Brigid Kosgei and Amos Kipruto headline Hamburg’s strongest ever fields

The strongest field in the history of the event will be at the start line for the 39th Haspa Marathon Hamburg on Sunday, 27 April.

Former world marathon bronze medalist Amos Kipruto and Ethiopia's Kinde Atanaw feature personal bests of sub 2:04:00, while former world record holder Brigid Kosgei is the fastest woman ever on a Hamburg start list.

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Ethiopia’s Workenesh Edesa is the other athlete who has run well under 2:20:00. Such a line-up of star runners is a novelty for the Haspa Marathon Hamburg.

Germany’s Richard Ringer and Karoline Grovdal of Norway are the leading European runners.

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If the predicted good weather conditions materialise, very fast races are possible with the men's course record under attack as the favourites chase a first sub-2:04 in Hamburg.

Kenya’s Bernard Koech established the current course record with 2:04:09 in 2023.

“I am well prepared and ready for a good, fast race. If I would have the choice, a personal best would be more important for me than a victory,” said Kipruto during the pre-race press conference.

The 32-year-old achieved his record of 2:03:13 in Tokyo 2022, finishing second behind Eliud Kipchoge. Together with fellow Kenyan Emmanuel Mutai, who ran here in 2018 and also has a PB of 2:03:13, he is the fastest runner ever on a Hamburg start list.

“I know that the course is fast and that very good times have been run here time and again. The race is a great opportunity for me to achieve a top performance.

If we work well together, it is possible to break the course record,” said Kipruto, who is one of four runners who have run sub 2:05:00.

While Ethiopians Atanaw and Tsegaye Getachew are second and third on the start list with best times of 2:03:51 and 2:04:49, respectively, Philemon Kiplimo also belongs to this top group. The Kenyan has a PB of 2:04:56.

“I assume that we will run the first half in 62:00 minutes. I hope that I can then run the second half faster,” said Kiplimo, who finished third in Hamburg a year ago in a strong 2:05:37. “I know the course, which is an advantage.”

Meanwhile, Kosgei, a late inclusion in the women's elite field, comes in as one of the favorites.

“I wanted to run the Tokyo Marathon at the beginning of March, but I wasn't in the right shape and decided not to go. I then looked for another race at a later time, and I am happy to be able to run in Hamburg on Sunday.

I had knee and hip problems - it was always back and forth. But now I am fit and I want to run a good race," said Kosgei, who has not run a race since finishing fifth in the London Marathon a year ago with 2:19:02

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While the very strong course record of 2:17:23 set by Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw in 2022 will be difficult to break, another sub-2:20 race is certainly possible in Hamburg.

Ethiopians Workenesh Edesa and Sichala Kumeshi could also achieve such a time.

“I want to run faster on Sunday than when I won in Osaka,“ said Edesa, who clocked 2:21:00 in Japan in January. With her PB of 2:18:51, she is the second-fastest runner on the start list.

“After finishing eleventh here two years ago, I want to achieve much more this time. My goal is to win the race,“ said Kumeshi, who took the Houston Marathon in January with a personal best of 2:20:42 despite very cold conditions.

MEN

Amos Kipruto KEN 2:03:13

Kinde Atanaw ETH 2:03:51

Tsegaye Getachew ETH 2:04:49

Philemon Kiplimo KEN 2:04:56

Kebede Tulu ETH 2:05:19

Goitom Kifle ERI 2:05:28

Richard Ringer GER 2:05:46

Awet Habte ERI 2:06:25

Felix Kibitok KEN 2:06:28

Abay Alemu ETH 2:06:50

Samuel Tsegay SWE 2:06:53

Erick Sang KEN 2:07:50

Vincent Kigen KEN 2:08:05

Alfonse Kigen KEN 2:08:50

Elroy Gelant RSA 2:08:56

Boki Diriba ETH 2:09:06

Julien Wanders SUI 2:11:52

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WOMEN

Brigid Kosgei KEN 2:14:04

Workenesh Edesa ETH 2:18:51

Etagegn Woldu ETH 2:20:03

Sichala Kumeshi ETH 2:20:42

Shitaye Eshete BRN 2:21:33

Fozya Jemal ETH 2:21:53

Muluhabt Tsega ETH 2:22:21

Judith Kiyeng KEN 2:24:41

Leterbrhan Haylay ETH 2:24:47

Natasha Cockram GBR 2:26:14

Karoline Grovdal NOR Debut