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World half marathon champion Sabastian Sawe to lead Kenyan quartet against star-studded Ethiopian lineup at Valencia Marathon

The debuting quartet of Sebastian Sawe, Daniel Mateiko, Mathew Kimeli, and Hillary Kipkoech will attempt to challenge the Ethiopian dominance at the Valencia Marathon

The Kenyan athletics scene will once again be in the spotlight as four formidable runners Sebastian Sawe, Daniel Mateiko, Mathew Kimeli, and Hillary Kipkoech gear up to challenge Ethiopia's dominance at the Valencia Marathon on December 1.

Each member of this Kenyan quartet has established themselves as a powerhouse in road running and half marathons, promising an electrifying race against a star-studded Ethiopian lineup.

Leading the charge for the Kenyan team is Sebastian Sawe, the reigning World Road Running champion.

Sawe has completed all nine of his half marathons under the coveted 60-minute mark, boasting a personal best (PB) of 58:02.

Close on his heels is Mateiko, another consistent performer who has clocked sub-59-minute times on seven occasions, making him one of the most reliable half-marathoners in the world.

Kipkoech, who holds a PB of 59:22, enters the marathon as a serious contender after previously pacing Ethiopian course record holder Sisay Lemma in 2023.

Kimeli who triumphed at the 2023 Bangsaen21 Half Marathon in Thailand with a time of 1:03:39, adds another layer of depth to Kenya’s challenge.

The Kenyan quartet will face stiff competition from a stellar Ethiopian team led by Sisay Lemma, the Valencia Marathon course record holder.

Lemma’s breathtaking 2:01:48, set last year, ranks as the sixth-fastest marathon time in history.

Following his Valencia triumph, Lemma claimed the Boston Marathon title earlier this year with a time of 2:06:17.

Joining Lemma is Ethiopian legend Kenenisa Bekele, whose PB of 2:01:41 makes him the fastest man in the field.

Bekele, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and five-time world champion, continues to be a force at the marathon distance, ranking third on the all-time list.

The Ethiopian roster further includes two-time Tokyo Marathon champion Birhanu Legese, winner of the 2021 Berlin Marathon Guye Adola and Olympian Deresa Geleta who placed fifth at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

2024 Valencia Marathon Elite Fields Announced: Sisay Lemma, Kenenisa Bekele and Amane Beriso Headline

Race organizers for the Valencia Marathon have announced the elite fields for the 2024 edition of the race on Dec. 1.

The field is headlined by 2024 Boston Marathon champion Sisay Lemma returning from injury after withdrawing from the Paris Olympics. He will be challenged by his compatriot and all-time great Kenenisa Bekele, who finished second in April’s London Marathon and 39th at the Paris Olympics at 42 years old.

Kenya’s Sebastian Sawe, who boasts a half marathon personal best of 58:05, and Daniel Mateiko, who has also run 58:17 for the half, are the most intriguing debutants.

On the women’s side, 2023 World champion Amane Beriso headlines the field with her 2:14:58 personal best from the 2022 Valencia Marathon, which puts her at No. 6 on the all-time list. Her fellow countrywomen Megertu Alemu (2:16:34) and Hiwot Gebrekidan (2:17:59) are the only two other women under 2:18.

American Sara Hall will be running her fourth marathon of the year. Biya Simbassa, who has a personal best of 2:10:34 and was 11th at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in February, is heading to Spain for his third career marathon.

Here’s a list of the notable men who are running…

Men’s Elite Field

 Kenenisa Bekele – 2:01:41

 Sisay Lemma – 2:01:48

 Birhanu Legese – 2:02:48

 Deresa Geleta – 2:03:27

 Guye Adola – 2:03:46

 Gashau Ayale – 2:04:53

 Tadesse Abraham – 2:05:01

 Alphonce Simbu – 2:05:39

 Sondre Moen – 2:05:48

 Samwel Fitwi – 2:06:27

 Andamlak Belihu – 2:06:40

 Maru Teferi – 2:06:43

 Shokhrukh Davlyatov – 2:07:02

 Richard Ringer – 2:07:05

 Zerei Kbrom – 2:07:10

 Iliass Aouani – 2:07:16

 Samuel Barata – 2:07:35

 Héctor Garibay – 2:07:44

 Ibrahim Chakir – 2:07:48

 Mohamed El Talhaoui – 2:08:03

 Peiyou Feng – 2:08:07

 Dani Mateo – 2:08:22

 Lahsene Bouchikhi – 2:08:36

 Abderrazak Charik – 2:08:37

 Andy Buchanan – 2:08:58

 Weldu Negash Gebretsadik – 2:09:14

 Therence Bizoza – 2:09:18

 Yohan Durand – 2:09:21

 Mohamed Chaaboud – 2:09:21

 Simon Boch – 2:09:25

 Yimer Getahun – 2:09:27

 Bukayawe Malede – 2:09:28

 Emmanuel Roudolff – 2:09:34

 Yohanes Chiappinelli – 2:09:46

 Stephen Scullion – 2:09:49

 Paulo Paula – 2:09:50

 Peter Herzog – 2:10:06

 Bart van Nunen – 2:10:16

 Felicien Muhitira – 2:10:17

 Dieter Kersten – 2:10:22

 Arkadiusz Gardielewski – 2:10:31

 Bjorn Koreman – 2:10:32

 Abbabiya Simbassa – 2:10:34

 Hicham Sigueni – 2:10:37

 Johannes Motschmann – 2:10:39

 Patricio Castillo – 2:10:40

 Jorge Blanco Alvarez – 2:10:49

 Archie Casteel – 2:10:49

 Yongzheng Huang – 2:10:49

 Jakoub Labquira – 2:10:50

 Alejandro Jiménez – 2:10:54

 Juan Luis Barrios – 2:10:55

 Thijs Nijhuis – 2:10:57

 Iraitz Arrospide – 2:10:59

 Christian Zamora – 2:11:02

 Nicolás Cuestas – 2:11:03

 Edward Cheserek – 2:11:07

 Kamil Jastrzebski – 2:11:09

 Necho Tayachew – 2:11:21

 Richard Douma – 2:11:21

 Linus Rosdahl – 2:11:30

 Mohamed El Ghazouany – 2:11:48

 Thomas do Canto – 2:11:51

 Hesiquio Flores – 2:11:57

 Ahmed Elhassouni – 2:12:12

 René Cunéaz – 2:12:48

 Mario Bauernfeind – 2:12:49

 Patrik Wageli – 2:12:58

 Jason Pointeau – 2:13:00

 Adam Lipschitz – 2:13:01

 Joris Keppens – 2:13:18

 Alexis Godefroy – 2:13:32

 Pierre Denays – 2:13:34

 Sebastian Sawe – Debut

 Daniel Mateiko – Debut

 Matthew Kimeli – Debut

 Dillon Maggard – Debut

Here’s a list of the notable women who are running…

 Amane Beriso – 2:14:58

 Megertu Alemu – 2:16:34

 Hiwot Gebrekidan – 2:17:59

 Tiruye Mesfin – 2:18:47

 Stella Chesang – 2:20:23

 Sara Hall – 2:20:32

 Majida Maayouf – 2:21:27

 Evaline Chirchir – 2:22:11

 Chimdesa Kumsa – 2:22:13

 Isobel Batt-Doyle – 2:23:27

 Malindi Elmore – 2:23:30

 Sofia Assefa – 2:23:33

 Fionnuala McCormack – 2:23:58

 Jessica Stenson – 2:24:01

 Gerda Steyn – 2:24:03

 Laura Hottenrott – 2:24:32

 Camilla Richardsson – 2:24:38

 Kaoutar Boulaid – 2:25:03

 Clara Evans – 2:25:04

 Fatima Azzaharaa Ouhaddou – 2:25:30

 Laura Luengo – 2:25:35

 Susana Santos – 2:25:35

 Moira Stewartova – 2:25:36

 Marie Perrier – 2:26:19

 Tereza Hrochová – 2:26:38

 Zhanna Mamazhanova – 2:26:42

 Aleksandra Brzezinska – 2:27:20

 Solange Jesus – 2:27:30

 Paola Bonilla – 2:27:38

 Nora Szabo – 2:28:25

 Jane Bareikis – 2:29:00

 Becky Briggs – 2:29:06

 Alice Wright – 2:29:08

 Roberta Groner – 2:29:09

 Molly Gravill – 2:29:45

 Monika Jackiewicz – 2:29:51

Event organizers announced the race will move forward as scheduled despite severe flooding and more than 200 deaths in the Valencia province. In a statement, organizers announced fundraising plans to aid the city and those affected by the recent storms and flooding.

Chebet and Aregawi poised to strike in Seville

The Cross Internacional de Itálica in Santiponce on the outskirts of the Spanish city of Seville – the fifth Gold standard meeting in the current World Athletics Cross Country Tour – always boasts a quality line-up, and this year’s race on Sunday (17) features the most prominent line-up so far this season.

Entries for the women’s race, contested over 7.5km, are headed by Kenya’s two-time world cross-country champion and double Olympic gold medalist Beatrice Chebet. The 24-year-old has enjoyed a superb season, topped by her 5000m and 10,000m titles at the Paris Olympics, three months after becoming the first woman to dip under the 29-minute barrier for the latter distance thanks to a 28:54.14 clocking in Eugene on 25 May.

Chebet, who is also the reigning world champion and world record holder for the road 5km, will be making her third appearance here following her runner-up spot in 2020 and her third place in 2021. It will be her first race since her 14:09.82 5000m victory at the Diamond League Final in Brussels.

She will start as the overwhelming favourite for the victory, though she’ll face quality opposition in the form of compatriot Mercy Chepkemoi and Kazakhstan’s Daisy Jepkemei. The latter finished seventh at this year’s World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, and more recently she captured a commanding win in Atapuerca last month.

Chepkemoi is fresh from a fine win in Cardiff last Saturday. She placed fourth over 5000m at the World U20 Championships in Lima in August, finishing just behind bronze medalist Charity Cherop of Uganda, who will also be racing in Santiponce this weekend.

The line-up also comprises Diana and Sharon Chepkemoi, who finished third and seventh respectively in the steeplechase in Lima. Both also competed in Soria last Sunday where they finished third (Diana) and fourth (Sharon).

Meanwhile, France’s Alice Finot, who set a European record of 8:58.67 when finishing fourth in the steeplechase at the Paris Olympics, will be contesting just her second cross-country race in the past seven years.

Portugal’s Mariana Machado recently finished sixth in Atapuerca, sandwiched between Spanish cross-country champion Carolina Robles and Olympic 1500m finalist Agueda Marques who finished fourth and seventh respectively there, closely followed by Maria Forero, the 2022 European U20 cross-country champion. All of them will renew their rivalry this weekend.

European 5000m bronze medalist Marta García, meanwhile, will be making her only cross-country outing of the winter before focusing on the indoor season.

The men’s race has been reduced to 7.5km which plays into the hands of the middle-distance specialists. But that shouldn’t be a problem for Olympic 10,000m silver medalist Berihu Aregawi, as the Ethiopian is also the third-fastest man in history over 3000m.

The 23-year-old opened the year in style by retaining his silver medal at the World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade before setting a 10,000m PB of 26:31.13 in Nerja. Following his Olympic silver in Paris, he clocked an Ethiopian record of 7:21.28 for 3000m and won the 5000m at the Diamond League Final in Brussels.

Sunday’s race will be Aregawi’s first cross-country outing this season, but fellow Etiopians Ayele Tadesse and Wegene Addisu have already made a mark on the tour, finishing second and fourth respectively in Soria last weekend.

Yet Aregawi’s fiercest opposition should come from Burundi’s Rodrigue Kwizera and Spain’s Thierry Ndikumwenayo. Kwizera is still unbeaten this cross-country season, having won in Amorebieta, Atapuerca and Soria. He has successively finished first, second and third on his appearances in Seville over the past three years.

Meanwhile, his training partner Ndikumwenayo – winner in Seville in 2022 – is the European 10,000m bronze medallist and lowered his 10,000m PB to 26:49.49 for ninth place at the Paris Olympics. Ndikumwenayo will travel to Seville from his altitude stint in Sierra Nevada where he’s building up for the European Cross Country Championchips in Antalya on 8 December.

Watch out too for Uruguay’s Santiago Catrofe. He boasts PBs of 7:37:15 for 3000m and 13:05.95 for 5000m and was a surprise winner in San Sebastian two weeks ago when he kicked away from Uganda’s Martin Kiprotich, who’ll also be in contention on Sunday.

Kiprotich will be joined by his compatriots Kenneth Kiprop, Dan Kibet and Hosea Kiplangat. The former is the world U20 5000m bronze medallist and triumphed in Cardiff where Kibet had to settle for third.

The Spanish charge will be led by European indoor 3000m silver medallist Adel Mechaal, US-based Aarón Las Heras, national 10km record-holder Abdessadam Oukhelfen, and the always consistent Nassim Hassaous.

Past winners in Seville include Fernando Mamede (1984 and 1985), Paul Tergat (1998 and 1999), Paula Radcliffe (2001), Kenenisa Bekele (2003, 2004 and 2007), Faith Kipyegon (2016), Joshua Cheptegei (2018) and Jacob Kiplimo (2019).

Temperatures between 22-24C are predicted for the time of the elite races on Sunday.

Kenya's Elisha Rotich eyes record breaking time at Frankfurt Marathon

Rotich who stands out in the men’s lineup with his exceptional personal best of 2:04:21 is eying a record time finish on the course.

Kenya’s elite marathoners are set for a fierce showdown at the Frankfurt Marathon this Sunday, with seasoned runner Elisha Rotich leading the charge.

Rotich, renowned for his prowess on the marathon circuit, stands out in the men’s lineup with his exceptional personal best of 2:04:21, achieved during his record-breaking win at the 2021 Paris Marathon.

This feat notably saw him surpass the esteemed Kenenisa Bekele’s best time, firmly establishing Rotich as a formidable presence in international marathon running.

Rotich has expressed confidence in his preparations, noting he has spent five intensive months training specifically for the Frankfurt Marathon.

“I’ve rigorously trained for five months targeting the Frankfurt Marathon. Favorable weather, cooler temperatures, and cooperative pacing within the lead group could facilitate sub-2:05 performances,” he shared via Watch Athletics.

Optimistic about favorable weather conditions and strong pacing, Rotich hopes these factors will help him achieve another remarkable sub-2:05 finish.

However, Rotich’s path to the top won’t be without challenge.

He faces tough competition from a talented Ethiopian quartet, including Lencho Tesfaye, who has a personal best of 2:06:18, Aychew Banti (2:06:23), Abay Alemu (2:06:50), and Birhan Nebebew (2:06:52).

Each of these runners has consistently delivered strong performances, underscoring the intense competition that awaits on Sunday.

In addition to Rotich, Kenya is represented by Reuben Kiprop (2:09:06), Bernard Muia (2:09:17), and Vincent Ronoh (2:09:21). T

his group, while less heralded, brings both depth and resilience to Kenya's bid for top honors in Frankfurt.

The women’s field also promises excitement, with Kenya’s Magdalyne Masai leading her country’s contingent with a commendable personal best of 2:22:16.

Masai will face tough competition from Ethiopia’s Shuko Genemo, who has clocked 2:21:35, and Meseret Dinke (2:22:35).

All eyes, however, remain on the 2019 Frankfurt course record of 2:19:10 set by Kenya’s Valary Aiyabei.

With such a strong lineup, the possibility of breaking Aiyabei’s record appears within reach.

Marathon great Kipchoge mentors refugee athletics team in Kapsabet

Renowned for his extraordinary athletics accomplishments and for being an inspiration, Kenya’s two-time Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge dedicated his time on Sunday (13) to mentor World Athletics Athlete Refugee Team members in Kapsabet.

“I came here to tell you that being a refugee is not the end of life. In fact, it is the beginning of life, because as a refugee you have a lot of fruits hanging in this world,” said Kipchoge. “Do not treat yourself less because you are refugees, we are all equal as human beings, we are all athletes.”

The athletes sat with their pens and notebooks open, ready to jot down the nuggets of wisdom on the fundamentals of a successful life shared by the marathon great. They listened intently.

“The whole world has recognised you as a country, are you happy?” Kipchoge asked.

The athletes responded with a resounding ‘yes’ and clapped.

“Being recognised means you are the best,” he added. “Have faith in yourself, in your school and your coaches. Have respect.”

The seven student-athletes in attendance at the Eliud Kipchoge Sports Complex included Perina Nakang, Mfite-Umukiza Jules, Estherina Julius and Zinad Akulang, who are part of the World Athletics Athlete Refugee Team, and Peter Lotino Akileo, Peter Lopeyok Michael and James Lokibich, who are athletes sponsored by the school. Coaches were also present.

They looked at Kipchoge with admiration; meeting him was a dream. They were surprised and inspired by the simplicity and humility of Kipchoge, who was accompanied by his fellow athlete Jonathan Korir.

“Finally, I have met him. He is somebody like me,” said Lopeyok Michael.

Jules added: “I didn't expect that he could talk like he did. I thought he was a different person, but I realised that Kipchoge is a very good person. He is a parent; he is very encouraging.”

It was a class, with Kipchoge writing out key points and explainers. The theme focused on empowering, inspiring and encouraging the athletes to take education and sports seriously.

The marathon legend emphasised self-discipline, making firm decisions and being consistent, as well as building confidence – all elements that provide a strong foundation in life. 

“For me, it is very important because when you have education and talent, you can be somebody,” explained Lopeyok Michael.

The day was not about how many Olympic medals or world records Kipchoge has achieved – in fact, those did not feature at all. Instead, Kipchoge was keen on changing the mindset of the athletes and shifting their perspective on life.

“In their faces I saw the future of the refugee team, I saw the future of their countries, I saw the future of sport” he said. “I am positive about the refugee team, they have a great future. In the whole world we have 206 countries participating in the Olympics, but we have plus one which is the Refugee Team, to make 207 countries – they have a big opportunity to grab.”

It was the reminder this team needed, having experienced extremely difficult and traumatic lives. But Kipchoge views their experience as the perfect springboard for mentorship.

“They are hard to mould and easy to mould at the same time,” he said. “Hard to mould because they have passed through hard life but all in all they are easy to mould because they understand tough life more than anybody else. So, you bring that tough life to education and sport here in Kenya, they are ready to move in.”

Posing questions to each athlete about their plans, Kipchoge discovered that they all harbour the ambition of becoming a legend, just like the man in front of them.

“To be like you, to succeed and help my family, respect others, to stay humble, respect my teammates, work on school assignments and work hard in athletics,” Julius answered.

“To focus on education, to love each other and share,” responded Lokibich.

The session was interactive and engaging. There were shared aspirations, along with moments of seriousness and laughter. 

