体坛英语新闻：Rotich leads huge Kenya representation at Amsterdam marathon

NAIROBI, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Lucas Rotich will run his second marathon after a career-threatening injury as he leads a seven-man delegation to the Netherlands on Sunday.

Rotich, who has recovered from a knee injury which ruled him out of competition in 2018, is hopeful to win his first marathon in three years in the Dutch capital.

He returned to action this year in Hamburg where he finished eighth clocking two hours nine minutes and 48 seconds.

He will team up with Vincent Kipchumba, and former Eindhoven marathon champion Elisha Rotich and Bernard Koech.

Ethiopia Ayele Abshero with 2:04:23 is the fastest entrant on paper.

Solomon Deksisa 2:04:40 and Bernard Koech 2:04:53 follow in second and third with the best European being Dutch Abdi Nageeye (2:06:17). In total 11 runners have run the marathon in less than two hours and ten minutes.

In the women race, Mimi Belete of Bahrain 2:22:29 and Azmera Gebru with 2:22:52 are the best on paper.

In total seven runners are having in less than two hours and 30 minutes. Top European is Miranda Boonstra 2:27:32 with Diana Lobacevske from Lithuania 2:28:48.