Mumbai: Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon (SCMM) 2016 will see the elite International athletes from across the globe, come together for the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon to be held on 17th January 2016. Today, the men and women elite International runners shared their views on this year's marathon.

Jackson Kiprop, a Ugandan long-distance runner, who specializes in marathons, came into the spotlight in 2013 at the Mumbai marathon as a pacemaker. He not only finished the race but created a new course record by clocking 2:09:32, which is still to be broken.

Men’s course record holder and Ugandan long-distance runner, Jackson Kiprop, said, ​​“I have mentally set my eyes on the finish line, this helps me to concentrate and motivate myself for the run. This is my 5th marathon and I would like to perform better. If I run well now, I will be able to perform better in the Olympics. For last year’s marathon, I prepared in the dry and humid climate of Kenya. This year I trained in Uganda, which is hot and windy with hilly tracks. I believe this will help me perform well in this year’s marathon.”

Leading the Ethiopian brigade is Seboka Dibaba, who has been running well in the recent years. He came 3rd in the Paris Marathon clocking 2.07 in April 2015 and has had podium finishes at the Sydney Marathon in 2014 and Seoul International Marathon in 2013. With a personal best time of 2.06, he is among the fastest in the field

Ethiopian runner and the fastest in the field, Seboka Dibaba said, “I had to run one marathon a year because of my injury. With good weather conditions, I am positive that I will be able to perform well in SCMM and any other upcoming marathon. I will try to win the competition and my performance will reflect the decision of the selectors.”

The women’s contingent will be led by Valentine Kipketer from Kenya, who is a long distance runner. She won the 2013 Mumbai marathon with a course record of 2:24:33 which still remains unbeaten. In that same year, she won the Amsterdam marathon with a time of 2:23 and has represented Kenya at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics. Post her maternity break, she made her comeback in this year’s Airtel Delhi Half marathon.

Women’s course record holder and Kenyan marathoner, Valentine Kipketer, said, “I have had injuries in the past, but now I have recovered completely and feeling very confident about myself. My training for the marathon has been good and I look forward to participating in the marathon.”

The other distinguished women elite athletes who will be joining the top runners at SCMM 2016 are Shuko Genemo, Workitu Ayanu, Alem Fikre, Rebecca Korir, Seada Kedir, Bornes Kitur, Tesfanesh Merga, and Pamela Kipchoge.

Ezekiel Chepkorom from Uganda, Michael Mutai, Gideon Kipketer, Stephen Kiplagat, and Geoffrey Kipyego from Kenya will be the Men’s Pacemakers and Stijn Fincioen and Kjell de Hondt from Belgium will be Women’s Pacemakers for the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2016.