“Do you want to be successful; own a car, a house, have money and a good life, or do you want to be a legend?” Kipchoge asked.

“Aim to become the legends of the refugees – being legendary is to make an impact on behalf of the refugees. It is a real success. But you have to study, train well and remain focused.

“Being successful does not happen in one night. Success takes time. If you love your life and sports, avoid drugs. True champions are winning by their own sweat, blood and hard work,” he added.

“The longer you are in sport, the more opportunities you secure. You must know what you want, and where you want to go in your education and athletics. You must fight for opportunities.”

The athletes were accompanied by their head coach Janeth Jepkosgei, the 2007 world 800m champion, and two other coaches.

“The mentorship session was important; these kids have been longing to meet Eliud,” said Jepkosgei. “The team will see their lives differently. They are motivated and encouraged and believe that education and athletics can change your life and community, and it's an inspiration for them.”

Giving a message to the coaches, Kipchoge said: “You have to develop cohesiveness; these athletes must be free to speak to you. You know how to mentor, nurture and make talent propel.”

Then it was time for the athletes and coaches to ask Kipchoge some questions.

“My dream to meet you has come true. You have told us to know ourselves and believe we can. In your career, have you ever hit a wall with no results, yet you trained well and wanted to give up?” Jules asked.

Kipchoge replied: “The moment you perform, you have gone through challenges people do not know. I have been through a lot, but I keep pushing. You have to experience pain and frustrations so that you know how to handle success when it lands on you.”

He was also asked: “How do you feel when lining up with other champions, like (Kenenisa) Bekele?”

“Treat yourself as the best one,” Kipchoge responded. “At the start, tell yourself you have trained better than everybody else and during exams tell yourself that you have studied more than everybody else. Compete with yourself.”

Kipchoge’s remarkable athletics career, which spans 22 years, is older than the refugee athletes he mentored, as they are aged between 17 and 21 years. By sharing his experience, Kipchoge reminded them that despite his athletics triumphs, he has navigated challenges and even inner turmoil.

“He has given me and the team a lot of advice, including that I have to respect myself, my coach, my teachers and my teammates. He has been through a lot of challenges in his career, but he did not give up. Even us, we have experienced a tough life, but we are holding on,” said Nakang, who competed at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Mentorship is something that Kipchoge takes seriously. In 2023, he became mentor to the U20 World Athletics Athlete Refugee Team. Through this role, Kipchoge inspires the upcoming generation.

“I treat the U20 athletes as the next generation,” he said. “I want to inspire them to run for the next 20-plus years because I want them to proceed beyond 2045, in the future promoting sport, competing for their countries, loving the sport, promoting education and bringing development and exposure to their countries.”

The 39-year-old, who holds five of the 11 fastest marathon times in history, has given a seal of approval to the World Athletics Athlete Refugee Team programme, which has been running since 2016.

“It is a plus; a firm and positive decision by World Athletics,” he said. “Let this project continue, let it flow. These are the flowers of World Athletics, what they are injecting in the form of finance and infrastructure to refugee athletes, they have shown these are real flowers of what they have been doing.”

Cherop, Negewo and Kipkemoi are set to challenge for victory in Istanbul

A mix of highly experienced marathon runners with strong personal records and younger challengers could produce some fascinating races at the 46th Türkiye Is Bankasi Istanbul Marathon on November 3rd.

Ethiopia’s Abebe Negewo and Kenneth Kipkemoi of Kenya head the current start list with personal bests of sub 2:05:00. Kenya’s former World Championships’ marathon bronze medalist Sharon Cherop is the fastest woman on the list with 2:22:28. Cherop, Negewo and Kipkemoi have all turned 40 this year, but they are still going very strong. They will have to hit top form if they want to challenge for victory in Istanbul. Ethiopians Kelkile Gezahegn and Sentayehu Lewetegn will be among their rivals while 24 year-old debutante Betty Kibet of Kenya could produce a surprise.

A total of 42,500 runners have entered the race that leads the athletes from the Asian side of the city onto the July 15 Martyrs Bridge and then into the European part of Istanbul. 7,500 of them will run the classic distance on 3rd November. The event is a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race, which guarantees high standards in every aspect. Entries will still be accepted until next Monday (October  14th) at: https://maraton.istanbul

“No marathon is run in a city that bears the traces of three great empires that have left a significant mark on world history. No marathon passes over a bridge that connects continents above a magnificent strait. Thanks to this unique feature, we believe that the Türkiye Is Bankasi Istanbul Marathon is the best thematic marathon in the world,” said Race Director Renay Onur.

There are now many examples of runners who have turned 40 and still going strong: Kenenisa Bekele, Tadesse Abraham or Edna Kiplagat are among them. With a personal best of 2:04:51 Abebe Negewo is the runner with the fastest PB in the Istanbul field. He ran this time in Valencia in 2019 when he was fourth. While Negewo, who is also known as Abebe Degefa, has not raced as often as during his early career he produced one excellent marathon in each year: 2:05:27 in Valencia in 2021, 2:06:05 in Hamburg in 2022 and 2:08:12 in Rotterdam last year. Negewo has not competed yet this year, so if he wants to continue this streak of strong results Istanbul will be his best chance.

Kenneth Kipkemoi is the other top-class marathon runner in Istanbul’s men’s field who turned 40 this year. The Kenyan’s last three marathons were consistently fast: Kipkemoi ran 2:08:15 in Rotterdam in 2023 and then won the Eindhoven Marathon in the autumn with a personal best of 2:04:52. This year he returned to Rotterdam where he was fourth with 2:05:43.

Two Ethiopians who are more than ten years younger will be among the favourites as well. 28 year-old Kelkile Gezahegn, who has a PB of 2:05:56, is a runner who focusses fully on the classic distance. Since the start of his international career in 2016 he competed only in city marathons. He managed to win all his first four marathons in the year 2016, all in China. “The marathon is my distance,“ said Kellie Gezahegn when he won the Frankfurt Marathon in 2018. Dejene Debela is 29 years old and ran his personal best of 2:05:46 when he was runner-up in Chicago in 2019. After a two year-break, which seems to have been injury related, he came back this year with 2:09:33 in Taiyuan, China.

Sharon Cherop is the most prominent athlete in the elite field of the Türkiye Is Bankasi Istanbul Marathon. The 40 year-old Kenyan took the bronze medal in the marathon at the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, in 2011. A year later Cherop won the prestigious Boston Marathon and in 2013 she clocked her PB of 2:22:28 when she was runner-up in Berlin. This PB makes her the fastest woman on the start list in Istanbul. Sharon Cherop is still going strong. Last year she won the Milan Marathon and this spring she was second in Hannover with 2:24:41. “I think I can run for a couple of more years,“ she said after the race in Germany.

Sentayehu Lewetegn will be among Sharon Cherop’s challengers. The Ethiopian ran a strong debut in Frankfurt in 2018 with 2:22:45 for sixth place. The 28 year-old could not improve this PB yet, but she came close in Ljubljana: Two years ago she was second there with 2:22:36.

Betty Kibet is an athlete who could have an immediate impact in the marathon. The 24 year-old Kenyan will run her debut over the classic distance in Istanbul. While she has a promising 66:37 half marathon PB she ran the Türkiye Is Bankasi Istanbul Half Marathon this April and finished sixth with a fine 68:39. Betty Kibet, who was a world-class junior athlete in her early career, has a strong 10k PB of 31:08 and ran 1:21:43 in Kolkata, India, for 25k in December last year.

Ketema and Takele head entries for 50th Berlin Marathon

Ethiopia’s Tigist Ketema and Tadese Takele start as the fastest in the fields and will be hoping to lead the way when they line up for the BMW Berlin Marathon, a World Athletics Platinum Label road race, on Sunday (29).

Ketema, previously better known as an 800m and 1500m specialist, made her mark in the marathon in Dubai in January as she ran 2:16:07, a time that places her ninth on the women’s world marathon all-time list. She then ran 2:23:21 to place seventh in London in April and Berlin will be her first race since then.

“I have prepared for a personal best and plan to run the first half on Sunday in around 68 minutes,” she said. “I hope it won't be too cold because I prefer to run in slightly warmer weather.”

Ketema is one of three women with sub-2:20 PBs on the entry list, as her competition includes her compatriots Genzebe Dibaba and Yebrugal Melese, who have respective PBs of 2:18:05 and 2:19:36.

Dibaba ran that PB on her debut in Amsterdam in 2022 and she clocked 2:21:47 in Chicago a year later. “I saw Haile Gebrselassie run two world records in Berlin on TV and since then I've always wanted to run in Berlin,” she said. “Now the time has come. It would be a success for me if I ran a personal best.”

Another eight women on the entry list have dipped under 2:22 for the marathon in their careers so far, including Mestawot Fikir (2:20:45), Azmera Gebru (2:20:48), Sisay Gola (2:20:50), Fikrte Wereta (2:21:32) and Aberu Ayana (2:21:54), as well as Japan’s Mizuki Matsuda (2:20:52) and Ai Hosoda (2:21:42). 

Germany’s Melat Kejeta is also part of that group, having clocked 2:21:47 in Dubai in January. She placed sixth at the Tokyo Olympics but was unable to finish the Olympic marathon in Paris due to stomach problems. 

A total of 13 world records have so far been set in the Berlin Marathon, the most recent being the 2:11:53 by Tigist Assefa – a training partner of Ketema – in last year’s women’s race.

The men’s title on that occasion was won by Eliud Kipchoge, as he claimed a record fifth victory.

Kipchoge does not return this year but Takele does, following his third-place finish in last year’s race in a PB of 2:03:24. That was his most recent race due to injury, but he says he is now fit and ready to run. “I’ve trained very well,” he said, “and expect to run a strong race.”

Another four men to have dipped under 2:05 feature on the entry list, including Kenya’s Cybrian Kotut, who ran his PB of 2:04:34 when finishing second in Amsterdam last year, and Ethiopia’s Hailemaryam Kiros and Bazezew Asmare, who respectively clocked 2:04:41 in Paris in 2021 and 2:04:57 in Amsterdam in 2022.

Kenya’s former world half marathon record-holder Kibiwott Kandie races the marathon for the third time and will be looking to build on the PB of 2:04:48 he set in Valencia last year as he hunts for a first win over the distance.

They will be joined by athletes including Kenya’s Samwel Mailu, the world half marathon bronze medallist who set a course record of 2:05:08 to win the Vienna City Marathon last year and continues his comeback after injury, and Ethiopia’s Milkesa Mengesha, who finished sixth at the World Championships last year and has a best of 2:05:29.

Elite fields

Women

Tigist Ketema (ETH) 2:16:07

Genzebe Dibaba (ETH) 2:18:05

Yebrugal Melese (ETH) 2:19:36

Mestawot Fikir (ETH) 2:20:45

Azmera Gebru (ETH) 2:20:48

Sisay Gola (ETH) 2:20:50

Mizuki Matsuda (JPN) 2:20:52

Fikrte Wereta (ETH) 2:21:32

Ai Hosoda (JPN) 2:21:42

Melat Kejeta (GER) 2:21:47

Aberu Ayana (ETH) 2:21:54

Calli Hauger-Thackery (GBR) 2:22:17

Bekelech Gudeta (ETH) 2:22:54

Lisa Weightman (AUS) 2:23:15

Betelihem Afenigus (ETH) 2:23:20

Veronica Maina (KEN) 2:24:46

Bosena Mulatie (ETH) 2:26:59

Alisa Vainio (FIN) 2:27:26

Sonia Samuels (GBR) 2:28:04

Nora Szabo (HUN) 2:28:25

Philippa Bowden (USA) 2:29:14

Pauline Esikon (KEN) debut

Men

Tadese Takele (ETH) 2:03:24

Cybrian Kotut (KEN) 2:04:34

Hailemaryam Kiros (ETH) 2:04:41

Kibiwott Kandie (KEN) 2:04:48

Bazezew Asmare (ETH) 2:04:57

Samwel Mailu (KEN) 2:05:08

Milkesa Mengesha (ETH) 2:05:29

Haymanot Alew (ETH) 2:05:30

Philimon Kipchumba (KEN) 2:05:35

Josphat Boit (KEN) 2:05:42 

Dejene Megersa (ETH) 2:05:42

Enock Onchari (KEN) 2:05:47 

Oqbe Ruesom (ERI) 2:05:51

Justus Kangogo (KEN) 2:05:57

Haimro Alame (ISR) 2:06:04

Ashenafi Moges (ETH) 2:06:12

Asbel Rutto (KEN) 2:07:04

Samuel Tsegay (SWE) 2:06:53

Yohei Ikeda (JPN) 2:06:53

Stephen Kiprop (KEN) 2:07:04

Hendrik Pfeiffer (GER) 2:07:14

Kento Kikutani (JPN) 2:07:26

Melaku Belachew (ETH) 2:07:28

Godadaw Belachew (ISR) 2:07:45Y

uhei Urano (JPN) 2:07:52

Guojian Dong (CHN) 2:08:12

Filimon Abraham (GER) 2:08:22

Haftom Welday (GER) 2:08:24

Sebastian Hendel (GER) 2:08:51

Olonbayar Jamsran (MGL) 2:08:58

Haftamu Gebresilase (ETH) debut

50th BMW Berlin-Marathon Sunday: Deep fields promise fast and exciting races in Berlin’s jubilee marathon

The 50th edition of the BMW Berlin Marathon promises fast and exciting elite races. Deep fields will be assembled with 14 men who have already run sub 2:06:00. While there is no strong favourite among them it is different with the women: Ethiopia’s Tigist Ketema heads the list with her stunning 2:16:07 debut time, which makes her the ninth-fastest marathon runner ever.

Ten more women have personal bests of sub 2:22:00. Thirteen world records were broken in the history of the BMW Berlin Marathon, many more than in any other marathon. The jubilee edition of Germany’s most spectacular road race will have a record number of around 50,000 participants. 

Men’s field

Without Kenya’s superstar Eliud Kipchoge, the winner of the past two editions, the fastest on paper is Tadese Takele. The Ethiopian was third in Berlin a year ago when he improved to 2:03:24. Since another fast race is expected Takele will probably have to run quicker to be in contention for the prestigious marathon victory at the Brandenburg Gate.

Fellow Kenyan Kibiwott Kandie could well challenge for his first triumph over the classic distance. The Kenyan is the former world half marathon record holder (57:32) with great potential. Germany’s Hendrik Pfeiffer leads a group of strong domestic runners. He improved to 2:07:14 early this year in Houston.

Women’s field

Tigist Ketema stormed to a sensational victory in Dubai at the beginning of the year, clocking an unofficial world debut record of 2:16:07. Coming to another very fast course now the training partner of Tigst Assefa, who smashed the world record here with 2:11:53 a year ago, might look to improve her personal best.

The women’s field includes a former world record holder as well, but at a much shorter distance: Genzebe Dibaba ran 3:50.07 in the 1,500m in 2015. When she switched to the marathon she ran a fast debut with 2:18:05 in Amsterdam two years ago.

Unfortunately, Kenya’s Rosemary Wanjiru had to cancel her start due to injury. But Germany’s Melat Kejeta is a late addition to the field. She dropped out of the Olympic Marathon early because of stomach problems and now hopes to bounce back in Berlin with a personal best. Kejeta might well try to become the second German woman after Irina Mikitenko (2:19:19 in Berlin in 2008) to break 2:20:00.

MEN

Tadese Takele ETH 2:03:24

Cybrian Kotut KEN 2:04:34

Hailemaryam Kiros ETH 2:04:41

Kibiwott Kandie  KEN 2:04:48

Bazezew Asmare ETH 2:04:57

Samwel Mailu KEN 2:05:08

Milkesa Mengesha ETH 2:05:29

Haymanot Alew ETH 2:05:30

Philimon Kipchumba KEN 2:05:35

Josphat Boit  KEN  2:05:42 

Dejene Megersa  ETH  2:05:42

Enock Onchari  KEN  2:05:47 

Oqbe Ruesom  ERI  2:05:51

Justus Kangogo  KEN  2:05:57

Haimro Alame  ISR  2:06:04

Ashenafi Moges  ETH  2:06:12

Asbel Rutto  KEN  2:07:04

Samuel Tsegay  SWE  2:06:53

Yohei Ikeda  JPN  2:06:53

Stephen Kiprop KEN  2:07:04

Hendrik Pfeiffer  GER 2:07:14

Kento Kikutani JPN 2:07:26

Melaku Belachew ETH 2:07:28

Godadaw Belachew  ISR 2:07:45

Yuhei Urano  JPN 2:07:52

Guojian Dong CHN 2:08:12

Filimon Abraham GER 2:08:22

Haftom Welday GER 2:08:24

Sebastian Hendel GER 2:08:51

Olonbayar Jamsran  MGL 2:08:58

Haftamu Gebresilase ETH Debut

WOMEN

Tigist Ketema ETH 2:16:07

Genzebe Dibaba ETH 2:18:05

Yebrugal Melese ETH 2:19:36

Mestawot Fikir ETH 2:20:45

Azmera Gebru ETH 2:20:48

Sisay Gola ETH 2:20:50

Mizuki Matsuda JPN 2:20:52

Fikrte Wereta  ETH 2:21:32

Ai Hosoda  JPN  2:21:42

Melat Kejeta GER 2:21:47

Aberu Ayana  ETH  2:21:54

Calli Hauger-Thackery GBR 2:22:17

Bekelech Gudeta  ETH  2:22:54

Lisa Weightman  AUS  2:23:15

Betelihem Afenigus  ETH  2:23:20

Veronica Maina   KEN  2:24:46

Bosena Mulatie ETH 2:26:59

Alisa Vainio FIN 2:27:26

Sonia Samuels  GBR 2:28:04

Nora Szabo  HUN 2:28:25

Philippa Bowden USA 2:29:14

Pauline Esikon KEN Debut

Kandie spearheads star-studded field to Berlin Marathon

Former World Half Marathon record holder Kibiwott Kandie spearheads a stellar lineup at the Berlin Marathon on September 29. 

The organisers anticipate a record-breaking turnout of over 50,000 participants, surpassing last year’s 48,000.

“The organisers of the BMW Berlin Marathon are expecting a record number of more than 50,000 runners on September 29, when Germany's most high-class and spectacular road race will take place for the 50th time,” the organisers said in a statement.

“However, two names are missing from the start list this time. Kenya's superstar Eliud Kipchoge and Ethiopia's running legend Kenenisa Bekele. For the first time since 2014, neither of them will be taking part in Berlin.”

Kipchoge is the all-time Berlin Marathon champion having won a record five times. Last year, Kipchoge cut the tape in 2:02:42 followed by Vincent Kipkemoi (2:03:13) and Tadese Tekele of Ethiopia (2:03:24).

