By John Kwoba
NAIROBI, Oct 12 (Xinhua) -- Former Singapore Marathon champion Felix Kirwa has withdrawn from this week's Eindhoven Marathon, which will be held in Netherlands on Sunday.
Kirwa, 24, said he has not gotten back into form after an injury derailed his training.
However, he expects to return to action soon and continue his push for a slot in the Kenyan delegation to the World Championships in Doha, Qatar in Oct 2019 and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
"I have high hopes I will be back in action and improve on my time to be able to put up my name for selection for the Kenyan team," Kirwa said.
Kirwa, a former winner of China's Tianjin Marathon, came second in last year's race in Eindhoven, finishing in 2:06:13.
He is the younger brother to Olympic marathon silver medalist Eunice Jepkirui Kirwa, a Bahrain citizen since 2013. Another runner who has also pulled out is Ethiopia's Deribe Robi.
Despite their late withdrawals, Race Director Marc Corstjens believes they have top elite runners who can break the two hours and six minutes mark.
"Since 2014, winners of the Eindhoven marathon managed to complete the course within an average time of 2:06:26. But only if all conditions like the weather, are excellent. However, their finishing times ensure Eindhoven's marathon is among the ten fastest marathons in the world," Corstjens said.
Ethiopia's Belay Asefa is the quickest of the field with his 2:07:10 from 2014.
However, Kenya's Elisha Rotich has shown the most recent form with his 2:07:50 for fourth in Daegu this year.
Jacob Cheshari, who has run 2:07:46, is the other 2:07 runners in the field. Another Kenyan Vincent Rono will also be a threat as 2017 Lille Half winner in 59:27 and seventh in the World Cross in the same year.
Geoffrey Yegon is another sub-60 runner in the lineup. Ethiopia's Belay Tilahun, who has clocked 61:51 for the half, is the outsider. Top names in the women's race are still to be announced.
