Kangor to defend his Brighton Marathon title

Last year’s winner and course record holder, Dominic Kangor, has confirmed he will return to defend his Brighton Marathon title in 2014.

In April this year, the Kenyan smashed the previous course record by an impressive 1min 17sec to record 2hr 10min 46sec.

Since then, he has successfully defended his Kampala title as well as finishing third in the Melbourne Marathon, but Brighton remains his career best clocking.

Kangor, 24, will be the first athlete, man or woman, to successfully defend the Brighton title if he wins on April 6 next year.

He said: “Brighton has a special place in my heart because it is where I set my best time and the crowds are so massive and support me it is like running at home.”

The chances of a new course record are high since organisers have announced important changes.

A flat section has been added in mile five to make up for the hill which has been taken out in the tenth mile.

Race founder, Tim Hutchings, said: “Having an athlete of Dominic’s calibre return to defend his title in Brighton, sends out an important message to the rest of the running world.

“He knows this is a fast course and an experience to relish. Athletes like him, after all, have many spring marathons to choose from and I’m sure he’ll go faster on our adjusted marathon route.”

The Brighton Marathon Weekend begins on Friday 4 April with the two-day exhibition in the Brighton Centre.

Saturday sees the ICONIQ Shlurp! Mini Mile Races in their new slot in Preston Park (11.00am start) and the weekend culminates on Sunday with the inaugural BM10k (8.30am start) and Marathon (9.00am).

The Brighton Marathon is an IAAF Bronze Label event.