Kandie is a three-time Valencia Half Marathon champion from 2020 (57:32), 2022 (58:10) and 2023 (57:40).

He boasts titles from the 2020 Prague Half Marathon (58:38), the 2022 Adizero Road to Records 10km race (26:50) and the 2020 Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon (58:58).

He has a silver at the 2020 World Half Marathon Championships (58:54) and a bronze in the 10,000m at the 2022 Commonwealth Games (27:20.34).

He will team up with 2022 Castellon Marathon winner Ronald Korir, Amsterdam Marathon runner-up Cyprian Kotut, 2023 World Road Running bronze medallist Samwel Mailu and Shanghai Marathon champion Philemon Kiptoo.

Ethiopia’s Takele, last year’s silver medallist, is expected to pose a serious challenge for the Kenyans, alongside compatriot Hailemaryam Kiros, the 2023 Osaka Marathon champion.

Tokyo Marathon runner-up Rosemary Wanjiru leads the charge in the women’s elite race.

The 29-year-old’s accolades include victories at the 2023 Tokyo Marathon (2:16:28) and the Hokuren Distance Challenge in the 10,000m (30:38.18) in Japan.

She is also a runner-up at the 2020 Valencia 10km Road race (29:50) and the 2022 Berlin Marathon (2:18:00).

She faces a rich Ethiopian contingent led by Dubai Marathon champion Tigist Ketema, 2018 Shanghai Marathon champion Yebrgual Melese, Paris Marathon champion Mestawut Fikir and 2023 Osaka Marathon runner-up Sisay Meseret.

Also in the mix is three-time Osaka Marathon champion Mizuki Matsuda of Japan.

Wanjiru and Takele return for 50th Berlin Marathon

Four women with sub-2:20 PBs and six men to have dipped under 2:05 feature on the entry lists for the BMW Berlin Marathon, a World Athletics Platinum Label road race, on September 29.

Ethiopia’s Tigist Ketema and Kenya’s Rosemary Wanjiru top the women’s entry list with PBs that put them in the top 10 on the world marathon all-time list.

Ketema, who had been better known as an 800m and 1500m specialist, stormed into the marathon spotlight in Dubai in January as she ran 2:16:07, a time that makes her the ninth-fastest women’s marathon runner in history. She followed that with 2:23:21 for seventh place in London in April and Berlin will be her first race since then.

Just one place behind Ketema on the all-time list is Wanjiru, who clocked 2:16:14 to finish second in Tokyo in March. That followed her sixth place in the World Championships marathon in Budapest and victory in the Tokyo Marathon last year. Wanjiru also finished second in Berlin in 2022, running 2:18:00 on her debut.

Joining them on the start line are Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba and Yebrugal Melese, who have respective PBs of 2:18:05 and 2:19:36, plus their compatriots Mestawot Fikir (2:20:45), Azmera Gebru (2:20:48), Sisay Gola (2:20:50), Ababel Yeshaneh (2:20:51) and Fikrte Wereta (2:21:32), as well as Japan’s Mizuki Matsuda (2:20:52).

A total of 13 world records have so far been set in the Berlin Marathon, the most recent being the 2:11:53 by Tigist Assefa in last year’s women’s race.

The men’s title on that occasion was won by Eliud Kipchoge, as he claimed a record fifth victory.

This year, for the first time since 2014, the men’s race will not feature Kipchoge or Kenenisa Bekele – who between them have won the race seven times, with two of Kipchoge’s wins having been claimed in world records – but fast times will still be the target.

Among those who will be returning to Berlin are Ethiopia’s Tadese Takele and Ronald Korir of Kenya, who placed third and fourth last year in respective PBs of 2:03:24 and 2:04:22. 

Kenya’s Cybrian Kotut ran his PB of 2:04:34 when finishing second in Amsterdam last year and makes his Berlin Marathon debut, while Ethiopia’s Hailemaryam Kiros and Bazezew Asmare have also broken 2:05 in their careers so far, respectively running 2:04:41 in Paris in 2021 and 2:04:57 in Amsterdam in 2022.

Kenya’s Kibiwott Kandie races the marathon for the third time. The former world half marathon record-holder, who clocked 57:32 for 13.1 miles in 2020, will be looking to build on the PB of 2:04:48 he set in Valencia last year.

Also seeking a spot on the podium will be Kenya’s Samwel Mailu, the world half marathon bronze medallist who set a course record of 2:05:08 to win the Vienna City Marathon last year and continues his comeback after injury.

50th BMW BERLIN-MARATHON ON 29 SEPTEMBER: ELITE FIELD

The men’s elite field for the 50th edition of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON race comes with a change that reflects the recent development at the very top of elite marathon racing.

It will be the first time since 2014 that you will not find the name of either Eliud Kipchoge or Kenenisa Bekele on the start list of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. However the Elite Race Director of the marathon where most world records (13) were broken, Mark Milde, can be confident that not so much will change regarding the outcome. Although world-records will not be the target on 29th September, the jubilee race could well deliver extraordinary fast times yet again. 

A record number of more than 50,000 runners are expected to run the 50th BMW BERLIN-MARATHON on 29th September. The race, that saw its first edition back in 1974 with 244 finishers, never had over 50,000 runners before.

From those on the men’s start list at least one has the potential to become Kenya’s next marathon superstar: Kibiwott Kandie is a former world half marathon record holder with a personal best of 57:32. This time suggests that he could become one of the fastest marathon runners of all time if he can transform his talent to the classic distance. The 28 year-old, who has a current PB of 2:04:48 and was inspired by former Berlin world record breaker Paul Tergat, is one of half a dozen runners who feature very strong personal bests of sub 2:05:00. 

Returning to the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON will be Ethiopia’s Tadese Takele and Ronald Korir of Kenya, who placed third and fourth last year. Both ran their personal bests of 2:03:24 and 2:04:22 here. Kenya’s Cybrian Kotut, a younger brother of former Abbott World Marathon Majors Champion Martin Lel, will run his first BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. Kotut features a PB of 2:04:34. Ethiopians Hailemaryam Kiros (2:04:41) and Bazezew Asmare (2:04:57) are the other two runners with sub 2:05 PBs. Another runner who could challenge for a place on the podium is Samwel Mailu. The Kenyan smashed the course record of the Vienna City Marathon last year with 2:05:08. Due to an injury the bronze medallist from the 2023 World Half Marathon Championships was unable to compete this spring.

The women’s race could see a battle between Ethiopia’s newcomer Tigist Ketema and Kenya’s Rosemary Wanjiru. With their personal bests they are among the top ten on the marathon all-time list. Tigist Ketema took the Dubai Marathon this year with an unofficial world debut record of 2:16:07.

She is a training partner of Tigst Assefa, who smashed the world record at the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON a year ago. Rosemary Wanjiru ran her marathon debut in Berlin two years ago and finished second with a brilliant 2:18:00. This year she improved to 2:16:14 when she was runner-up in Tokyo. 

Former 1,500m world record holder Genzebe Dibaba, who is the younger sister of Ethiopian running legend Tirunesh Dibaba, will hope to achieve a fast time on the flat Berlin course. She ran a 2:18:05 debut in Amsterdam two years ago, but was not yet able to improve this time. Genzebe Dibaba was the 2014 Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year. Fellow-Ethiopian Yebrgual Melese is the fourth woman on the start list who has a sub 2:20 PB with 2:19:36.

Elite Runners for the 50th BMW BERLIN-MARATHON:

MEN

Tadese Takele ETH 2:03:24

Ronald Korir KEN 2:04:22

Cybrian Kotut KEN 2:04:34

Hailemaryam Kiros ETH 2:04:41

Kibiwott Kandie  KEN 2:04:48

Bazezew Asmare ETH 2:04:57

Samwel Mailu KEN 2:05:08

Milkesa Mengesha ETH 2:05:29

Haymanot Alew ETH 2:05:30

Philimon Kipchumba KEN 2:05:35

Stephen Kiprop KEN 2:07:04

WOMEN

Tigist Ketema ETH 2:16:07

Rosemary Wanjiru KEN 2:16:14

Genzebe Dibaba ETH 2:18:05

Yebrugal Melese ETH 2:19:36

Mestawot Fikir ETH 2:20:45

Azmera Gebru ETH 2:20:48

Sisay Gola ETH 2:20:50

Ababel Yeshaneh  ETH 2:20:51

Mizuki Matsuda JPN 2:20:52

Fikrte Wereta  ETH 2:21:32

Ethiopia’s late sub Tola wins marathon in Olympic record in brutal conditions over hugely challenging course

Tamirat Tola, called into the Ethiopian team as a late replacement, won the men’s marathon title in an Olympic record of 2:06:26 in brutal heat and humidity over a course of hugely demanding hills, with Belgium’s Bashir Abdi earning silver in 2:06:47.

Kenya’s Benson Kipruto, fastest in the world this year after winning the Tokyo marathon in 2:02:16, marked his Olympic debut with bronze in 2:07:00 on a day when his 39-year-old compatriot Eliud Kipchoge, seeking a third consecutive title, failed to finish.

Britain’s Emile Cairess, making his Olympic debut, finished in fourth place, clocking 2:07:29 after moving past Ethiopia’s Deresa Geleta in the finishing stages, with the latter recording 2:07:31 and finishing a second ahead of Japan’s Akira Akasaki, who set a personal best.

In the circumstances it was scarcely creditable that Tola bettered the Olympic mark of 2:06:32 set at the Beijing 2008 Games by the late Kenyan runner Sammy Wanjiru.

Huge crowds lined the route in the closing stages, and the spectacle concluded amid packed grandstands in front of Les Invalides, its gilded dome glinting in the morning sunshine.

On a day like this, on a course like this, there was something fitting about the race concluding alongside the building constructed in the 17th century as a haven for disabled soldiers. Everyone completing the course today was a warrior.

Tola, the 2022 world champion, thus joins the fabled list of fellow Ethiopians who have won this prized race – Abebe Bikila in 1960 and 1964, Mamo Wolde in 1968 and Gezahegne Abera in 2000 – and added gold to the Olympic 10,000m bronze he won in 2016.

For an Ethiopian team that has not enjoyed its customary success on the track, this was a day of days – and they will have hopes of further success when the athletics programme concludes with the women’s marathon tomorrow.

“I am happy today because I fulfilled my goal,” said Tola, Ethiopia’s first gold medallist of these Games. “I prepared well. I trained hard so I could win. In my life, this is my great achievement.

“I was the reserve in the Ethiopian team, but when Sisay (Lemma) had injuries, then I had a chance to represent him. I was fully prepared and knew I could fulfil my dream. I am happy to do that today.

“This is the Olympics and it is not easy to win the Olympic Games, not at all. I am very proud, very happy.”

Abdi, who has recently recovered from a stress fracture of the hip, commented: "The course was very tough today. I tried not to lose a lot of energy. I tried to run as smartly as possible, so I am very, very happy with this result.

"The weather was hot, (the terrain featured) a lot of ups and downs. Actually, I expected going uphill would be most challenging, but I found going downhill most difficult.

“It was very steep and you don’t have control of your body. That was very scary, especially after 29km, we had almost 2km of running downhill and it was just going more down and down, and I was really afraid of falling.

"This is the hardest marathon course I’ve ever run."

Asked about his return from injury, he added: "It was really a long journey. At the beginning of the year I got a stress fracture, which meant I couldn’t run any races. I came here without any preparation and didn’t know what to expect.

"I told myself before I started, 'OK, you don’t have any race rhythm, but you are fresh, it is your first race of the season, you will be the only guy who is fresh’. That’s what I was repeating to myself during the race."

Kipruto commented: “The course was tough but I’m happy with the result I posted. I trained with the mind first before going to the legs and the heart. Running uphill and downhill was not easy.

“This was the hardest marathon I have run, and a different experience because it was my first Olympic Games."

"I saw Tola pushing but I said, 'no, it’s too early', so I tried to close the gap slowly."

Always in touch with the lead, Tola first took control of the race just after the 20km mark as the field came to the brow of the first long climb, overtaking Italy’s Eyob Faniel, who had pushed ahead by 23 seconds at the 15km mark before the start of the grinding uphill stretch.

The pack, led by Akasaki, Geleta and South Africa’s Elroy Gelant, caught up with him by the 25km mark, which was passed in 1:16:08, but Tola made his decisive move in the hardest part of the course – a brutal, extended climb from 27.5km to 29km involving a 16 per cent incline.

The pack soon became a straggling line as each runner worked out the best way of coping with a challenge so severe that some coaches here had been wondering whether it might be best for their charges to walk this stretch.

Once he got to the brow of the hill, he made the most of it, accelerating away from his labouring rivals and establishing an 11-second lead as he went through 30km in 1:32:12.

Such were the ups and downs of the route that it almost resembled a roller-coaster – but one which guaranteed no one involved had any fun at the fair.

The crucial question at this point was: could Tola, alone, resist the pack that was gradually re-gathering behind him? The answer became gradually and gloriously clear. Tola was never headed thereafter.

At 35km his lead was 18 seconds, at 40km it was 22 seconds. No one was going to stop him.

It was a tribute to Tola’s dedication that he should have been so patently ready to take on this monster of a marathon course at such short notice following the injury to Lemma, who won this year’s Boston Marathon in 2:06:17, having moved to fourth on the world all-time list with his 2:01:48 victory in Valencia last year.

They were huge super-shoes to fill – but Tola did so magnificently.

For Kipchoge it was clear well before the halfway point that he was not going to be challenging for a third consecutive title as he began dropping back, his hand going to his left hip as his face registered discomfort and pain. He dropped out shortly after falling back to 71st position at 30km.

Meanwhile his long-time rival Kenenisa Bekele, returning aged 42 to the Olympic arena where he won three golds and a silver on the track, finished 39th in 2:12:24.

"Around 15km my hamstring felt stretched, so I could not do any more after that,” Bekele said. “Even after 10km I was feeling the strain, so I knew I could not catch up with the leaders."

"It is fantastic that Ethiopia won the race. Tola is very strong, and I am happy for him."

"People have been talking about me and Kipchoge, but you see it was the young generation today. These guys are stronger than us.”

Joshua Cheptegei reigns in 10,000

The 27-year-old Ugandan, who took silver in Tokyo and gold over 5,000m, produced a devastating last 600m to come home in 26:43.14 minutes, knocking 18 seconds off Kenenisa Bekele’s 2008 Olympic record

World record holder Joshua Cheptegei claimed the Olympic 10,000m title he so desperately wanted on Friday when he found a late surge to win a fantastic race and take the Games' first track gold.

The 27-year-old Ugandan, who took silver in Tokyo and gold over 5,000m, produced a devastating last 600m to come home in 26:43.14 minutes, knocking 18 seconds off Kenenisa Bekele’s 2008 Olympic record.

Berihu Aregawi, part of a three-pronged Ethiopian front-running group almost from the start, finished strongly for silver in 26:43.44 and Grant Fisher took a superb bronze in 26:43.46 — only the United States' fourth medal over the distance since the event was added to the Games in 1912.

Cheptegei, world champion in 2019, 2022 and 2023, was surprisingly beaten to gold by Ethiopian Selemon Barega in Tokyo and was desperate for revenge. "My collection for this run is really complete. I'm so excited," he told reporters.

"I said, 'one day I want to be Olympic champion'. It is the most special day. I can’t describe the feeling. I’ve wanted this for a long time. When I took silver in Tokyo I was so disappointed. I just wanted to win the 10,000m."

There Are Going to Be People Walking:’ A Look at the Grueling Olympic Marathon Course

Getting to run by all those historic spots requires some epic climbs and descents.The final weekend of the 2024 Paris Olympics will host back-to-back days of thrilling marathons. These prestigious races, set against the backdrop of two of France’s most iconic landscapes—Paris and Versailles—will weave through a tapestry of history, culture, and breathtaking scenery. They begin on August 10 with the men’s race, and then, in a nod to the 40th anniversary of the first women’s Olympic Marathon in Los Angeles, the Paris Olympics will conclude on August 11 with the women’s race for the first time in history.

Here are some of the key details you’ll want to know:

What sites will the runners pass?

It’s not a bad way to tour the area, and it’s quite different than the Paris Marathon that is held each April. Athletes will find themselves tracing a route that dances through nine arrondissements (neighborhoods) of Paris along the banks of the Seine. The runners will begin at the Hôtel de Ville, or city hall, and then pass landmarks such as the Palais Garnier opera house, Place Vendôme, the Louvre museum, and past the Trocadéro. 

Next, they will leave the city to run through historic French towns, including Sevres, on their way to Versailles. The return to the city is a different route and will take them through the Forêt Domaniale de Meudon, a forest. When back in the city, they will be on the Left Bank and run past the Eiffel Tower as well as Parisian neighborhoods. The race ends at the Esplanade des Invalides, in which Napoleon is buried.

This route is based on significant French history. In October 1789, between 6,000 and 7,000 Parisian women, joined by men, marched from the Hôtel de Ville through the city to Versailles. It was because of that march that Louis XVI agreed to ratify the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens. The marathoners are symbolically running in their footsteps. 

How tough is the course?

Unlike some more recent Olympics and U.S. Marathon Trials races, this course isn’t a circuit of repeated loops. Instead, it’s a full loop starting in Paris and loops down to Versailles outside of the city. 

While the elevation profile for the first nine miles looks fairly tame, once the runners are past the halfway mark the landscape changes. The most notable course feature is the three uphill stretches—they’re incredibly steep and very long. 

The first big hill comes just before the 10-mile mark, and it climbs at a 4 percent grade, which is roughly the same as Boston’s famed Newton hills. The difference with the Paris version is that it ascends for about 1.25 miles before it levels off for a bit. (Boston’s longest hill is less than half a mile, according to Sean Hartnett, emeritus professor of geography at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, who specializes in marathon routes and other running competitions.)

The next hill at the 12-mile mark is at 5 percent, steeper than anything on the Boston course and 900 meters long. But those two are just appetizers for the real challenge. That hits just after the 18-mile mark. 

Runners will have to climb for 600 meters, at an average grade of 10.5 percent. Yes, picture putting your treadmill at 10 percent and trying to run up it at marathon pace. Hartnett calls it a “doozy” and struggles to find courses to compare it to. The Bix 7 in Davenport, Iowa, perhaps? Then he gives up. “It’s unlike anything in any competitive road marathon,” he said. (You can view a detailed description of the 15K-33K section as mapped by Hartnett here.)

In total, the route will include 1,430 feet of elevation gain. Possibly more challenging is the 1,437 feet of descent. The make-or-break point for the route might be just after that final brutal uphill, when they are bombing downhill—at some points at a gradient of 13.5 percent. Runners will have to be efficient going down, without pounding so much they trash their quads before the final flat stretch before the finish. To put the course into some more perspective, the World Marathon Majors that are considered the hilliest—Boston and New York City—each have an elevation gain of a little over 800 total feet. And for one final nugget, the average grade of the Mount Washington Auto Road Race is 12 percent. The course record for that 7.4-miler is at around 8:00 pace. 

