crossed for that again.”

If Logan is to retain her title she’ll have to fend off some strong opposition led by Garscube’s Katie White who has a best time of 2:40:31 set at Frankfurt in 2018.

White has good memories of competing in the Highland capital, having won the Inverness half marathon in 2018 as well as finishing second this year. She won the Scottish half marathon title in Glasgow last weekend and it will be interesting to see how well she recovers from that.

Claire Bruce is another who should be featuring at the head of the field although the Metro Aberdeen runner is a bit of an unknown quality as she is making her marathon debut.

The north east athlete, who is coached by Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Robbie Simpson, was third in last year’s Scottish half marathon championships.

Bruce’s Metro clubmate Kerry Prise, the Lairig Ghru mountain marathon champion, is another athlete capable of upsetting the odds.

Inverness hopes rest with former Commonwealth Games 400m relay runner Lesley Hansen who finished second in this year’s Scottish marathon championships in Stirling. Hansen is believed to hold the unique distinction of being the only athlete to have won Scottish championship medals in the marathon and a sprints event, having taken 400m silver in 2001.

Other contenders for the leading positions include Carnethy’s Gill Mykura who was fifth last year and Edinburgh AC’s Jenny MacLean who has a personal best 2:51.37 from 2009 when she was third at Loch Ness.

Strachan and Bannerman aiming for success in Baxters River Ness 10km

Metro Aberdeen’s Cameron Strachan is relishing the prospect of facing Dundee Hawkhill Harriers’ James Donald in what promises to be a fascinating battle for top spot in the Baxters River Ness 10km.

The duo were separated by the thickness of a vest in last month’s Scottish 10km road running championships at Stirling when Strachan finished fourth in a personal best 30min 12secs with Donald one second behind.

The Dundee man’s best is 30:11 set at the Brian Goodwin 10km in Glasgow earlier in the year while he also picked up a silver at the Scottish 10,000m track championships when clocking 30:14.18.

Strachan said:”I’ve taken a bit of a break since Stirling although I’ve been training every day, but just not as intensely as before.

“I feel I have a faster time in me but whether it will happen this weekend remains to be seen. I’d really like to get under 30mins at some point but I’m not sure if it will come just yet.

“I’d never rule it out, especially if we find ourselves in a competitive race with a few guys running at that pace.”

Strachan and Donald look to be favourites to land the top prizes but they can be expected to be tested by Sean Chalmers (Inverness Harriers).

The north athlete has a best track time of 30:47 and has also shown his competency on the road with victories in the Metro Aberdeen Beach 10km and the Land O’Burns 10km.

Others hoping to be in the mix include Moray duo Ewan Davidson and James Wilson, Metro Aberdeen’s Ben Ward and Jason Kelly, Fraserburgh teenager Max Abernethy and leading north veterans Donnie MacDonald (Inverness Harriers) and Gareth Jenkins (Moray).

Scotland international Jenny Bannerman is clear favourite to retain the women’s title.

The Inverness Harriers club member first ran the 10km in 2009 and has been back for each of the past five years, winning three times and never finishing lower than fifth. In 2018 she set what was then her fastest time of 34min 53secs.

Bannerman shaved one sec off that time when winning the Moray 10km at Miltonduff in March but won’t be drawn on making any predictions as to how fast she’ll run this weekend.

She said: “There’s too many factors which can affect your time so I’m not putting any pressure on myself. It’s my local race and I always enjoy the occasion so we’ll see how it goes.”

Jo Williams (Lothian) has the pedigree to test Bannerman as she has a best time of 35:15 from 2018 and was sixth in the Scottish 5km championships this year.

Bannerman’s other rivals include her teenage clubmate Megan Keith, the 2018 European orienteering youth champion who is making her 10km debut.

Other Inverness Harriers runners aiming to do well are Caroline Marwick who made her Scotland debut in the home countries hill running international recently, and Gemma Cormack who was runner-up in this year’s Aberdeen BHGE 10km. Giniie Barrand (Metro Aberdeen) and Halina Rees (Fife AC) are also capable of placing among the leading finishers.

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Event Director Malcolm Sutherland is delighted with the quality and record number of entrants for the Baxters Loch Ness marathon and the other events making up the festival of running which has attracted more than 9,400 entrants from 45 countries.

He said: “Interestingly we have a huge number coming from Scandinavia this year with 202 Norwegians entered, 160 of whom are doing the marathon. This is probably due to a TV programme, ‘Dag Otto’s Bucket List,’ which was made at the event last year and which aired in Norway soon after.”

“We have a truly cosmopolitan event, with 60% of our marathon entrants coming from outside Scotland. And we try to cater for participants of all levels of ability and experience. Everyone is treated in the same friendly and supportive way and they’ll all enjoy a wonderful Highland reception.”

“There’s a superb atmosphere at the races with huge number of people turning out to watch and cheer on the competitors, particularly at the finish in Bught Park where the Event Village is located. As usual there will be plenty of activities at the Village to keep everyone entertained and there is always a fantastic atmosphere around the finish area.”

“The marathon,10km and 5km are full, but we will be taking limited entries for the Wee Nessie Run for children aged 5 and under over the weekend.”

Full event information: www.lochnessmarathon.com

COURSE RECORDS

Baxters Loch Ness Marathon 

Men: Simon Tonui (Kenya) 2hr 20min 13sec (2009)

Women: Megan Crawford (Fife AC) 2hr 44min 50secs (2015)

Baxters River Ness 10K 

Men: Amanuel Hagos (Shettleston) 29min 35secs (2008)

Women: Cathy Mutwa (Kenya) 33min 46sec (2006)