Kenya´s Daniel Kipkoech will try to maintain Kenyan dominance at Vancouver Sun Run this weekend

Kenyans won the men’s division of The Vancouver Sun Run an amazing 16 of 21 times from 1994 through 2014.

If it’s going to happen in 2019 at the popular 10K event, it will be up to Daniel Kipkoech, the Kenyan-born runner who spends a good part of the year in Lethbridge, Alta. He’s the only Kenyan in the men’s field this year, with 2013 and 2014 winner Paul Kimugul, who was 10th last year, opting not to return.

Kipkoech, 32, has been a frequent presence in B.C. distance races in recent years, winning the BMO Vancouver Marathon in 2016 and 2017 and the GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon for five consecutive years from 2014 through 2018.

He’s also won the Times Colonist 10K in Victoria twice and finished second, third and seventh in The Vancouver Sun Run. But somehow, he’s never been a winner of the Sun Run, one of the largest road races in North America.

“The Vancouver community is why I come back every year,” Kipkoech said after winning the 2017 marathon. “They’re so cheerful, loving and welcoming. It’s a beautiful place, especially the people.”

Americans have won three of the past four Sun Runs and Jerrell Mock of Fort Collins, Ariz., figures to be a favorite this year based on his 28:07 clocking in winning last July’s Deseret News 10K in Salt Lake City.

But there’s also a strong contingent of Canadians in the field, led by Geoff Martinson of Vancouver and Albertans Trevor Hofbauer, the 2018 Canadian half-marathon champion, and Matt Travaglini, who was third in last year’s Sun Run in 29:49, just 35 seconds behind winner Brendan Gregg.

posted Wednesday April 10th