This course will make the fastest marathoners in the world look almost human at times.

How do the marathoners feel about the course?

Pat Tiernan, an Olympian for Australia who is running the marathon, made two trips to Paris from his training base with Puma in North Carolina to examine the course. His first trip, in early April, was just to get a feel for the course. The second, in late May, was to train on it. 

“The first thing you notice,” Tiernan said in a phone call with Runner’s World, “is that it’s going to be a brutal course. There are going to be people walking.” 

If you look closely at the official Strava route, you can spot some U.S. Olympic marathoners on the leaderboards of the course’s toughest segments.

On April 10, U.S. team member Clayton Young did a 12.80-mile run on the hilliest section of the course, where he “pushed the uphills, chilled the downhills.” During the steepest climb—right before the mile 18 split—Young tackled a .44-mile segment in 3:09, giving him a modest average pace (for a world-class marathoner) of 7:01 per mile. But if you look at Strava’s “grade adjusted pace,” which factors in elevation, that 7:01 converts to 5:03 mile pace. His average heart rate was 179 beats per minute.

Dakotah Lindwurm, a U.S. team member for the women, also previewed the course in April in a run she called, “Tour de La Olympic hills ?].” She racked up an impressive 16 “course records” during her 10.87-mile workout, and on the same steep segment that Young ran, she averaged 7:43 pace with a grade-adjusted pace of 5:21 per mile. 

Emily Sisson, the U.S. record holder in the marathon, has been training for both the hills and the flats. “We’ve been doing a lot of stuff on hills, because [we] want to come out of the hills into the last 10K feeling good,” she says. “That’s also why you don’t want to slack on 10K work, because it could be quite fast at the end. So kind of trying to do it all.” 

Tiernan agreed with Sisson on the unique challenge. If marathoners go too hard through the hills, they could struggle at the end, he said. If they go too easy through the hills and subsequent descents, they might be out of touch by the final 10K. He said the Paris course is as “if you were to do a 10K road race, then go and run a hard 10K hill cross country course, then a 10K road race.” 

If nothing else, it could make for some surprises on the podium.

When exactly are the races?

The men’s event happens on Saturday, August 10. If you want to watch live, get your favorite espresso ready. The event begins at 2 a.m. ET/11 p.m. PT in the U.S. The following day for the women’s race, the 2024 Paris Olympics fully conclude in honor of the 40th anniversary of the first women’s Olympic marathon event, won by Joan Benoit-Samuelson. The start time is also at 2 a.m. ET/11 p.m. PT.

Who are the major names in each race?

Both races are packed with star power in the form of returning Olympic champions, world record holders, and World Marathon Majors winners. The biggest storyline in the men’s race is whether Eliud Kipchoge, the two-time Olympic marathon gold medalist who many consider to be the greatest of all time, will be able to retain his crown in what may be his final Olympics at age 39.

The women’s event is even more stacked and should make for quite the event to cap off the 2024 Olympics. Newly ratified world record holder Tigist Assefa of Ethiopia will have to match speed and strategy against the likes of Hellen Obiri and Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya and the Netherlands’s Sifan Hassan, who is running the marathon after racing in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters on the track. 

Men’s Marathon Contenders

Eliud Kipchoge, Kenya (2:01:09)

Kenenisa Bekele, Ethiopia (2:01:41) 

Benson Kipruto, Kenya (2:02:16)

Tamirat Tola, Ethiopia (2:03:39)

Conner Mantz, USA (2:07:47)

Clayton Young, USA (2:08:00)

Women’s Marathon Contenders

Tigist Assefa, Ethiopia (2:11:53)

Sifan Hassan, Netherlands (2:13:44)

Peres Jepchirchir, Kenya (2:16:16)

Emily Sisson, USA (2:18:29)

Hellen Obiri, Kenya (2:21:38)

Rose Chelimo, Bahrain (2:22:51)

Fiona O’Keeffe, USA (2:22:10)

Sharon Lokedi, Kenya (2:22:45)

Did you know there is a mass participation race?

If not, now you do. It’s called the Marathon Pour Tous, and we’re pretty jealous we can’t run this one. There will be a full marathon and a 10K on the same route as the Olympic marathon on the evening of August 10. Yes, a night race in the City of Lights. More than 20,000 participants are expected for each event.

Kenya's hopes rest on Daniel Mateiko, Nicholas Kimeli & Bernard Kibet to win 10,000m gold since 1968

Daniel Mateiko, Nicholas Kimeli, and Bernard Kibet will have the pressure to deliver Kenya's gold medal since Naftali Temu's exploits at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.

The trio of Daniel Mateiko, Nicholas Kimeli and Bernard Kibet are tasked with a daunting task to reclaim Kenya’s 10,000m title once they toe the line at the Stade de France on Friday, August 2.

The men’s race starts at 10:20 p.m. East African Time with the trio taking on one of the strongest fields in history with the main aim to reclaim Naftali Temu’s title won at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.

Kenyans have had a rough time of winning the gold medal following the emergence of Ethiopians and Ugandans who have dominated the race. Kenenisa Bekele, Mo Farah, Joshua Cheptegei have dominated the global stage with Bekele and Farah winning two titles each.

Selemon Barega won the title at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games with Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo taking second and third place respectively.

Mateiko made headlines, winning the Prefontaine Classic to secure his slot to the Olympic Games with Kimeli and Kibet finishing second and third respectively. The trio has the much-needed confidence to impress following their training sessions that have been extensive so far.

Mateiko and Kimeli train with Eliud Kipchoge and they certainly draw inspiration from the two-time Olympic champion who will also be chasing his third Olympic title.

However, they will not have an easy task in title reclamation as they go up against very strong opponents. Defending champion Barega will be out to defend his Olympic gold with Cheptegei also in the mix.

Being the world record holder and a three-time world champion, Cheptegei will going for the only title missing in his decorated CV. The Ethiopians have fielded their best, with world leader Yomif Kejelcha and Berihu Aregawi also in the mix. Paris marks the first Olympics for Kejelcha who will have the pressure on him after the world lead.

Cheptegei has raced sparingly, making it difficult to gauge his shape. He will be competing for the first time since end of May when he finished ninth in the 5000m at the Diamond League Meeting in Oslo.

The American duo Grant Fisher and Nico Young have also been entered and they will also be chasing history for the US. Young will b debuting at the Olympics and the race will just be his third 10,000m race on a track.

On his part, Fisher has great experience racing on the global stage and after finishing fifth at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, he will be out to improve on that.

Retired British track icon predicts the medal Eliud Kipchoge might win at Paris Olympic Games

The retired British star noted that Kipchoge might win a medal at the Olympics but it will definitely not be a gold medal.

Retired British long-distance Mo Farah has predicted the medal Eliud Kipchoge will win at the Paris Olympic Games, and it’s not a gold medal.

The four-time Olympic champion disclosed that the quality of the field is strong, hence making it difficult for Kipchoge to win his third successive Olympic marathon title.

Kipchoge won the title at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and defended his title at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. The five-time Berlin Marathon champion looks to make history in Paris and win his third successive marathon title.

Farah explained that there are many youngsters in the race, admitting that the race will be a battle between Kenyans and Ethiopians, with a winner coming from either of the two countries. He added that Kipchoge might win a medal, but was not sure of the medal it would be, either the silver and bronze medal.

“Eliud Kipchoge…I think the marathon is going to be tough, honestly, there is a lot of Kenyans and youngsters. He could get a medal, but I think it’s going to come from the Kenyans or Ethiopian new guy to win that race,” Farah said in an interview with Olympics.com.

Kipchoge will be joined by Tokyo Marathon champion Benson Kipruto and the reigning London Marathon champion Alexander Mutiso.

The Ethiopian contingent will be led by legendary marathoner Kenenisa Bekele, who will be racing his final Olympic Games.

Sisay Lemma had also been selected in the team but was forced to withdraw due to an injury and he was replaced by Tamirat Tola, the 2022 world champion. Deresa Geleta completes the Ethiopian team.

The Kenyan and Ethiopian rivalry will once again be witnessed on the Olympic stage with the Ethiopians looking to reclaim their title after Kenya’s reign in two consecutive Olympic Games.

Ethiopia set the bar high at the Paris Olympic Games

Ethiopia is well-prepared to win more than four medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics and write a new chapter in the country's athletics history, a senior official of the Ethiopian Olympic Committee said.

Briefing the media in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, Ashebir Woldegiorgis, president of the Ethiopian Olympic Committee, said top-performing athletes are leaving for Paris to pick up scores of gold medals from the event.

"We are leaving for Paris to grab as many gold medals in the marathon, 10,000m, 5,000m, and 3,000m steeplechase among other events. We are not going there to lose," said Woldegiorgis in an interview with Xinhua after the briefing.

Besides athletics, Ethiopia will also take part in swimming and boxing, among others. Kenenisa Bekele, former world record holder in both 5,000m and 10,000m and Olympic gold medalist at Beijing 2008, will represent the East African country in marathon at the upcoming Olympics.  According to the president, the women's marathon event will feature world record-holder Tigist Assefa and three other famous athletes.

Selemon Barega will defend his 10,000m title and also compete in the 5,000m event, while current women's world record holder for 5,000m Gudaf Tsegay will enter both the women's 5,000m and 10,000m races in Paris.

World record holder Lamecha Girma, along with three others, will compete in the 3,000m steeplechase after securing silver in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

"We are ready to win. We have made good preparations," Woldegiorgis told Xinhua, noting that it won't be easy to compete with athletes coming from all over the world.

Ethiopia won four medals, including one gold, at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The president said this time confidence is high and Ethiopia will by far, surpass its four medals earned at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

The top 5 male Marathon runners in 2024

Kenya has 3 in the top 5 marathoners, list

In the world of marathon running, Kenya continues to produce elite athletes who dominate the global stage. As we approach the 2024 Paris Olympics, let's delve into the top five marathoners who are making headlines with their exceptional performances.

1. Benson Kipruto - 2:02:16

At the forefront is Benson Kipruto, whose recent victory at the 2024 Tokyo Marathon not only set a world-leading time but also established a new personal best. Known for his resilience and strategic prowess, Kipruto's triumph over Eliud Kipchoge in Tokyo solidified his status as a formidable contender for the gold medal in Paris. His impressive track record includes wins at prestigious events like the Boston Marathon (2021) and the Chicago Marathon (2022), highlighting his consistency at the highest level of competition.

2. Timothy Kiplagat - 2:02:55

Timothy Kiplagat emerges as another standout performer, narrowly missing out on Kenya's Olympic team but securing his spot as the reserve athlete. His remarkable second-place finish at the 2024 Tokyo Marathon, where he outpaced Eliud Kipchoge, showcased his ability to excel under pressure and set a new personal best time. With the potential to join the Olympic squad if circumstances permit, Kiplagat remains a key figure to watch in Kenya's marathon scene.

3. Deresa Geleta - 2:03:27

Deresa Geleta represents Ethiopia but deserves mention for his exceptional performance at the 2024 Zurich Maraton de Sevilla, where he set a course record. As part of Ethiopia's Olympic team alongside legends like Kenenisa Bekele, Geleta's prowess in long-distance running underscores East Africa's dominance in the sport.

4. Morhad Amdouni - 2:03:47

Morhad Amdouni, a prominent figure in French athletics, secured second place at the 2024 Seville Marathon and will represent his country at the upcoming Olympics. His training stints in Kenya highlight the allure of Kenyan terrain for honing marathon skills, reflecting the global appeal of East African training camps.

5. Alexander Munyao - 2:04:01

Alexander Munyao rounds off the top five with his impressive performance at the London Marathon, where he triumphed over Bekele in a thrilling finish. With a strong track record in European half marathons and marathons, Munyao's ability to compete at the highest level underscores Kenya's deep talent pool in long-distance running.

Gudaf Tsegay, Lamecha Girma head Ethiopia's 43-athlete squad to battle Kenya in Paris Olympics

In the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Kenya bested Ethiopia as the top African nation, finishing 19th overall with 10 athletics medals.

World record-holders Gudaf Tsegay and Lamecha Girma are set to lead a formidable Ethiopian squad of 43 athletes at the upcoming Paris Olympic Games.

The robust team comprising top-tier talent across various track and field events promises to offer fierce competition to their long-time rivals Kenya in the race for Olympic medals.

Tsegay will be competing in the 10,000 meters, 5,000 meters, and 1,500 meters events.

The 27-year-old athlete's standout performance at the Prefontaine Classic, where she shattered the world record in the 5,000 meters with an astounding time of 14:00.21, means she will be challenging rival Kenya's Faith Kipyegon who will chase two gold medals after winning the 1500m and 5000m.

The women's team also boasts an impressive lineup in the 800 meters, featuring Tsige Duguma, Habitam Alemu, and Werknesh Mesele, with Nigist Getachew as the reserve.

In the 1,500 meters, Tsegay will be joined by Birke Haylom and Diribe Wolteji, with Hirut Meshesha on standby. Medina Eisa and Ejgayehu Taye will support Tsegay in the 5,000 meters, with Freweyni Hailu as reserve, while Fotyen Tesfay, Tsigie Gebreselama, and Aynadis Mebratu will compete in the 10,000 meters.

The 3,000 meters steeplechase will see Sembo Almayew and Lomi Muleta in action, and the marathon team includes Tigst Assefa, Amane Beriso, and Megertu Alemu, with Gotytom Gebreslase as reserve.

On the men's side, the team is equally impressive as Abdisa Fayisa, Samuel Tefera, and Ermias Girma will compete in the 1,500 meters.

The 5,000 meters team includes Hagos Gebrhiwet, Yomif Kejelcha, and Addisu Yihune, with Selemon Barega as reserve.

Kejelcha will also contest the 10,000 meters alongside Berihu Aregawi and Biniam Mehari, with Barega again as a reserve.

Lamecha Girma, alongside Samuel Firewu and Getnet Wale, will vie for victory in the men's 3,000 meters steeplechase, with Abrham Sime as reserve.

Ethiopia team to Paris

Women

800 meters: Tsige Duguma, Habitam Alemu, Werknesh Mesele, Nigist Getachew (Reserve)

1500 meters: Gudaf Tsegay, Birke Haylom, Diribe Wolteji, Hirut Meshesha (Reserve)

5000 meters: Gudaf Tsegay, Medina Eisa, Ejgayehu Taye, Freweyni Hailu (Reserve)

10,000 meters: Gudaf Tsegay, Fotyen Tesfay, Tsigie Gebreselama, Aynadis Mebratu (Reserve)

3000 meters Steeplechase: Sembo Almayew, Lomi Muleta

Marathon:Tigst Assefa, Amane Beriso, Megertu Alemu, Gotytom Gebreslase (Reserve)

Men

1500 meters: Abdisa Fayisa, Samuel Tefera, Ermias Girma, Teddese Lemi (Reserve)

5000 meters: Hagos Gebrhiwet, Yomif Kejelcha, Addisu Yihune, Selemon Barega (Reserve)

10,000 meters: Yomif Kejelcha, Berihu Aregawi, Selemon Barega, Biniam Mehari (Reserve)

Men's 3000 meters steeplechase: Lamecha Girma, Samuel Firewu, Getnet Wale, Abrham Sime (Reserve)

Marathon: Sisay Lemma, Deresa Geleta, Kenenisa Bekele, Tamirat Tola (Reserve)

20 km Race walk: Misgana Wakuma

An amazing fast 5k in Oslo

OSLO, Norway (AP) — Hagos Gebrhiwet of Ethiopia ran the second-fastest 5,000 meters of all time in winning at the Diamond League meeting in Oslo on Thursday.

Gebrhiwet ran a final lap of 54.99 to finish in 12 minutes, 36.73 seconds — 1.37 seconds off the world record set by Olympic champion Joshua Cheptegei.

 Gebrhiwet's time is not only the second fastest time ever it was also a new national record for Ethiopia. New personal bests for the top eight finishers and new National records for Guatemala, Switzerland, Sweden, France and South Africa!

Also at the Bislett Games, home favorite Jakob Ingebrigtsen dived for the line to win the men's 1,500 just ahead of Timothy Cheruiyot in a world-leading 3 minutes, 29.74 seconds.

More details: Hagos Gebrhiwet produced the standout performance of the Bislett Games – and one of the biggest surprises of the year so far – when winning the men’s 5000m in 12:36.73 at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Oslo on Thursday (30).

It was one of three meeting records and five world leads set on an enthralling night of athletics action in the Norwegian capital, just two months away from the Paris Olympic Games.

Going into the men’s 5000m, many eyes were on world record-holder and Olympic champion Joshua Cheptegei, two-time world cross-country champion Jacob Kiplimo and last year’s Bislett Games winner Yomif Kejelcha. But Gebrhiwet – who produced the first sub-13-minute run of his career on this track as a teenager back in 2012 – ensured his name won’t be forgotten in the lead-up to the Olympics.

The early pace was strong but not spectacular as the field was paced through the first 1000m in 2:33.13 and 2000m in 5:07.05. Addisu Yihune maintained that tempo through 3000m, reached in 7:41.05, with all the big contenders still in contention.

Kejelcha took control soon after and started to wind up the pace. Gebrhiwet stayed close to his fellow Ethiopian with Ugandan duo Kiplimo and Cheptegei close behind as 4000m was reached in 10:11.86, the previous kilometre being covered in 2:30.

Cheptegei was unable to hold on for much longer and started to drift back. Kejelcha continued to drive the pace but the challenge from Gebrhiwet and Kiplimo wasn’t fading, despite the increase in pace. Gebrhiwet struck as the bell sounded and moved into the lead, kicking past his compatriot and pulling away with each stride.

With a final lap of 54.99, Gebrhiwet charged through the line in 12:36.73 to win by more than two seconds from Kejelcha (12.38.95) – the first time in history that two men have broken 12:40 in the same race.

Gebrhiwet’s winning time is just 1.37 seconds shy of the world record Cheptegei set in 2020 and moves him to second on the world all-time list, one place ahead of Kenenisa Bekele, whose Ethiopian record Gebrhiwet broke.

Kiplimo held on for third, setting a PB of 12:40.96, while Spain’s Thierry Ndikumwenayo (12:48.10) and Yihune (12:49.65) also finished inside 12:50.

It was just the second time in history that 13 men have broken 13 minutes. Along with Gebrhiwet, there were national records for Guatemala’s Luis Grijalva (12:50.58), Switzerland’s Dominic Lokinyomo Lobalu (12:50.90), Sweden’s Andreas Almgren (12:50.94), France’s Jimmy Gressier (12:54.97) and South Africa’s Adriaan Wildschutt (12:56.67).

