Lel sounds warning to rival Barmasai

With 2012 being an Olympic year, the high-class group of long-distance runners who have arrived here are expected to transform the Dubai Marathon into a race to prove their calibre. An excellent time here can help them stake a claim in their respective country's London contingent. Leading the cream of long distance runners is Kenya's Martin Lel, who produced a record-equalling hat-trick at the London Marathon with wins in 2005, 2007 and 2008, before suffering a hip injury. Lel is expected to shatter the dreams of his countryman David Barmasai, the defending champion here. Lel's personal best of 2:05:15 poses a threat to Barmasai, whose best is only 2:07:18. Speaking to Gulf News, Lel said: "It's my first time in Dubai and I feel confident of winning here. Last year, I finished runner up in London and that has given me the confidence to compete here." "Despite the injury I did not allow myself to lose my morale. I was confident I can come back and keep winning. Soon after the London Marathon, I heard that Dubai Marathon is a very good race and hence decided to participate and trained for it," added Lel, who produced his second fastest time of his career in the London Marathon in April 2011 to finish runner-up. Delighted Lel is delighted with the Dubai course. "The course is very interesting and flat. We have a strong group of runners and it will make everyone to give their best," he said. Lel's presence has not affected Barmasai's confidence. "I will try and do it again as I have come here with lots of hope and good training." Barmasai arrived for the Dubai Marathon last year as a little known runner with just two domestic victories and having no experience running outside Kenya. He stunned even the experienced compatriot Evans Cheruyiot by 59 seconds to emerge the winner. "I have been training hard in high altitudes in Kenya for this race. I want to also win this race to ensure that I am in the Kenya squad for Olympics," said Barmasai. The women's defending champion Aselefech Mergia of Ethiopia is in good shape. "I have trained hard and can feel myself in good shape to do well here." When asked whether she can win again, Mergia said: "There are strong runners so I can say whether I will win again only after the 35k mark. The conditions are better than last year. The course is flat as usual and I hope to run faster than last year." Challenging Mergia will be compatriots Mamitu Daska, who set a best of 2:21:59 in Frankfurt last year and Ethiopian Atsede Baysa who has a personal best of 2:22:04. Also in the fray is Kenya's Lydia Cheromei who set a course record of 2:22:34 as the Prague Marathon winner.