Belfast Marathon: Kenyan Joel Kipsang Kositany to aim for third triumph

Joel Kipsang Kositany set his personal best of 2:09.50 in Israel four years ago

Kenyan Joel Kipsang Kositany will aim for a third Belfast Marathon triumph in this year's race on 2 May.

Kositany repeated his 2013 Belfast victory last year as he took victory in two honours, 19 minutes and 36 seconds.

The Kenyan, second behind compatriot Freddy Sittuk at the Belfast event in 2014, has a personal best of 2:09.50 set in Israel in January 2012.

Kositany clocked 2:13.14 at the Munster Marathon in Germany last September and will be favourite to win in Belfast.

With another Kenyan Belfast regular Gideon Kimosop expected to miss this year's event because of injury, Kositany's main rival could be Ethiopian youngster Zeleke Bekele who clocked a time of 2:15.41 on his marathon debut in China last December.

Hungarian third placer from last year Tamas Nagy will run in Belfast while Eddie McGinley, fourth 12 months ago, will lead the local challenge.

Nagy clocked 2:24.22 last year which left him 33 seconds ahead of the Belfast man.

The women's field will include last year's third-place finisher, Hungarian Katalin Garami plus her compatriot Helen Csonge.

Belgrave's Sophie Carter who ran a personal best of 2:48.29 in London last year will also race.