“I’m really happy with my time,” said Gebrhiwet, the world road 5km champion. “I set a PB when I first ran in Oslo, and now it’s even better. The conditions and the crowd were great. It was a very fast race and it wasn’t easy for me, but it went very well. I’ll now try to qualify for the Olympics in the 10,000m too.”

There were notable performances in two other endurance events in Oslo.

Australia’s Georgia Griffith continued her breakthrough to win the 3000m in an Oceanian record of 8:24.20. The field had been paced through 1000m in 2:50.34, then that pace was maintained through 2000m in 5:40.73.

The field became more strung out over the final kilometre as the pace increased. Griffith made a break in the closing stages and Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw tried to come back, but her challenge was in vain as the Australian won in a meeting record of 8:24.20, 0.09 ahead of Amebaw in a race where the top six women finished inside 8:30.

In the closing event of the night, Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen was made to dive for the line to ensure a home victory for the Norwegian fans.

He controlled the pace in the second half, but still had 2019 world champion Timothy Cheruiyot for company on the final lap. The Kenyan challenged the Norwegian down the home straight and appeared to have timed his kick to perfection, but Ingebrigtsen collapsed over the line to get the verdict in a world-leading 3:29.74, 0.03 ahead of Cheruiyot. The first 11 finishers all set either season’s or personal bests.

Munyao to exploit underdog status in hunt for Olympic title

London Marathon champion Alexander Munyao says he will exploit his underdog status in the hunt for the men’s marathon title at the Paris Olympic Games.

Two-time Olympic Marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge and Ethiopian great Kenenisa Bekele are front runners.

The duo have won numerous championships and major marathons while Munyao only has last month's  London Marathon title to boast of. 

Tokyo Marathon champion Benson Kipruto will be the other Kenyan athlete in the race. But undaunted by the challenge, Munyao is determined to pull off a surprise in the French capital.

“I’m targeting nothing less than gold in Paris. I know Kipchoge will be chasing his third Olympic title and Kipruto is an equally serious contender but I’m ready for the challenge,” Munyao stated.

 The London Marathon London Marathon champion envisions a Kenyan sweep on the podium and expects the trio to push each other to victory. 

“A Kenya 1-2-3 finish is very possible. We’ll be pushing each other hard, and I believe Kenya will dominate in Paris,” he added.

Beyond winning gold, Munyao is keen to lower his personal best (PB). “I aim to reduce my PB to 2:01 or 2:02,” he added.

The 27-year-old  boasts a PB of 2:03:11 set in December 2023 during the Valencia Marathon, where he placed second.

Last week, the Ethiopian Athletics Federation announced its three male representatives for Paris, headlined by three-time Olympic track champion Bekele. He will team up with Valencia Marathon champion Sisay Lemma and Beijing Marathon champion Deresa Geleta.

Despite acknowledging the strength of the Ethiopian team, Munyao views his Kenyan compatriots as his main rivals.

“Ethiopia have a strong team no doubt but I don't see them posing any threat to us. I have run with Bekele and Lemma before and I know their techniques. However, I haven't run with Kipchoge or Kipruto before and that makes them more competitive unlike the Ethiopians,” he noted.

During his triumph in London last month, Munyao beat Bekele to the title, clocking 2:04:01 with Bekele, who was the pre-race favorite, settling for second place in 2:04:15.

At the 2023 Prague Marathon, Munyao clinched the title in 2:05:09, beating Lemma to second place in 2:06:51. Looking ahead to Paris, Munyao plans to stay with the leading pack and make his decisive move close to the finish. 

“My strategy will be simple! I have to stay with the leading pack and make my move a few kilometres to the finish as was the case in London,” Munyao noted.

However, Munyao tempered expectations for a new world record in Paris, citing the challenging nature of the course.

“I have not run the Paris course before but from what I have heard from athletes, it is a tough course. Breaking a world record there will not be easy. What will be important for us athletes is a medal,” he added.

Munyao resumed full training last week at Ngong Hills under the guidance of his coach Peter Muteti, running 30km daily.

“I resumed full training for the Olympics last week at Ngong Hills. I do 30km daily runs, 20km in the morning with light 10km runs in the evening,” he added.

Kenenisa Bekele named to Ethiopian Olympic marathon team

Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele and Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge will square off in the marathon at the Paris Olympics.

It’s been 12 years since Ethiopian distance runner Kenenisa Bekele last put on his country’s singlet at an Olympic Games, but he has officially earned his spot on the Ethiopian marathon team for Paris 2024. 

As reported by ESPN, Bekele is one of three men selected by the Ethiopian Athletics Federation to represent Ethiopia in the marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This will be Bekele’s fourth Olympic Games and the first time he has represented his country in the marathon. He has previously won four Olympic medals (three gold, one silver) across the 5,000m and 10,000m events, at Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008).

Bekele earned his spot on the Ethiopian team after an excellent showing at the 2024 London Marathon, where he placed second behind Kenya’s Alexander Mutiso, in 2:04:15 (a men’s 40+ world record). His time was four seconds faster than his previous master’s best, from the 2023 Valencia Marathon in December (2:04:19). 

Bekele will face his long-time rival, Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge, at one final Olympic Games in the streets of Paris, almost exactly 20 years after their first Olympic matchup in Athens. Kipchoge and Bekele are two of the fastest marathoners in history, and are part of the exclusive club of four men who have gone under the 2:02 marathon mark.

Joining Bekele on the Ethiopian team is another athlete in that exclusive club, Sisay Lemma. Lemma has a personal best of 2:01:53 from the Valencia Marathon in December. Most recently, Lemma won the 2024 Boston Marathon in 2:06:17, ending Evans Chebet of Kenya’s two-year reign. 

2022 world marathon champion and 2023 New York City Marathon champion Tamirat Tola rounds out the Ethiopian squad. The difficult 2024 Paris Olympic course suits Tola’s style of racing well, and he’ll certainly be one of the favorites to win gold and end Kenya’s streak of champions. Ethiopia has not won gold in the men’s marathon since Gezahegne Abera in Sydney in 2000.

Tafa and Jebet triumph in the Madrid Marathon

Zurich Rock ‘n’ Roll Series Madrid 2024 was the biggest in the history of the event, with over 40,000 participants and Ethiopian Mitku Tafa (2:08:5) as the marathon winner, with the second place disputated among same country athlete Fikre Bekele (2:09:08) and Kenyan Douglas Chebii (2:09:10).

In the women race, Naom Jebet won (2:26:19) with a great distance from Ethiopian Bontu Bekele (2:27:03) and Kebene Chala (2:27:28).

Shortly before half marathon winners were present on the finish line, with 3 slots of Kenyan runners on the male pódium (Amon Kiptoo, 1:02:25; Joseph Koech, 1:02:31 and Shamack Kiprop, 1:02:33) on a race won in the last meters. First Spanish was Tariku Novales (1:05:03). On female category victory was for Kenyan Joyece Chepkemoi (1:09:22), followed by Spanish Isabel Barreiro, superb debut on the distance and in Madrid (1:13:19) and French Mathilde Sénéchal.

Morning races started with 10K, with Carlos Mayo achieving his seventh victory on the 10K Zurich Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Madrid (29:10), after his competed race with Adam Maijó (2nd, 29:18) and third was Adrián Ben, 29:43.

Aragonian Carlos Mayo suffered a car crash two weeks ago with no injuries and he only had some side pains but were not enough to get the victory.

On Women 10K, Águeda Marqués got her third victory in Madrid (33:31), with Marta Pérez following as second (33:49), third one was Paula Herrero, on the process of coming back after injuries (36:12).

Was a day for the History of the event, with over 40,000 runners among the three distances (10K, Half Marathon and Marathon), with over 6,000 participants from previous year and more tan 113 countries represented on the streets. The event also supposes over 48 million Euro of economic impact on the city of Madrid in 2023.

Kipchoge expects tough test in Paris

Two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge anticipates a fierce battle at the Paris Olympic marathon, even tougher than when he won the first of his two titles in Rio 2016.

“It will be a tough race. 106 countries will be participating. Everyone at the start line is a champion in their rights. I do not underrate anybody. I am not the same as when I won my first title,” Kipchoge noted.

Last month, Kipchoge ran at the Tokyo Marathon, where he placed 10th in 2:06:50.

In a post-race interview, Kipchoge stated that it was a bad day in office for him but he hopes to build on the lessons learned.

The legendary Olympian said his sights are set solely on the Olympics, ruling out any other race as he puts all his energy and focus into securing a hat-trick of titles.

“I have no plans to race in any other marathon. I am putting all my mind and training into the Olympics. I want to win a third title,” he noted.

Confident in his abilities, the 39-year-old is determined to earn his spot to make his fifth appearance in the global extravaganza. 

“I trust I will make the final three to represent Kenya in Paris. This will be my fifth appearance in the Olympics,” he noted.

Athletics Kenya presented a list of five male athletes to the National Olympics Committee of Kenya to undergo training in readiness for the Olympics. Only three will go to Paris.

Kipchoge is joined by the Tokyo Marathon champion Benson Kipruto, Kagawa Half Marathon silver medalist Alexander Mutiso and Tokyo Marathon silver and bronze medalists Timothy Kiplagat and Vincent Ngetich.

 “Representing Kenya at such a stage feels good. This is the only way I can give back to my country. I can’t build bridges or roads. This is how I show my patriotism to my country,” he noted.

Kipchoge’s first appearance at the Olympics was in Athens 2004, where he won bronze in the 5,000m clocking 13:15.10. He upgraded it to silver at Beijing 2008 in a time of 13:02.80 — behind Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele (12:57.82).

In Rio 2016, he clocked 2:08:44 to bag the marathon title and defended it at Tokyo 2020, clocking 2:08:38.

NOC-K secretary general Francis Mutuku tipped Kipchoge to achieve his dreams, especially with the determination and discipline he has shown in training under Patrick Sang.

“Sang told us that when he says training starts at 5 am, Kipchoge is ready at that time. He is devoted and disciplined in his training,” he noted.

Despite facing criticism, Kipchoge remains grounded, believing that humility is the ultimate key to triumph.

“The longest tree receives all the wind. The tree can lose all its leaves and endure the winter and still be firm. Being humble has been and will always be the key to success,” he added.

Kipyego, Langat headline Madrid Marathon start list

The 2022 Rotterdam Marathon bronze medalist Reuben Kipyego will flex his muscles against 2022 French Riviera Marathon champion John Langat at the  Madrid Marathon on Sunday.

The marathon will feature a full marathon, half marathon and 10km race with the event organizers noting a huge turnout in the half marathon.

“The biggest race will be the half marathon with 20,000 participants, followed by the full marathon with 11,000 and the 10km with 9,000,” a statement from the organizers read.

Kipyego holds a personal best of 2:03:55 set while winning the 2021 Generali Milano Marathon in Italy.

The 28-year-old is also the 2019 Abu Dhabi Marathon champion where he clocked 2:04:40. Also in that year, he won silver at the South American Marathon Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina, clocking 2:05:18.

Langat holds a personal best of 2:07:11 set at the Eindhoven Marathon in the Netherlands in 2019, where he placed third.

In 2016, he clocked 2:10:49 to finish second at the Daegu Marathon in South Korea. The 30-year-old is also a bronze medallist at the Adidas Stockholm Marathon in Sweden clocking 2:12:39.

Joining the fray is Bernard Kimani, a bronze medalist at the 2020 Loop Den Haag Half Marathon.

The Ethiopian duo of Mumbai Marathon champion Haymanot Alew and 2022 Rome Marathon champion Fikre Bekele will prove a tough test for the Kenyans.

Also in the lineup is Taiyuan Marathon bronze medalist Hicham Laqouahi of Morocco.

Alexander Munyao Wins Men’s Race at the 2024 London Marathon

The 27-year-old broke away from Kenenisa Bekele, who finished second in a new masters world record.

For the second time in the past week, the men’s winner at a World Marathon Majors crossed the line in survival mode. Six days ago, it was Sisay Lemma holding on to win Boston. This morning, it was Alexander Munyao in London. The Kenyan survived a strong move in the 18th mile to win in 2:04:01.

Kenenisa Bekele, arguably the greatest male distance runner in history, placed second in 2:04:15, four seconds faster than the masters world record he set in Valencia last December. The 41-year-old Ethiopian superstar was, surprisingly, largely responsible for the 4:35 18th mile that broke up what had been a nine-man pack.

By 35K (21.7 miles), the race was down to Munyao and Bekele. The two shared the lead more because of doing the best job of recovering after the earlier push than because they were speeding up. Munyao then got half a step on Bekele early in the 22nd mile, and broke him for good over the next mile.

Once they were dropped by Munyao and Bekele, the other earlier members of the lead pack that hit halfway in 61:29 suffered significantly. Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia, the 2022 world champion who broke the New York City course record last November, had looked eager to take over after the final pacer exited the course a little before 30K. Instead, Tola lost more than 20 seconds to the leaders before 35K, and dropped out before 40K.

The severe disintegration of the lead pack led to third and fourth place going to British runners who had been paced more moderately early on. Emile Cairess finished third in a personal best of 2:06:16 after being in 13th place at halfway (62:50). Mahamed Mahamed placed fourth in 2:07:05, also a personal best. Both men are now likely to be named to the British team for the Olympic Marathon, which will be held on August 10.

Munyao and Bekele were also running in part to secure spots on their Olympic teams. Munyao’s win, combined with his 2:03:13 PR and runner-up finish in Valencia in December, makes a good case. Bekele’s bid is even stronger. With Tola’s poor showing and Bekele’s second strong marathon in a row, will Ethiopian selectors recognize that a three-time Olympic and 19-time world champion deserves to toe the line in Paris?

Brian Shrader, the lone U.S. elite entrant, placed tenth in 2:10:50.

Kepchirchir breaks women-only world marathon record in London

Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir smashed the women-only world record by 45 seconds at the TCS London Marathon, winning the World Athletics Platinum Label road race in 2:16:16* on Sunday (21).

In what was widely regarded as one of the deepest and highest-quality women’s fields ever assembled, the three-time world half marathon champion sprinted away from world record-holder Tigist Assefa, 2021 London winner Joyciline Jepkosgei and last year’s runner-up Megertu Alemu – all of whom finished inside 2:17 – to notch up her third victory in a World Marathon Majors race.

Jepchirchir’s compatriot Alexander Mutiso Munyao made it a Kenyan double, winning the men’s race in 2:04:01 to defeat Ethiopian distance legend Kenenisa Bekele by 14 seconds.

No secret had been made of the fact that breaking Mary Keitany’s women-only world record of 2:17:01 was the big target for the women’s race. With that at the forefront of their minds, a lead pack comprising all the big contenders soon detached themselves from the rest of the field and blazed through the first 5km in 15:44 – comfortably inside 2:13 pace.

They maintained that tempo through 10km, covered in 31:26, and at this point they were 67 seconds ahead of Ethiopia’s Tsige Haileslase, the closest challenger to the lead pack.

The front group – which included Assefa alongside past London winners Jepkosgei, Yalemzerf Yehualaw and Brigid Kosgei – got to 15km in 47:37. Soon after, Sheila Chepkirui – the runner-up in Berlin last year – started to drift off the pack.

Not long after passing the drinks station at the 20km point, 2019 world champion Ruth Chepngetich lost contact with the leaders. It meant that just seven women remained in the pack as they reached the half-way point in 1:07:04 – the second-fastest half-way split ever recorded in London, and putting them on schedule to smash the women-only world record by almost three minutes.

Kosgei was the next to drift back, and with the pacemakers having done their job, it left six women out in front: Jepchirchir, Assefa, training partner and Dubai marathon champion Tigist Ketema, 2022 London winner Yehualaw, 2021 London champion Jepkosgei, and 2023 London runner-up Megertu Alemu.

The sextet ran together through 25km (1:19:38) and 17 miles, but Ketema and Yehualaw were unable to hold on for much further and started to lose contact, leaving four women – Assefa, Jepchirchir, Jepkosgei and Alemu – to battle it out for the three podium places.

The difference between 25km and 30km, 16:18, was the slowest 5km section of the race. The lead quartet was either starting to feel the effects of their early efforts, or they were starting to bide their team for an anticipated surge in the closing stages.

With 1:44 on the clock, the four leading women managed to navigate their way around the two lead vehicles that had been forced to stop due to a wheelchair racer who was experiencing some technical difficulties.

Assefa and Jepchirchir both took turns testing the waters by making subtle surges to see how their opponents would respond, but their overall pace continued to drop and they reached 35km in 1:52:48, putting them on course for a 2:16 finish.They passed 40km in 2:09:13, still running side by side. It was clear that no one else other than these four would be claiming places on the podium, but predicting a winner – and, indeed, the athlete who’d miss out on the podium – was still impossible with less than two kilometres to go.

As the clock ticked to 2:15, with little more than a minute of running left, Alemu was finally dropped. Seconds later, Jepchirchir unleashed her trademark finish to leave behind Jepkosgei and Assefa.

The diminutive Kenyan charged through the finish line in 2:16:16, finishing seven seconds ahead of Assefa. Jepkosgei (2:16:24) and Alemu (2:16:34) followed soon after, making this the first marathon in which four women have finished inside 2:17.

Jepchirchir will now turn her attention to defending her Olympic title in Paris in less than four months’ time where she’ll aim to become the first ever back-to-back women’s marathon gold medallist in the history of the Games.

The men’s race played out in similar fashion with a surprisingly large group remaining together into the second half before the final few contenders were left to battle it out in the closing stages.The late Kelvin Kiptum’s world (2:00:35) and course (2:01:25) records were not being targeted by the elite men, but a lead pack of 12 nevertheless set off as a respectable pace, going through 5km in 14:35 and 10km in 29:03.

They remained together through 15km (58:20) with the likes of Munyao, Bekele, 2022 world champion Tamirat Tola and 2021 Chicago winner Seifu Tura all in the lead pack.

They reached half way in 1:01:29 with 10 men still running together, more than 80 seconds ahead of Britain’s Emile Cairess, who was running alone in 13th place. France’s Hassan Chahdi soon drifted off the lead pack, and eight men were in the pack at the 30km point (1:27:20).

With 1:30 on the clock, big changes started to happen. The lead pack was down to five men: Munyao, Bekele, Tola, Ethiopia’s Dawit Wolde and compatriot Milkesa Mengesha.  Less than 10 minutes later, Tola and Wolde had dropped back, leaving Bekele, Munyao and Mengesha as the lead trio. Mengesha lasted five more minutes before he, too, succumbed to the pace, unable to stick with Munyao and the 41-year-old Bekele.

