Chumba out to defend Lisbon title
Kenya's Zablon Chumba hits the tape to win Lisbon Marathon
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Kenyan athletes will be targeting top honours at this weekend’s EDP Lisbon Marathon and Hyundai Half Marathon in Portugal, with defending marathon champion Zablon Chumba leading the charge.
Chumba returns to defend his title against a strong international field, including compatriots Jonathan Kiplimo Maiyo and Timothy Misoi.
Maiyo boasts the fastest personal best among the Kenyan trio at 2:04:56, followed by Misoi at 2:06:07 and Chumba at 2:07:11.
The Kenyan challenge faces stiff opposition from Ethiopia, with Abdi Ali Gelchu and Asefa Mengisa among the leading contenders. The men’s course record stands at 2:05:45.
In the women’s marathon, Kenya’s Ruth Chebitok headlines the field with a personal best of 2:21:03, set in Vienna. She will face defending champion Abebech Afework of Ethiopia, who returns after improving her season with a 2:23:52 performance in Dubai.
Ethiopia’s Sintayehu Tilahun, whose personal best stands at 2:22:19, and Worknesh Alemu will also be in contention as the athletes target the course record of 2:24:13.
Attention will then shift to Sunday’s Hyundai Half Marathon, where Kenya’s Brian Kibet Kogo returns to Lisbon seeking a stronger performance after clocking 1:01:23 on his debut over the distance in March.
Kogo faces Ethiopia’s Fantahun Hunegnaw, who holds a personal best of 1:00:10, and Uganda’s Abel Chebet, whose best stands at 1:00:31. Eritrea’s Merhawi Mebrahtu is another contender.
In the women’s half marathon, Kenya’s Dolphine Omare leads the entries with a personal best of 1:06:05, putting her in contention to challenge the course record of 1:06:54 set by compatriot Peres Jepchirchir in 2019.
Omare will face Ethiopia’s Debash Desta and fellow Kenyan Margret Chacha, who have personal bests of 1:08:10 and 1:08:57, respectively.
Chumba returns to defend his title against a strong international field, including compatriots Jonathan Kiplimo Maiyo and Timothy Misoi.
Maiyo boasts the fastest personal best among the Kenyan trio at 2:04:56, followed by Misoi at 2:06:07 and Chumba at 2:07:11.
The Kenyan challenge faces stiff opposition from Ethiopia, with Abdi Ali Gelchu and Asefa Mengisa among the leading contenders. The men’s course record stands at 2:05:45.
In the women’s marathon, Kenya’s Ruth Chebitok headlines the field with a personal best of 2:21:03, set in Vienna. She will face defending champion Abebech Afework of Ethiopia, who returns after improving her season with a 2:23:52 performance in Dubai.
Ethiopia’s Sintayehu Tilahun, whose personal best stands at 2:22:19, and Worknesh Alemu will also be in contention as the athletes target the course record of 2:24:13.
Attention will then shift to Sunday’s Hyundai Half Marathon, where Kenya’s Brian Kibet Kogo returns to Lisbon seeking a stronger performance after clocking 1:01:23 on his debut over the distance in March.
Kogo faces Ethiopia’s Fantahun Hunegnaw, who holds a personal best of 1:00:10, and Uganda’s Abel Chebet, whose best stands at 1:00:31. Eritrea’s Merhawi Mebrahtu is another contender.
In the women’s half marathon, Kenya’s Dolphine Omare leads the entries with a personal best of 1:06:05, putting her in contention to challenge the course record of 1:06:54 set by compatriot Peres Jepchirchir in 2019.
Omare will face Ethiopia’s Debash Desta and fellow Kenyan Margret Chacha, who have personal bests of 1:08:10 and 1:08:57, respectively.
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