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When Kenyan Kelai did a Brian Lara

Updated on: 16 January,2009 06:56 AM IST  | 
Hemal Ashar | hemal@mid-day.com

Two-time winner of the Standard Charter Mumbai marathon Kenyan John Kelai had an interesting twist to his tale of going for a hat-trick of wins in Mumbai.

When Kenyan Kelai did a Brian Lara

CARRY ON MOMMY: Gail Devers with her husband and daughters Karsen and Legacy (in orange). pic/ATUL KAMBLE

Lots in a name
Two-time winner of the Standard Charter Mumbai marathon Kenyan John Kelai had an interesting twist to his tale of going for a hat-trick of wins in Mumbai. Yesterday, Kelai said at the press conference that while he was running the marathon at Toronto (Canada), his wife delivered a daughter at home. "I called her Toronto", as I was running there at the time," said Kelai. It reminds cricketer Brian Lara who named his daughter Sydney after the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

u00a0


Mom, I wanna pee
It seemed to be daughter's day yesterday at the marathon press conference as brand ambassador Gail Devers walked in with her husband and two cute daughters, Karsen and Legacy. The former Olympic gold medallist, was forced to stop mid-conference as her daughter, Karsen (3) wanted to go to the bathroom. "Quick, where's the bathroom?" asked Devers as she carried Karsen. Ah, even Olympic medallists have their 'Mommy I gotta go' moments.

Obama mania
Guess who was afflicted by Obama mania? None other than Gail's daughter Karsen, who, according to Devers, "was totally wired up during the elections. In fact, she would not go to sleep on that day saying I want to see if Obama wins."

Like marathon, like life
Gail Devers said the marathon is all about guts and glory. It is also a metaphor for life, for like the marathon, the terrain is sometimes downhill where you think: yeah, I got that. Sometimes it is all about uphill (tough times) and mostly it is about people encouraging you towards the finish line.u00a0

Where is Guerrouj?
The Moroccan athlete Hicham El-Guerrouj, double Olympic gold medallist and King of the Mile was supposed to be the second brand ambassador to the marathon, along with Gail Devers. He is not coming in though. Well, maybe some other year, then.u00a0

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