Just before the clock ticked over to 1:55, Munyao finally dropped multiple world and Olympic gold medallist Bekele, who was visibly struggling to match the Kenyan’s pace.

Munyao maintained his lead to the finish, eventually winning in 2:04:01 to Bekele’s 2:04:15, the fastest time ever by an athlete over the age of 40.

With several of the leading contenders dropping out in the closing stages, Cairess came through to take third place in 2:06:46 ahead of fellow Briton Mahamed Mahamed, who clocked 2:07:05, both setting huge PBs.

Kenenisa Bekele honors Kelvin Kiptum ahead of London Marathon

Kenenisa Bekele has honored the late Kelvin Kiptum's legacy ahead of a poignant London Marathon, reflecting on his profound impact on running.

Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele has expressed profound sentiments as he prepares for the upcoming London Marathon set for Sunday.

The marathon will be marked this year by the absence of world record holder Kelvin Kiptum whose life tragically ended in a car accident in February.

Kiptum, only 24 at the time of his death, had set a staggering course record at last year's London Marathon and had become a prominent figure in the sport.

Speaking to reporters, Bekele underscored the deep respect and admiration he and his fellow athletes hold for Kiptum.

“Kelvin of course, all of us miss him. Even within his short time, he has been setting an amazing history,” Bekele reflected.

 “The course record is also under his name and we are all remembering him."

Bekele added that Kiptum’s impact transcends his record-setting performances.

 “We put him in a special place in our heart because in a really short time he has done a lot for our sport,” he said.

With the race ahead, Bekele is aware of the challenges in surpassing the benchmarks set by Kiptum. 

The course in London demands a strategic approach, something Bekele is well accustomed to. 

“Most of the time in London, maybe the first half is a very fast start because of pacing, but with me it can depend,” he explained.

Other top contenders, such as Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola, the reigning New York Marathon champion, are also entering the race with high expectations. 

Tola, optimistic about his preparation, remains focused on the present challenge. 

“My training is OK and my body is okay, so we will see (what happens) on Sunday,” he noted.

Before the race starts, memory of Kiptum will be honored with 30 seconds of applause a moment meant to reflect on his contributions and celebrate his life. 

London Marathon: Alexander Mutiso leads Kenyan charge against Ethiopian rivals

Elite runners aim to honor Kelvin Kiptum's legacy in a fiercely competitive 2024 London Marathon with a record-breaking field.

One of the most underrated Kenyan runners is Alexander Mutiso is set to headline an incredibly strong field at the 2024 London Marathon as elite runners converge with hopes of claiming the title previously held by the late Kelvin Kiptum. 

This year’s race promises to be a thrilling contest with some of the fastest marathoners in history lining up at the starting line on Sunday, April 21, 2024.

Among the distinguished athletes is the reigning 2024 New York City Marathon champion, Tamirat Tola from Ethiopia, who holds a personal best of 2:03:39. 

Joining him is Mosinet Geremew, also from Ethiopia, who boasts a staggering personal best of 2:02:55, making him the seventh-fastest man ever in marathon history.

Mutiso, who was runner-up at the 2023 Valencia Marathon with a time of 2:03:11, also aims to make a significant impact.

The event will also witness the return of multiple world champion and track legend Kenenisa Bekele. Bekele, who is the third-fastest marathoner ever with a personal best of 2:01:41.

The British contingent will be represented by Emile Cairess, the third-fastest Briton who made a remarkable debut last year. 

Alongside him, Callum Hawkins, who finished fourth at the World Championships, will compete, as well as Marc Scott and Mahamed Mahamed, both of whom are set to make their marathon debuts.

As the runners prepare, Kamworor looks to improve on his second-place finish from the previous year and aims for the top spot. 

Meanwhile, Bekele seeks not only to showcase his legendary status but also to prepare for the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris.

After a change in management, Bekele is especially motivated to demonstrate his prowess following a challenging race at last year’s Valencia Marathon.

The course, stretching 42km from Greenwich Park to The Mall, will guide runners past iconic London landmarks such as Tower Bridge and Buckingham Palace, setting a picturesque backdrop for what is expected to be a fiercely competitive race.

This marathon is particularly poignant as it comes after the stunning performance by Kelvin Kiptum, who set the current course record of 2:01:25 at last year’s race. 

His untimely passing has left a legacy that the participants aspire to honor by pushing the limits of endurance and speed.

With such a loaded field, the 2024 London Marathon is not just about winning; it is about etching names into the annals of marathon history. 

The athletes are set to provide a riveting display of endurance, speed, and strategy, each hoping to step into Kiptum’s shoes and carve out their own legacy on the storied streets of London.

Bethwell Yegon and Chala Regasa head start list in Vienna

Bethwell Yegon returns to the Vienna City Marathon where he was runner-up in unusually warm conditions last year. The Kenyan hopes to go one better this time and win his first marathon on 21st April. He will be challenged by Ethiopia’s Chala Regasa, who is also targeting a first major marathon triumph.

Both athletes have personal bests of slightly over 2:06 and head the competitive men’s field of the Vienna City Marathon. Over a dozen athletes on the current start list have personal records of sub 2:10 and a number of them hope to qualify for the Olympic marathon in Paris this summer.

With over 40,000 entries the Vienna City Marathon is Austria’s biggest one-day sporting event and the only road race in the country that features a World Athletics Elite Label. The figure includes entries for shorter races staged parallel to the marathon.

Bethwell Yegon ran a stunning marathon race in Berlin in 2021, when he came from far behind, overtook Ethiopia’s superstar Kenenisa Bekele and almost challenged for victory in the final stages. Yegon finished second and improved his personal best by more than two minutes to 2:06:14. This remains the fastest time of the 31 year-old who trains in Iten, the heart of Kenyan long distance running. “I am happy to return to Vienna and my goal is to fight for victory and take a place on the podium. Hopefully the weather conditions will be fine and there will be a strong group to run with,” said Bethwell Yegon, who clocked 2:06:57 a year ago, which is the fifth fastest time ever run in the history of the Vienna City Marathon.

Chala Regasa has already run on Vienna’s roads as well, though in a different role. The 26 year-old Ethiopian was part of the pacemaking team that supported Eliud Kipchoge when he sensationally broke the two hour marathon barrier in 2019. It was a year ago when Regasa finally ran his marathon debut in Rotterdam with a fine 2:06:11 for fifth place. With this time he is currently the fastest runner in the field. Vienna will be his second marathon and his strong half marathon PB of 59:10 suggests that there is some room for improvement. His biggest career win so far came in the New Delhi Half Marathon in 2022, where Regasa clocked 60:30 and beat a strong field.

Felix Kibitok is another runner who features both, a personal best of sub 2:06:30 and a very fast half marathon PB. The Kenyan was fifth in Barcelona in 2022 with 2:06:28 and achieved 59:08 in the Prague Half Marathon back in 2019. On two more occasions Kibitok ran sub one hour half marathon times. Samsom Amare from Eritrea, who won his marathon debut in Abu Dhabi in 2023 with 2:07:10 and was ninth at the World Half Marathon Championships in 2023, plus Kenyans Albert Kangogo (2:07:48) and Leonard Barsoton (2:09:06) could well challenge for a place on the podium as well.

The Vienna City Marathon is one of the last few races during the second half of April giving athletes a chance to qualify for the Olympic Games’ marathon in Paris this summer. The official qualifying time is 2:08:10 and the qualifying window shuts on 30th April. There are a number of athletes who will try to fulfill their Olympic dream in Vienna: Belgium’s Lahsene Bouchikhi has a personal best of 2:08:36 from Valencia last year while Daniel Paulus is the national record holder of Namibia. He clocked 2:08:40 in his debut in Daegu, South Korea, in 2023. Juan Pacheco from Mexico is also expected to try to qualify for Paris. He has a personal record of 2:09:45 while Tiidrek Nurme from Estonia has run 2:10:02.

The Vienna City Marathon will also be hosting the Hungarian national marathon championships for the second time in a row. Around 40 of the best athletes from the neighbouring country will come to Vienna to determine their champions.

Popstar Lil Nas X runs NYC Half in high-tops

There were over 25,000 finishers at Sunday’s NYC Half Marathon, and one of the more notable ones was American popstar Lil Nas X, who did not make headlines by his finishing time, but by the shoes he wore during the race.

Lil Nas X, who entered the race under his real name, Montero Hill, finished the half in two hours and 32 minutes. What made his time impressive was that he ran that time in a pair of designer Coach high-top sneakers.

American running photographer Joe Hale tweeted a photo of Lil Nas X crossing the finish line in the high-tops, then proceeded to ask him what shoes he was wearing. The singer responded, “Some random pair of Coach shoes I always exercise in, so I decided why not [wear them].”

Although the Coach-branded high-tops won’t be making our list of “the best running shoes to go the distance in 2024,” Lil Nas X was incredibly proud of his result, posting “Hey, at least I made it,” to his Instagram story, where he was seen leaving the race in a wheelchair. We can only imagine how rough his shins must be feeling on Monday morning.

The 24-year-old singer, who won a Grammy Award for his massive hit “Old Town Road“ in 2020, might have some potential in the half once HOKA, On, or New Balance hooks him up with a pair of high-cushioned running shoes. Maybe, we will see him challenge the two-hour mark in his next half.

Although the Coach-branded high-tops won’t be making our list of “the best running shoes to go the distance in 2024,” Lil Nas X was incredibly proud of his result, posting “Hey, at least I made it,” to his Instagram story, where he was seen leaving the race in a wheelchair. We can only imagine how rough his shins must be feeling on Monday morning.

The 24-year-old singer, who won a Grammy Award for his massive hit “Old Town Road“ in 2020, might have some potential in the half once HOKA, On, or New Balance hooks him up with a pair of high-cushioned running shoes. Maybe, we will see him challenge the two-hour mark in his next half.

Canada’s Tristan Woodfine finished sixth overall in 63:50, one spot ahead of Ethiopian distance legend Kenenisa Bekele. Woodfine is training for the 2024 Boston Marathon on April 15.

Hope for Geoffrey Kamworor and Alexander Mutiso as Kenenisa Bekele expresses London Marathon uncertainty

Geoffrey Kamworor and Alexander Mutiso might have to worry less about Ethiopian legend Kenenisa Bakele at next month’s London Marathon after he admitted he is far from ready.

Ethiopian long-distance running legend Kenenisa Bekele has voiced doubts about his potential success in the upcoming London Marathon following his seventh-place finish at the New York Half Marathon on Sunday.

Bekele clocked 1:03:59 for seventh place in a race won by Kenya’s Abel Kipchumba, who timed 1:00:25, with Morocco’s Zouhair Talbi (1:00:41) and Ethiopian Yemane Haileselassie (1:01:37) completing the podium.

The race was part of Bekele’s pre-London preparations but he looked to have bitten more than he could chew in the streets of New York.

Reflecting on the challenges encountered during the New York race, Bekele acknowledged the demanding nature of the course and emphasised the need for additional preparation to assess his fitness levels.

"The course was tough. This race was important to see how my shape is so I think I need more preparations," Bekele remarked.

Despite his determination to excel in the London Marathon on April 21, Bekele admitted that he is still in the process of building up his form and fitness for the upcoming challenge.

"I am still on the build-up because my big goal is success in London but this race was important to see my shape so I think I need more preparations," he explained.

Acknowledging the importance of both time and positioning in the London Marathon, Bekele emphasised his commitment to being fully prepared for the prestigious event.

"Not only time but the position is really important in London. I think I will be ready. I have a couple of weeks to prepare and try to be ready to do something," he asserted optimistically, despite his reservations.

As Bekele looks ahead to the London Marathon, he faces the challenge of fine-tuning his preparation and performance to meet the high expectations set for himself.

The Ethiopian great will be up against a formidable cast in London that includes Kenya’s Geoffrey Kamworor, two-time New York Marathon champion and second in London last year, and Alexander Mutiso, who finished second in Valencia last year.

He also has Ethiopian compatriots Tamirat Tola, the New York Marathon champion, and Mosinet Geremew, the seventh-fastest man in history.

This is also part of the two-time Berlin Marathon champion’s preparations towards the Olympics although he still not sure if he will make Ethiopia’s marathon team to the Paris Games.

“They can select based on time, and position is also very important,” Bekele said when asked about his chances of making the Olympics team.

“It will depend on the competitors and they have their own method of selection. There are many Ethiopian marathoners so they have their own plan. I think my chance is 50-50 so I have to try my best.”

Bekele has been to London six times, managing second place in 2017 after third a year earlier, but could only finish sixth in 2018 and fifth in 2022. He, however, had a setback in 2020, when he was forced to withdraw with a calf injury, before failing to finish last year’s race.

Geoffrey Kamworor out to challenge six Ethiopians for the 2024 London Marathon crown

Multiple World Cross-country champion Geoffrey Kamworor will try his luck one more time at the 2024 London Marathon, going up against some of the greatest marathoners from Ethiopia.

The men’s elite field at the 2024 London Marathon will see Geoffrey Kamworor take on former clubmate Kenenisa Bekele.

Kamworor will be keen to improve on his second-place finish during last year’s edition of the event while Bekele will seek to have a great build-up toward the Olympic Games in Paris, France.

Bekele, widely regarded as one of the greatest marathoners the world has ever known, will be looking to cement his name further in the streets of London.

He recently changed his management and will be keen to impress them after finishing fourth at last year’s Valencia Marathon. He will also be looking to bounce back after failing to finish the race during last year’s edition of the race.

Meanwhile, the elite men’s race is headlined by reigning TCS New York City Marathon champion Tamirat Tola who will also be looking to continue his hot streak in the streets of the English capital.

The seventh-fastest man in history Mosinet Geremew of Ethiopia (2:02:55) and Kenya's Alexander Mutis, who was runner-up at the 2023 Valencia Marathon in a time of 2:03:11, have also confirmed to be on the start line on Sunday, April 21.

From a British perspective, Emile Cairess returns after becoming the third-fastest Brit in history when he ran 2:08:07 on his TCS London Marathon debut last year.

He will be joined by Callum Hawkins, who has twice finished fourth at the World Championships and will be making his first appearance at the London Marathon since setting his PB of 2:08:14 at the 2019 event.

Kenenisa Bekele, Connor Mantz & Clayton Young To Headline 2024 United Airlines NYC Half

The New York Road Runners (NYRR) has announced that the 2024 United Airlines NYC Half, taking place Sunday, March 17, will feature 11 Olympians, seven Paralympians, and several more professional athletes who have their eyes on the Paris 2024 Games this summer.

Conner Mantz and Clayton Young, fresh off finishing first and second, respectively, at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, will headline the men’s open division at the United Airlines NYC Half, while two-time U.S. Olympian Hillary Bor will race 13.1 miles for the first time in his career and the world’s most-decorated distance runner, Kenenisa Bekele, will return to New York for his second NYRR event. The women’s open division will be chock-full of established contenders, including Olympians Des Linden, Jenny Simpson, Edna Kiplagat, Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal, and Malindi Elmore, in addition to World Championships marathon bronze medalist Fatima Gardadi.

These athletes will lead more than 25,000 runners during the United Airlines NYC Half, the world’s premier half marathon, organized by NYRR, which runs from Brooklyn to Manhattan, passing historic landmarks, diverse neighborhoods, and sweeping views of the city along the way before finishing in Central Park.

Men’s Open Division

Mantz and Young, training partners from Provo, Utah, will line up together at the start in New York less than two months after finishing one-two at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando and qualifying for the Paris 2024 Games. Mantz was fifth in his first United Airlines NYC Half in 2022, and last year became the seventh-fastest American marathoner in history when running 2:07:47 to finish sixth at the Chicago Marathon. Young finished right behind him in seventh in 2:08:00 and will be making his United Airlines NYC Half debut.

“I think I have a lot of room to improve in the halfs,” Mantz said on the latest episode of NYRR Set the Pace, Feb. 22, 2024. “I want to get these halfs in so I can have more confidence heading into Paris. I ran [the United Airlines NYC Half] in 2022…which was probably one of the most special experiences and it was a huge learning [experience]. It was probably my first race where I was competing against a big international field…so it was a really good experience for me, and I think it’s one I want to repeat and take what I’ve learned in the last two years and use it.”

Ethiopia’s Bekele, a four-time Olympic medalist, 16-time world champion, and the third-fastest marathoner in history, will challenge the American duo, racing with NYRR for the second time after finishing sixth at the 2021 TCS New York City Marathon. He will be joined at the starting line by Kenya’s Abel Kipchumba, the reigning champion of the B.A.A. Boston Half Marathon who owns one of the top-10 half-marathon times in history.

Malindi Elmore and Tristan Woodfine to run 2024 NYC Half

On Thursday, the New York Road Runners (NYRR) announced the field for the 2024 NYC Half on March 17, which will feature Canadian marathoners Malindi Elmore and Tristan Woodfine alongside 11 Olympians and one of the world’s most decorated distance runners, Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele.

This will be Bekele’s first time at the NYC Half and only his second career road race in New York City. (He finished sixth at the TCS New York City Marathon in 2021.) Bekele is one of the most prolific runners of all time, having been at the top of the sport for more than two decades. His personal best of 2:01:41 from the 2019 Berlin Marathon still stands as the Ethiopian national record, and makes him the third-fastest marathoner in history.

Bekele will headline the men’s race alongside top U.S. marathoners Conner Mantz and Clayton Young, who are fresh off finishing first and second, respectively, at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 3. Also joining the men’s field is Cobden, Ont.’s Woodfine, who is coming off an impressive 2:10:39 personal best and sixth-place finish at the 2024 Houston Marathon. The 30-year-old is currently training for the 2024 Boston Marathon, where he hopes to place in the top five to potentially secure a spot on the Canadian Olympic marathon team in Paris.

The women’s elite field will be full of established distance runners, including Olympians Des Linden, Jenny Simpson, Edna Kiplagat and Elmore, who was recently nominated to her third Olympic Games. Elmore secured her spot on the Canadian team last fall with a 2:23:30 clocking at the 2023 Berlin Marathon, the second-fastest Canadian women’s marathon time. Like Woodfine, Elmore is also training for the 2024 Boston Marathon, which she hopes will prepare her for the hilly marathon course at the 2024 Paris Olympics, which is expected to be the hilliest Olympic marathon course to date.

The men’s and women’s elite field will lead more than 25,000 runners during the United Airlines NYC Half, the world’s premier half marathon, which runs from Brooklyn to Manhattan, passing historic landmarks, diverse neighbourhoods and sweeping views of The Big Apple before finishing in the middle of Central Park.

Ednah Kiplagat confirms next race as she chases more history

Forty-four-year-old Edna Kiplagat has opened up on where she will compete next, giving the impression that she is not hanging her spikes anytime soon.

