Kenya vs. Ethiopia - who will prevail in Daegu?

The leading Kenyans and Ethiopians often given the major championships a miss and while some of the very best might be absent, both countries will be fielding some of the world's most recognised names of long distance running.

Here's my formchart based on performances in the past twelve months

		DOB	PB	Marathons in past twelve months
1	Gebre Gebremariam	10/9/84	2:04:53	1st New York 2:08:14, 3rd Boston 2:04:53
2	Vincent Kipruto	13/9/87	2:05:13	5th Chicago 2:09:08, 2nd Rotterdam 2:05:33
3	Benjamin Kiptoo	79	2:06:31	1st Chunchon 2:07:54, 1st Paris 2:06:31
4	David Barmasai	87	2:07:18	1st Nairobi 2:10:31, 1st Dubai 2:07:18
5	Bazu Worku	15/9/90	2:05:25	3rd Berlin 2:05:25, DNS London
6	Eshetu Wendimu	26/1/82	2:06:46	14th Berlin 2:15:36, 3rd Dubai 2:08:54, 3rd Paris 2:07:32
7	Abderrahim Goumri	21/5/76	2:05:30	4th New York 2:10:51, 1st Seoul 2:09:11
8	Stephen Kiprotich	18/4/89	2:07:20	1st Enschede 2:07:20
9	Chala Dechase	13/6/84	2:06:33	3rd Amsterdam 2:07:23, 3rd Rotterdam 2:08:47
10	Eliud Kiptanui	6/6/89	2:05:39	5th Berlin 2:08:05, 4th Rotterdam 2:09:08

Absentees;

Geoffrey Mutai – the Boston Marathon champion will be targeting an autumn marathon

Moses Mosop – the runner-up from Boston is running in Chicago next month

Emmanuel Mutai – the London Marathon champion will be running an autumn marathon instead

Haile Gebrselassie – this was never in Haile's plans. Instead he's running in Berlin

Martin Lel – the Kenyan, who surprised himself with a return to form in London, will be at the Great North Run

Ryan Hall – his next race will be the Virginia Beach half-marathon

Prediction;

1. Barmasai, 2. Kipruto, 3. Gebremariam

While Edna Kiplagat started as the resounding favourite in the women's race, the men's contest lacks a standout contender. Do you favour the athletes with the fastest PBs or do you look towards the athletes who have won big-city marathons? Gebre Gebremariam certainly fits both criteria although the Ethiopians don't always run well in humid conditions and their performances in the women's race were rather disappointing.

On the other hand, the Kenyans excelled by taking a clean-sweep of the medals and their men's team is arguably even stronger. David Barmasai has won both of his most recent marathons in different conditions and he might prove to be the best of the Kenyans although Vincent Kipruto holds the fastest lifetime best.