Kenyans run for Olympic berths at Boston Marathon

Robert Cheruiyot will try for a berth at the Beijing Olympics as well as his fourth Boston Marathon title Monday in the 112th edition of the world's oldest annual marathon.

The Kenyan star, who won in 2003 as well as the past two years, will be trying to prove his case to selectors for the Kenyan marathon Olympic squad as he winds over the hilly course for his share of a record 796,000-dollar purse.

"Let me do it fast in Boston," Cheruiyot said. "I hope to qualify for the Games (on) the toughest course in the world."

Kenya's Martin Lel made his case a week ago, setting a course record in winning the London Marathon in two hours, five minutes and 15 seconds.

But Cheruiyot set the course record, and a personal best, by winning at Boston in 2006 in 2:07:14. A fourth Boston crown in six years would bring a 150,000-dollar first prize and likely a trip to Beijing.

Other Kenyans in the hunt include 2007 runner-up James Kwambai, 2004 Boston winner Timothy Cherigat and Shadrack Kiplagat, whose best marathon time of 2:07:53 ranks second only to Cheruiyot.

Russia's Lidiya Grigoryeva will defend the women's crown against 2006 champion Rita Jeptoo of Kenya and Latvia's Jelena Prokopcuka, runner-up each of the past two years.

Ethiopians offer a challenge with Dire Tune, 22, having won at Hong Kong in 2006 and last year and last January in Houston, where she reached a personal best of 2:24:40 three months ago plus Askale Tafa Magarsa, 23, who won at Milan in 2006 and last year in Dubai and Paris.

A leg injury will keep Kenya's Margaret Okayo, the Boston women's record holder, out of the event while Stephen Kiogora, third last year, was unable to train properly due to violence in the aftermath of Kenya's election and 2007 Chicago Marathon winner Patrick Ivuti has suffered malaria.