More than 25,000 runners have confirmed participation at the New York City Half Marathon scheduled for Sunday, March 17 from Brooklyn to Manhattan, finishing in Central Park.

One of the headliners in the women’s field is 44-year-old Kenyan runner Edna Kiplagat who will be using the race as part of her preparations for the Boston Marathon.

Kiplagat is one of the most successful long-distance runners and from her records, she is a two-time Boston Marathon champion and former London and New York City Marathon champion.

Kiplagat will be up against compatriots Gladys Chepkurui, the reigning Tokyo Half Marathon champion, and Cynthia Limo, a World Athletics Championships half-marathon medalist. The duo has the two fastest times in the women's open division.

Two-time US Olympian and 2018 Boston Marathon champion Desiree Linden will return as the top American finisher from last year's race, having recently finished 11th at the US Olympic Marathon Trials.

Olympic and World Championships medalist Emily Simpson will make her United Airlines NYC Half debut but she is no stranger to NYRR races as an eight-time winner of the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile.

Lindsay Flanagan and Annie Frisbie, both of whom finished in the top 10 at the 2024 US Olympic Marathon Trials, will also be ones to watch.

Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele, a four-time Olympic medalist, 16-time world champion, and the third-fastest marathoner in history, will challenge the Kenyan charge in the men’s race. He will be competing in the streets of New York for the second time after finishing sixth at the 2021 TCS New York City Marathon.

The Kenyan charge will be led by, Abel Kipchumba, the reigning champion of the B.A.A. Boston Half Marathon who owns one of the top 10 half-marathon times in history.

Morocco's Zouhair Talbi will return to the event after taking third in his United Airlines NYC Half debut last year, which he called "the race of his life."

Since then, he finished fifth at the Boston Marathon and broke the Houston Marathon course record in January.

Tanzanian Olympian and marathon record-holder Gabriel Geay, who was the runner-up at last year's Boston Marathon, will race the United Airlines NYC Half for the first time.

An American contender to watch will be Hillary Bor, a two-time U.S. Olympian and five-time national champion who will be making his half-marathon debut.

Mary Ngugi confirmed for Roma-Ostia Half Marathon

Ngugi, a Boston marathon silver medalist from 2021, headlines the women’s field with a personal best (PB) of 66:29 in the half marathon and 2:20:22 in the marathon.

As part of her preparations for the upcoming Boston Marathon, Mary Ngugi-Cooper will line up for this year’s Roma-Ostia Half Marathon in March.

The race will be held on March 3, 2024 in Italy.

Ngugi, a Boston marathon silver medalist from 2021, headlines the women’s field with a personal best (PB) of 66:29 in the half marathon and 2:20:22 in the marathon.

The 2022 Boston bronze medalist who placed fifth at the New York City marathon last year will compete against her compatriots Caroline Korir and Nelly Jeptoo, the young Ethiopian Wariyo Bekelech Teku (fifth in the recent Ethiopian Cross Country Championships and rising star), and compatriot Anna Dibaba, the younger sister of the well-established Tirunesh and Genzebe.

“I’m really excited to announce that in April I will be running @bostonmarathon. Boston holds a special place in my heart, not only for having two podium finishes in the last few years, but getting married there too! The streets are always amazing, crowds loud and I can’t wait to hit Heartbreak Hill once again with a ridiculously strong field of talented women,” Ngugi said while announcing her return to Boston.A welcome return for the Italian team is Rebecca Lonedo, who is in great shape with a recent PB of 70.13 in Seville.

As for the men’s elite list, Ethiopian Tsegu Berehanu Wendemu headlines the list with eyes firmly set on running under an hour as he holds a PB of 59:42.

Shadrack Koech, eager to compete on the fast Roman course after his 61.12 in Trento last October, and Kimakal Kipsambu, returning to the capital after pacing with a time of 61.37 in 2023 make up the top three list of elites.

Marathon debut behind him, Cheptegei turns focus back to 10,000m for Paris

Just a few miles away from the site of his world 10,000m record three years prior, Joshua Cheptegei stumbled towards the finish line of the Valencia Marathon.

On the track, the Olympic 5000m gold medallist and three-time world 10,000m champion is renowned for his unbeatable finishing strength. But in what was his debut over the marathon distance, with each foot somehow supporting a tired body on the brink, the Ugandan had to be content with 37th place in the Spanish city, clocking 2:08:59.

Cheptegei wasn’t too disappointed or surprised, though. Supported by race organiser Marc Roig, Cheptegei hobbled to the elite finishers’ tent immediately after the race, beaming from ear to ear.

A few days before, Cheptegei had prophetically warned: "The marathon has no respect for people.”

Not even Olympic champions, it would seem.

Fans have grown used to Cheptegei finding his rhythm in a leading pack, so it was no surprise to see him there at halfway. Going through 13.1 miles in 1:00:36 wasn’t part of the plan – not that there necessarily was one.

When asked in the build-up to the race what he wanted from his debut, Cheptegei simply said: “I want to learn.”

Collapsing over the line with a rueful smile, Cheptegei made it clear that his objective had been achieved.

He knew that his preparation for the event had been far from perfect. It started with pulling out of the Wanda Diamond League final due to a reaction to wearing spikes in defending his world 10,000m crown in Budapest. Once he did return, the weeks that followed saw his usual runs around the rolling hills of Kapchorwa deemed too dangerous due to constant deluges.

Cheptegei never ran more than 160km a week – which, by the standards of most current marathon specialists, was a light schedule.

Yet in Valencia, he still chose to go with the pace. Many would expect little else from a world 5000m and 10,000m record holder consistently pushing the margins of the possible.

For many fans, their first clear memory of Cheptegei at a senior level was his performance at the 2017 World Cross Country Championships on home soil in Kampala.

That day, the 2016 Olympic 10,000m sixth-place finisher ripped the senior race apart, striding away through the middle section and building a huge lead into the final kilometer.

The Ugandan fans chasing him in bursts around the course almost went as far as to hand over the red, yellow and black flag.

As the commentators proclaimed his title, Cheptegei had pushed himself to the limit, a smooth stride rolling to a wayward struggle.

Defending champion Geoffrey Kamworor – a former mentor to Cheptegei during his time in Kenya in 2015 – silenced the crowds, passing the struggling Ugandan in a fleeting second and going on to win. Cheptegei eventually finished 30th.

“Joshua had a great belief and a great determination in running,” Kamworor commented on his Ugandan rival. “Whenever you talk with him, you could see in his mind that he had great aspirations in life.

“He's even becoming one of my mentors.”

Cheptegei won the senior title at his next attempt in Aarhus in 2019, the year of the first of three consecutive world 10,000m titles. An Olympic silver in Tokyo in that event accompanied 5000m gold.

Risks taken, lessons learnt all in a bid to break new ground. It's core to Cheptegei’s philosophy as a runner and ultimately role model to those that follow him around the world but perhaps most importantly back home in Uganda.

It’s also followed him since his first days as a professional.

While training with Kamworor, Eliud Kipchoge and the rest in Kaptagat, barely aged 20, the 2014 world U20 10,000m champion made a difficult but bold decision.

“I told my management that I wanted to go back home and build a running culture, and to inspire the young generation here in Uganda.”

As a young athlete – and although it happened 24 years before Cheptegei was born – Cheptegei was made aware of the fact that John Akii-Bua earned Uganda's first Olympic athletics medal when taking 400m hurdles gold in Munich in 1972.

It’s clear that Cheptegei now feels a sense of responsibility when it comes to developing the sport in his country, in much the same way Akii-Bua did more than 50 years ago.

“It’s a privilege to have had great guys like him open the way for us, especially in a difficult time where the country was unstable,” says Cheptegei.

Akii-Bua was forced to live out a large part of his life outside Uganda, moving to Kenya towards the final days of the Idi Amin dictatorship.

Likewise, Uganda’s next Olympic gold medalist, Stephen Kiprotich, trained for much of his career in their eastern neighbor.

The then 15-year-old Cheptegei admits taking a break from kicking a football around the schoolyard to watch Kiprotich win Olympic marathon gold in 2012, that being the moment he made his own plans for global success.

“I was like, ‘right it’s in my heart. I want to become a champion, a national hero like him’.”

Cheptegei has developed those ambitions. For better or worse, he aims to deliberately show the next generation they need not leave home. No altitude camps elsewhere, high tech facilities or trips to some winter sun.

“I have always trained in Uganda, always and always," he reiterates.

Despite the world records, Olympic gold and world championship titles, Cheptegei still feels that to prove that emphatically, one achievement remains left to tick off.

It's all about the number 10.

“2024, it’ll be 10 years running internationally,” he says. “10 years at a high level.

“I'm still in love with the 10,000m, the special distance. I still want to go to Paris and win.”

Only Kenenisa Bekele and Haile Gebrselassie have won more world 10,000m titles than Cheptegei. Both won two Olympic golds in the event.

Cheptegei will head to the French capital hungry to find his first, motivated in the knowledge that in doing so he'll send a message to that young Ugandan watching, hoping to follow in his path.

Patrick Makau believes current generation of athletes can run under 2 hours

Former world marathon record holder Patrick Makau believes the current generation of athletes in the country will soon run under two hours in the marathon.

The 38-year-old is also notable for his half marathon performances, having won several prominent competitions in Europe in sub-1-hour performances.

Some of the races include the Berlin Half Marathon in 2007, where he clocked 58:56 hours.

Marathons had changed a lot due to technology and were far better than the marathons they ran during his time.

“As I see it, the marathons have changed a lot because it is not like the olden times. We used to view sub-two hours as something unattainable but now with the current crop of athletes like the current world record holder Kevin Kiptum and two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge, this looks like a possibility,” he noted.

The signs of an athlete running a marathon in under two hours are already evident if Kipchoge and Kiptum's recent performances are anything to go by.

In an unofficial race in Vienna, Austria in 2019, Kipchoge became the first person ever to run a marathon in under two hours, clocking 1:59.40 during the INEOS 1:59 Challenge.

Regarded as one of the greatest marathoners of all time, Kipchoge was the world record holder in the marathon then with a time of 2:01:09 set at the 2022 Berlin. His mark was later broken by Kiptum at the Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2023, when he clocked 2:00:35.

The 24-year-old Kiptum is currently the only person in history to run the marathon in under two hours and one minute in a record-eligible race.

Kiptum has won all three of the major marathons he has entered between December 2022 and October 2023 with three of his times among the six fastest in history. Makau revealed that hard work and endurance were the key for him to break the world record in 2011.

“I used to go to train in Iten and Machakos and to the polishing in Ngong. This is because speed work and build-up are two different programs,” Makau noted.

Makau encouraged athletes to find a training routine that would enable them to run a sub-two-hour marathon shortly.

“What Kiptum, Kipchoge and the other athletes can do now is to find the pace that will be able to help them run a sub-two-hour marathon shortly,” he added.

The duo currently occupy the top two positions in the world marathon ranking. Ethiopians Kenenisa Bekele (2:01.41), Sisay Lemma (2:01.48 hrs), Birhanu Legese (2:02.48 hrs) and Mosinet Geremew  (2:02.55 hrs) follow in that order.

The former world record holder, who currently trains the Kenya Police team and other athletes, also cited technology, especially in running shoes as a reason behind the fastest times being witnessed.

“During our time, there was not as much technology as we were accustomed to normal shoes. In today’s era,  running shoe technology plays a key role in determining the pace in a  particular race,” he said.

Innovations in Running Shoe Technology mean shoes are now lighter, more dynamic, and more resilient, thanks to advancements in foams, rubbers, construction, textiles, and other essential components.

Kipchoge's performances during the INEOS 1:59 challenge opened the world's eyes to the condensed foam, carbon-plated super shoes which Nike claimed could increase running efficiency and in particular the amount of oxygen consumed per minute by by 4 percent. 

Makau is optimistic the young athletes under his wings will also go further and make not only him but also the country proud. He said he is looking forward to the national trials in April to see if they get selected.

“We have intensified training in both Machakos and Kitui camps and I am hopeful. I am waiting for the trials in April to see if they will be able to represent Kenya at the Paris 2020 Olympic Games,” he said.

He also tipped Kenya to once again dominate the marathon at the Olympic Games slated for July 26 to August 11.

“I am sure Kipchoge, Kiptum, Peres Jepchirchir and Ruth Chepng'etich will represent the country well in the marathon at the Olympics,” he asserted. 

World Athletics comes under fire after controversial Xiamen and Tata Mumbai Marathons

Athletics enthusiasts have raised eyebrows concerning the credibility of the rules governing Platinum Label road races after recent happenings at the Xiamen and Tata Mumbai Marathons.

World Athletics has for long been known to champion for viewership boosts in China and India, with the belief being that the presence of renowned athletes and remarkable performances can significantly enhance engagement for those races.

However, the race organizers of some of the elite races in India and China together with World Athletics have come under fire after two recent marathons breached one of the rules of the World Athletics Platinum Label road races.

According to World Athletics, an intentional arrangement, act or omission aimed at an improper alteration of a result or the course of an event or competition in order to remove all or part of the unpredictable nature of the event or competition to obtain an undue benefit for oneself or others is a violation.

According to an analysis done by the Canadian Running Magazine, former world half marathon record holder Kibiwott Kandie and defending champion Philimon Kipchumba withdrew from the Xiamen Marathon after covering 20km and this was in order for them to collect their appearance money.

The race organizers were aiming to draw more attention to marathon events in China but their plan seemed not to work out. According to further reports, the organizers are said to have invited 22 elite international athletes, but only seven of them finished.

Kandie and Kipchumba withdrawing from the marathon immediately after crossing the 20K mark, raising eyebrows from locals as they posed for photos, shook hands and smiled for photos.

Before the race, World Athletics did a preview of the race, however, none of the top athletes who were featured in the preview finished the race.

When the Canadian Running Magazine reached to a World Athletics representative, the individual said: “As I am sure you understand, whether due to injury, personal reasons or other, we are never able to predict with certainty who will start or finish a race, come event time. Appearance fees are an important aspect of our sport, and many others–including tennis and golf.”

Although athletics and the pro tennis structure share similarities, they also have one major difference since a tennis player who is paid an appearance fee to play a tournament, or a match, will finish the match, unlike in elite marathoning.

Meanwhile, the 2024 Tata Mumbai Marathon in India on January 21 presented another example of high-performance athletes seeming to collect appearance fees without providing strong performances.

Ethiopian runner Lelisa Desisa headlined the Gold-Label men’s field, and two-time Amsterdam Marathon champion Tadelach Bekele headlined the women’s field. Both athletes started the race, but fell off the lead pack and dropped out.

It is possible to run faster, 41-year-old Kenenisa Bekele insists

41-year-old marathoner Kenenisa Bekele believes he still has the mileage in his legs to run faster as he eyes victory at the Olympic Games.

Marathon legend Kenenisa Bekele has insisted that he is the greatest form of his life heading into the Olympic Games in Paris, France where he will lock horns with other great marathoners.

In an interview with Athletics Weekly, the Ethiopian insisted that his progression is going well and he is ready to run faster times. He has gathered a lot of experience so far and will definitely be looking forward to impress.

“When I look at my progression, I feel like I have good energy and power…I feel very strong unlike when I struggled around three or four years ago.

“It is possible to run faster with this age you know…it is quite a good age for a marathon so I think I will do something better in the future,” the 41-year-old said.

He added that marathon running requires an athlete to have the talent first and the capacity to run the distance and also experience.

“Experience by itself can’t change anything if you don’t have the capacity to cover the distance. If you compare that with age also the young generation is struggling to run faster times and follow the pace of the older and experienced runners.

"This could be influenced by their capacity and talents. That’s why in my mind, I know myself and during training, I compete against my teammates to gauge myself,” Bekele said.

The two-time Berlin Marathon also commented on his training, explaining that it has not been a walk in the pack for him.

“Marathon training is really challenging…I was out of the track due to an injury and every time I get an injury, my training changes.

“Training wise, at some point and I could not follow every training session. This is the greatest challenge I face in training for my training,” he said.

Defending Champions Ethiopians Hayle Lemi Berhanu and Anchialem Haymanot headline at the Tata Mumbai Marathon

Defending champions and event record holders Ethiopians Hayle Lemi Berhanu and Anchialem Haymanot will headline the 19th edition of the Tata Mumbai Marathon. The event is a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race, and is scheduled for Sunday, January, 21.

Earlier this year, Berhanu clocked 2:07:32 and Haymanot logged a 2:24:15 on her debut, to win in Mumbai with new event records. Later, Haymanot improved her best to 2:22:23 in Amsterdam while finishing sixth. Berhanu posted a season-best 2:05:48 to finish at fifth.      

Speaking about returning to the Tata Mumbai Marathon, Hayle said, “I won the 2023 edition of the Mumbai marathon under perfect conditions. It was indeed a surprise and unexpected win at that time. But I want to make sure that I replicate my victory in January as I’m confident of finishing on top in 2024.”

However, it will not be an easy task for either runner to wrest their titles again in 2024. As many as six other men and two other women have superior personal bests in comparison to the current Mumbai course records have entered to challenge the event.  

The $405,000 USD prize money event will witness some of the finest athletes take centre-stage at the Tata Mumbai Marathon. The first three in each race stand to win US $50,000, $25,000 and $10,000, respectively. The $15,000 bonus also awaits those who break the existing event records.  

Ethiopian Kinde Atanw (30), who is credited with a PB of 2:03:51 — which was achieved while winning the Valencia Marathon in 2019 — will be the leading name among the men. Atanaw finished third during the World 10K in Bengaluru way back in 2014 on his previous appearance in India.

Lelisa Desisa, the 2019 World Champion, together with four fellow Ethiopian runners and Eritrean Merhawi Kesete will give Hayle Lemi a run for his money. Kesete finished ninth in Mumbai in 2020.

Desisa, had his earlier appearances in India through the TCS World 10K Bengaluru, there he finished third in 2011, and in the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon for three consecutive years (2010-2012, including a victory in 2010) is credited with the second-fastest time (2:04:45) among those men who entered for the 2024 race. On his numerous international ventures, Desisa also captured two Boston marathon wins besides a title victory in New York among the big ones.  

The women’s line-up includes two Ethiopians and one Kenyan runner to make it tough for Anchialem in the upcoming race in Mumbai. Tadelech Bekele, the 2018 London Marathon podium finisher, and Sofia Assefa — the 2012 London Olympics steeplechase silver medallist who clocked an impressive 2:23:33 on her marathon debut in Amsterdam this October — will be the main challenge to the defending champion.  

