Mwangi marches on

From CoolRunning Australia

Mwangi marches on

Josphat Mwangi is a man desperately wanting to win the 31st edition of the Samsung Melbourne Marathon this Sunday 12th October.

After leading for the majority of last year’s gut wrenching 42.195km race, the Kenyan surrendered his lead in the final stages on St Kilda Road, eventual winner Rowan Walker storming past to claim the glory and prizes.

Mwangi may have finished second, but with a story as inspiring as his, he is already a winner.

Mwangi decided to start running seven years ago to seek a better life. With barely a cent to his name, he journeyed to Australia last year after finding out about the Samsung Melbourne Marathon through Kenyan friend Francis Kanya.

With clothing and shoe donations and support from a number of backers including event organisers IMG, Mwangi completed his first Samsung Melbourne Marathon in two hours, 20 minutes and 55 seconds.

This year Mwangi has returned with even more at stake. The 32-year-old is endeavouring to raise money for his family who are struggling back home in Kenya. He also has aspirations of starting up an internet café business.

Mwangi has already participated in two major running events this year, placing third at the 2008 Sydney City 2 Surf, and second in the Perth City 2 Surf half marathon. With a personal best of 2:17, Mwangi is more than capable of producing a sub 2:20 on Sunday morning.

With last year’s winner Rowan Walker out of the picture after deciding to concentrate on the ASICS half marathon in 2008, the main threat to Mwangi’s chances will be the man who finished third in last year’s Samsung Melbourne Marathon, Trent Harlow.

Having withdrawn from last month’s Sydney Marathon due to illness, the Victorian is fresh and raring to go this Sunday. Harlow competed in the Hangang Marathon in Seoul, Korea earlier this year placing second.

In the women’s field, Mai Tagami from Japan is the standout performer. The 28-year-old recently ran 2:35 in the Sapporo Marathon on her home soil in late August. With a personal best time of 2:29:43 (Hokkaido 2004), Tagami has every chance of breaking Susan Hobson's 1999 course record of 2:33:27 if circumstances play out in her favour.

Leading the Australian charge is Michelle Bleakley and world championships, world cross country and world half marathon representative Susan Michelsson who has a personal best time of 2:41.

Bleakley was amongst the leaders in 2007 before withdrawing from the race with a stomach complaint. Following her 40th birthday last year, a mammogram revealed amounts of ‘bad tissue’ and on the basis of her family’s cancer history she opted to have a double mastectomy.

In total, Bleakley had five operations, the last in January ’08, and less than one year later is aiming to complete the 2008 Samsung Melbourne Marathon in 2hrs 40min. The mother of two will proudly wear the number 1 race bib on Sunday.

More than 20,000 runners are expected to toe the start line for the 31st edition of this iconic Melbourne event. The Asics Half Marathon and Coffee Club 10km Run have reached their capacity and only limited places remain in the Samsung Melbourne Marathon and Active Feet 5.5km Walk/Run. Last minute entries are available from the MCG Race Office.

All runners will be chasing their share of the $A25,800 total prize pool and $A30,000 in prizes on offer for the event.

The flat and fast course incorporates a number of well-known Melbourne landmarks, including a one-lap finish on the hallowed turf of the MCG.

The 2008 Samsung Melbourne Marathon will again double as the Victorian Championships and this year will see competitors vying for the Australian University Championship – Distance Running (Marathon, Half Marathon, 10km events) individual titles.

For further information, please visit www.melbournemarathon.com.au/