Speaking about returning to the Tata Mumbai Marathon, Anchialem said, “I ran my maiden marathon in Mumbai and was lucky to win the race. I am eager to repeat the feat once again in 2024”

Commenting on this year’s field, Vivek Singh, Jt. MD. Procam International said, “The Tata Mumbai Marathon continues to attract some of the finest athletes in the world. It is also a matter of great pride to have our defending champions back and this year, with Kinde Atanaw & Tadelech Bekele we have one of the fastest fields we have ever had at the event. We are sure to have some scintillating action on the course.”

Kebebe and Gudeta triumph in Xiamen

Ethiopian duo Asefa Boki Kebebe and Bekelech Gudeta were victorious at the C&D Xiamen Marathon on Sunday (7), winning the World Athletics Platinum Label road race in 2:06:46 and 2:22:54 respectively.

Kebebe upset a quality field that contained three sub-2:05 runners, outracing Kenya’s Felix Kirwa in the final seven kilometres to take the men’s title, falling just 27 seconds shy of the course record.

A leading group of more than 10 runners passed through 10km in 29:28 and 15km in 44:20. After the leaders hit the 20km mark in 59:08, defending champion Philimon Kiptoo Kipchumba and fellow Kenyan Kibiwott Kandie, the fastest entrant with a personal best of 2:04:48, both withdrew.

The pace decreased slightly after 20km but the leading group continued to shrink. At 25km there were only five runners left in the leading pack: Kebebe, Kirwa, Solomon Kirwa Yego of Kenya, Ethiopai’s Adane Kebede Gebre and Moroccan record-holder Othmane El Goumri.

Gebre dropped out of contention just before 30km, which the leaders reached in 1:29:13. After another kilometre, 31-year-old El Goumri tried to make a move. Although the Moroccan’s attempt went in vain, Yego failed to keep up. After the leading trio hit 35km in 1:44:43, El Goumri gradually faded away as well.

Kirwa stayed in the pole position as Kebebe followed closely behind. Kebede’s patience paid off as the Ethiopian made a decisive surge in the final kilometre to pass Kirwa, notching his third marathon title in China following victories in Changchun and Tianjin last year.

Kirwa – who has marathon titles in Yichang, Stockholm, Macao, Singapore and Antwerp – took second place in 2:06:52. El Goumri finished third in 2:07:18.

Like Kebebe, 26-year-old Gudeta also emerged victorious from a stacked field, but her victory was more comfortable.

An Ethiopian trio of Gudeta, Aberu Ayana Mulisa and Ftaw Zeray led the women’s race to 15km in 55:09 with the closest chaser, Morocco’s world bronze medallist Fatima Ezzahra Gardadi, lagging more than 40 seconds behind.

Zeray soon fell behind before the leading duo passed 20km and Mulisa, who achieved her PB of 2:21:54 last year in Seville, also failed to keep up with Gudeta near the halfway point.

Gudeta continued to extend her lead and went on to win in 2:22:54, shaving two seconds from the PB she set when winning in Prague two years ago.

Gardadi finished second in 2:24:12 taking almost a minute off her PB in what was her second race in Xiamen in five weeks following a 1:11:14 victory at the Xiamen Half Marathon.

China’s Zhang Deshun was third in 2:26:53.

A word from Kenenisa Bekele

I pushed my limits at the Valencia Marathon last weekend and thrilled to share the incredibly encouraging results! Finished 4th with a time of 2:04:18 filling me with hope for future races. Couldn't have done it without the amazing support of my fans – your encouragement means the world to me.

Big thank you to my sponsor ANTA for their support. Excited for what's to come!

Valencia, you've been an incredible host, and I never expected to have this much fun. Your warmth and energy have been truly inspiring, and I'm grateful beyond words.

The Valencia course is so comfortable, and I strongly believe it has the potential to witness the breaking of world records in the future.

Thank you all for being a part of this incredible journey. Your unwavering support keeps me going. Here's to aiming high and never giving up on our dreams! 

Valencia Marathon to offer one million Euros for a world record

It’s no secret that the Trinidad Alfonso Valencia Marathon in Spain boasts one of the fastest courses and deepest marathon fields in the world. For the second consecutive year, the men’s and women’s winner in Valencia has recorded a time under 2:01 and 2:16. While Valencia isn’t part of the six Abbott World Marathon Majors, it continues to attract some of the world’s fastest-distance runners.

To set Valencia apart, organizers have an added incentive to the 2024 race—one million euros (US $1,079,000 CDN $1,400,000) for the man or woman to break the marathon world record on the course.

The announcement came on Monday from Juan Roig, the president of the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation, who said to Spanish news that it is his dream to witness the marathon world record shattered in Valencia: “We want to announce that whoever breaks the world record will receive one million euros, if they break it in Valencia.” This amount would mark the largest prize purse/bonus from a marathon to date, surpassing the Nagoya Women’s Marathon in Japan, which awards USD $250,000 to the champion.

At this year’s Valencia Marathon, over 30 men ran under the Olympic standard of 2:08:10. A time, which would have placed them inside the top 10 at most marathon majors this year. Valencia has grown over the past decade and has become a hub for distance running, evidenced by the world records set by Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei and Ethiopia’s Letensebet Gidey in the 10,000m in 2021.

At this year’s race, Cheptegei made his marathon debut, falling slightly short of his sub-2:04 goal, finishing in 2:08:59 for 37th place overall. The event also featured one of the most illustrious distance runners in history, Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele, who took fourth in a new masters 40+ world record of 2:04:19.

The men’s marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum has already revealed his racing plans for 2024. The 24-year-old, with a personal best of 2:00:35, will attempt the world record at April’s Rotterdam Marathon before gearing up for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games with Team Kenya. Kiptum came onto the scene at the Valencia Marathon last year, winning the race in 2:01:53, marking the fastest men’s marathon debut.

According to Forbes, Roig is one of the richest men in Spain, with a net worth of $3.6 billion. Roig and his business partner, Valencia race director Paco Borao, remain confident that the world record will someday come to them, and they are committed to doing whatever it takes to attract the world’s fastest athletes to compete there. “One day it will come,” said Roig to Spanish news. “We will fight for it.”

Michael Githae wins 76th edition of Fukuoka Marathon for the second time

Kenyan runner Michael Githae won the 76th edition of Fukuoka International Marathon for the second time in three years at Heiwadai Athletic Stadium in Fukuoka, Japan on Sunday.

The 29-year-old Commonwealth Games marathon bronze medallist, clocked a new personal best of 2:07.08 with China’s Yang Shaohui, coming home in second place in 2:07.09 while Norway’s Sondre Nordstad Moen sealed the podium with third place finish in 2:07.16.

Kenya’s Vincent Raimoi finished in fifth place with a time of 2:08:00, while the race favorite, the 2012 Olympics marathon silver medalist, Abel Kirui came home a disappointing eighth in a time of 2:08.36.

On Sunday, the leading pack was whittled down to three - Githae, China’s Yang Shaohui and Norway’s Sondre Nordstad Moen - when Hosoya fell behind around the 40-kilometer mark.

Githae, who spent his high school days in Fukuoka, broke away around a kilometer from the finish line to cut the tape as the winner but could not shatter the course record of 2:05.18 set four years ago by Ethiopia’s Tsegaye Kebede. By winning the race, Githae, who runs for Suzuki track team, improved his previous best of 2:08:17, which he set when finishing fourth at last year’s Fukuoka Marathon.

Meanwhile, Kenyan athletes failed to sparkle as Ethiopians dominated with Sisay Lemma collectinh another big-race in the men’s win category during the 2023 Valencia Marathon on Sunday.

The 2021 London Marathon winner broke clear of fellow Ethiopian Dawit Wolde and Kenya’s Kandiwott Kandie with 7km to go of the 42.195km race distance. The trio were well inside world record pace at 30km, but Lemma eventually crossed the line in 2:01:48, over a minute outside Kelvin Kiptum’s mark from Chicago in October.

Three-time Olympic gold medallist on the track, Kenenisa Bekele, was just over 20 seconds behind the lead group at halfway and appeared to have decided not to go with the strong pace at the front.

On his marathon debut, 5000m and 10,000m world record holder Joshua Cheptegei was among those dropped having reached the half in the lead group in 60:35. Uganda’s reigning 5000m Olympic champion tired badly in the second half of the race, eventually finishing down in 37th place in 2:08:59.

Ethiopia completed a podium sweep in the women’s race with Worknesh Degefa winning in 2:15:51 to go seventh on the all-time list.

Lemma breaks course record, Degefa dominates in Valencia

Sisay Lemma set a course record of 2:01:48 to move to fourth on the men’s world all-time list, while Worknesh Degefa ran a PB of 2:15:51 to win the women’s race and complete an Ethiopian double at the Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso – a World Athletics Elite Platinum Label event – on Sunday (3).

As scheduled, the men's race kicked off at a brisk rhythm as the pacemakers went through the opening five kilometres in 14:28. They maintained that pace through to 10km (28:56), with Lemma always nearest to the pacemakers and other favourites – including Uganda's debutant Joshua Cheptegei and Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele – in close attendance.

Shortly after reaching the 13th kilometre, the pace of the lead pack picked up and only Lemma, Tanzania's Gabriel Geay and the Kenyan duo of Kibiwott Kandie and Alexander Mutiso managed to maintain it as that quartet clocked 14:08 for that 5km split. But Ethiopia’s Dawit Wolde and Chalu Deso plus Cheptegei re-joined them at the helm and seven men blazed through the half marathon checkpoint together in 1:00:35. By then, the experienced Bekele had decided to set his own cadence and travelled alone behind them, clocking 1:00:58 for half way.

With the clock reading 1:08, a quartet of Lemma, Geay, Deso and Wolde broke away from Kandie, Mutiso and Cheptegei. A short while later only Lemma travelled at the shoulder of the remaining pacemaker, with Kandie and Wolde a couple of seconds in arrears and the rest of the contenders some way back as that 10km section was covered in 28:38, the quickest of the race to that point. The leaders passed the 30km mark in 1:26:04, 27 seconds faster than the previous best 30km split.

The last pacemaker dropped out at 30.5km and Kandie, who had caught Lemma, ruled the race for a while with Lemma and Wolde chasing him in crocodile file. The pace dropped slightly without the pacemaker's help and the trio covered the following kilometres in the 2:55/2:57 range, running 14:36 for the 30-35km section. The key moment came some 1:42 into the race, when Lemma made his move to gradually open a sizeable margin on Wolde and Kandie, with the rest of the field far away.Over the closing stages only Lemma was able to tick off each kilometre well under 3:00 pace to reach 40km in 1:55:12, almost a full minute ahead of Wolde, while Mutiso ran in third another half a minute adrift but ahead of a faltering Kandie.

Lemma reached the finish line unopposed in 2:01:48, just seven seconds shy of Bekele's national record. Mutiso overtook Wolde in the closing stages to take second place in a career best of 2:03:11, with Wolde completing the podium in 2:03:48, also a PB.

Bekele passed Geay and Kandie over the closing kilometres to finish a fine fourth in 2:04:19, improving his own masters record (M40). In a race of great depth, a record 13 athletes ran under 2:06 and a series of national records were set, while world 10,000m record-holder Cheptegei had to settle for 37th place in 2:08:59 on his debut over the classic distance.

“It's incredible to win here with such a fast time, I'm over the moon,” said Lemma.

Degefa signs successful return to lead Ethiopian 1-2-3

The women's event started at an even early pace of 3:12/km as the leaders clocked 16:00 for the opening 5km and 32:02 for 10km. Shortly afterwards, only three women – Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana, Degefa and Hiwot Gebrekiden – remained at the helm.The steady pace continued over the following kilometres and that trio reached the halfway point in 1:07:29, sandwiched between a large group of male athletes right on schedule to give last year's course record of 2:14:58 a scare. By that point, Kenya's Celestine Chepchirchir was a lonesome fourth in 1:08:20.

It was always Ayana who ran closest to the pacemakers, the tempo dropping slightly between 20-30km as the leaders passed 30km in 1:36:22, running 32:24 for the previous 10km. Degefa, returning to the marathon after almost four years following a double maternity leave, moved to the front for the first time around the 33th kilometre and broke away from the 2016 Olympic 10,000m champion Ayana.

Ayana initially managed to reel in her compatriot but then she struggled to stay with Degefa as the latter went through 35km in 1:52:34 to open a four-second advantage. Gebrekidan was another 51 seconds in arrears.

Degefa extended her lead over the next few kilometres and became a virtual winner by 40km as her margin had grown to 21 seconds.

She crossed the finish line well inside the 2:16 barrier thanks to a 2:15:51 performance that improved her previous career best of 2:17:41 from 2019 and moved her to seventh on the women's world all-time list.

Ayana, claiming the runner-up spot, also improved her previous PB by almost a minute with her 2:16:22 effort, while Gebrekidan completed an Ethiopian podium sweep in 2:17:59, 1:11 faster than her previous best.

Chepchirchir finished fourth in 2:20:46.

Local fans had plenty to cheer as Tariku Novales (2:05:48) and Majida Maayouf (2:21:27) both set Spanish records, while Turkey's Sultan Haydar (2:21:27) and Italy's Sofiia Yaremchuk (2:23:16) also broke national records.

International elite athletes determined to keep the Valencia Marathon on the world podium

The three times Olympic champion and five times world champion, Kenenisa Bekele (2:01:41), joins the entry list and will run the Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso on 3 December. Along with him, the Tanzanian Gabriel Geay (2:03:00) will be on the entry list.

The Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso announces its initial list of international athletes with a view to maintaining its ambitious objectives for the event in the ciudad del running on 3 December. Valencia is the third fastest marathon in the world for men and women thanks to the times of 2:01:53 and 2:14:58, respectively, achieved last year, and in 2023 it aspires to remain on the podium of the fastest marathons in the world.

The announced debut of Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei over the distance will be one of the biggest sporting highlights of the day and a challenge not only for him, but also for the top Kenyan and Ethiopian favorites. There are five runners with sub-2h05 times who will be looking to improve their performances on a course that is ideal for personal bests. These runners include Alexander Mutiso (2:03:29), Sisay Lemma (2:03:36), Leul Gebresilase (2:04:02), Chalu Deso (2:04:53) and Titus Kipruto (2:04:54).

Some of them already have experience of getting the most out of the fast streets of Valencia Ciudad del Running, as is also the case for Kibiwott Kandie (2:13:43, a time far from his real level due to a bad start in New York), who will try to match the impressive records he has achieved in two Valencia Half Marathons when he runs the full 42,195 meters.

In the women’s race, the marathoners Tsegay Gemechu (2:16:56), Almaz Ayana (2:17:20), Worknesh Degefa (2:17:41), Joan Chelimo (2:18:04) and Hiwot Gebrekidan (2:19:10), all of whom have experience over the distance, are also expected to put up a tough fight in Bosena Mulatie’s exciting debut.

Marc Roig: “We have the strongest event on the world scene”.

The Valencia Marathon’s international elite coach, Marc Roig, recalled that “in a pre-Olympic year, the Valencia Marathon represents the strongest event in the world. Dozens of athletes are looking to book their ticket to Paris 2024, with more than a dozen seeking national records and both the men’s and women’s front-runners going for course records. Valencia is, once again, the ciudad del running.”

Ethiopian legend Kenenisa Bekele confirmed for Valencia Marathon

Kenenisa Bekele is the latest entrant into the Valencia Marathon scheduled for December 3.

Legendary marathoner Kenenisa Bekele is not hanging his spikes anytime soon as he gears up for the Valencia Marathon scheduled for December 3.

The 41-year-old has been in the game for more than 20 years and he will be hoping to maintain his legacy once he takes on the starting line of the event.

He opened his season at the London Marathon where he failed to finish the race and he will be hoping to rise from the ashes in the streets of Valencia. The 2019 Berlin Marathon champion will be facing off against a very quality field.

Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei will be making his debut in the streets of Valencia with the hope of a podium finish.

The Kenyan charge will be led by former world half marathon record holder Kibiwott Kandie, Titus Kipruto, and Alexander Mutiso who triumphed at the Prague Marathon earlier this year.

Bekele will be joining his compatriots Sisay Lemma and Leul Gebresilase and the trio will seek to finish in the podium bracket.

Bekele will have his work cut out considering he is yet to win a race since reigning supreme at the Vitality Big Half Marathon in 2020. He finished third at the Berlin Marathon and sixth at the TCS New York Marathon.

In 2022, the Ethiopian legend finished third at the Great North Run and went ahead to finish fifth at the Berlin Marathon when Eliud Kipchoge broke the world record.

Kelvin Kiptum’s course record time of 2:01:53 that he set last year could be in danger with the quality field that has been assembled.

Keith and Kiprop claim Cardiff Cross Challenge crowns

Megan Keith secured a clear win while Keneth Kiprop prevailed after a sprint finish at the Cardiff Cross Challenge – a World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold event – on Saturday (11).

European U23 5000m champion Keith built on her fifth-place finish at the Cross Internacional de Atapuerca last month, beating a strong international field to win the 6.4km senior women's race by 17 seconds.

The 21-year-old, who started her year by finishing third at the CrossCup de Hannut and then raced for Great Britain at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, clocked 20:35 to win unchallenged on the muddy but relatively flat and winding course at Llandaff Fields.

Behind her, Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw – who started as one of the leading contenders thanks to her Cross Country Tour Gold wins in Albufeira and Amorebieta this year – clocked 20:52 to secure the runner-up spot, seven seconds ahead of her compatriot Asmarech Anley.

Their fellow Ethiopian Meseret Yeshaneh, the world U20 steeplechase bronze medallist, was fourth a further three seconds back, while Britain’s Jessica Warner-Judd, who won in Cardiff in 2017, placed fifth.

“That was great fun. I’ve run here before, this is my third year now. Every year I love this course and I love coming here and running really hard so it was just another really good day out,” said Keith, who will be targeting a place for the European Cross Country Championships in Brussels next month.

“I love Cardiff as a box to check on my way to Liverpool (British trial race).”

While Keith opened a considerable advantage over her rivals, the senior men's race was much closer and the end of the 9.6km contest came down to a head-to-head battle.

Uganda’s 18-year-old Kiprop, who was sixth in the U20 event at the World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, led for much of the race, establishing a lead in the opening stages and staying ahead until Kenya’s Vincent Mutai attacked.

Kiprop placed 15th in the road mile at the World Road Running Championships last month and he used some of that speed to respond to Mutai’s challenge, with the finish line in sight.

Mutai – who won the Cardiff Half Marathon in October – had been tracking Kiprop but as he tried to pass him in the closing stages, Kiprop kicked again and won in 28:32, three seconds ahead of Mutai.

Ethiopia’s Abele Bekele Alemu was third, half a minute behind them, with Britain’s Zak Mahamed fourth and Burundi’s Egide Ntakarutimana fifth.

“I enjoyed winning this race in Cardiff because it was my first time to run in Europe in cross country,” said Kiprop. “I thought that the sprint was going to win this race.”