Debutant Cheptai, Koech complete Kenyan double in Hamburg with fast times

Defending champion Bernard Koech and fellow Kenyan Irine Cheptai won the Haspa Marathon Hamburg with world-class times.

Koech crossed the line in a brilliant 2:04:24, the eighth-fastest time in the world this year. Missing his course record and personal best (PB) by just 15 seconds Koech became the first man to successfully defend the title in Hamburg since Julio Rey of Spain in 2006.

Ethiopia’s Haymanot Alew took second with 2:05:30 and Philemon Kiplimo of Kenya was third in 2:05:37.

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There was a thrilling duel in the women’s race. Cheptai won the battle and produced one of the fastest marathon debuts in history with 2:18:22. Fellow Kenyan Winfridah Moseti smashed her PB with 2:18:25 for second place. These are the second and third fastest times in the history of the race. Ethiopia’s Gotytom Gebreslase took third with 2:21:19.

In the men's race, for long periods of the race, the leading group was on course to break the course record of 2:04:09 which Koech established a year ago. After a 1:28:14 split time at 30km, the last pacemaker dropped out, and then Koech took off, immediately leaving behind Alew, Kiplimo, and fellow Kenyan Ronald Korir.

Koech covered the next 5k section in a breathtaking 14:17 and when he went through 35km in 1:42:31 it looked like he might finish in around 2:03:30.

“I had a difficult section and because of that, I missed the course record,” Koech explained. “But this is sport, I am not at all disappointed. It was a great race and I might well come back again next year.”

For the second time since 2022, four athletes ran sub 2:06:00 in Hamburg.

In the women’s race, favourite Gebreslase, the Marathon World Champion from 2022, ran together with Cheptai and Moseti in the leading group.

However, with 10km to go the Ethiopian dropped back. The 2017 World Cross Country Champion, Cheptai, opened a small gap and crowned her strong marathon debut with a win in 2:18:22. She was three seconds ahead of Moseti.

The duo managed a negative split (69:44 in the second half) and placed themselves in positions eleven and twelve in the 2024 world list.

“I never expected to win the race. I had hoped to maybe finish second or third,” said Cheptai. “Perhaps I can now run between 2:14 and 2:15 in my next marathon. I would like to run here in Hamburg again next year.”

Men

1. Bernard Koech KEN 2:04:24

2. Haymanot Alew ETH 2:05:30

3. Philemon Kiplimo KEN 2:05:37

4. Ronald Korir KOR 2:05:41

5. Tsedat Ayana ETH 2:06:40

6. Oqbe Ruesom ERI 2:06:50

7. Brimin Misoi KEN 2:07:06

8. Getaneh Molla ETH 2:07:38

9. Martin Musau UGA 2:08:42

10. Sebastian Hendel GER 2:08:51

Women

1. Irine Cheptai KEN 2:18:22

2. Winfridah Moseti KEN 2:18:25

3. Gotytom Gebreslase ETH 2:21:19

4. Jackline Cherono KEN 2:21:40

5. Aminet Ahmed ETH 2:23:27

6. Cynthia Limo KEN 2:25:10

7. Daiana Ocampo ARG 2:26:24

8. Kidsan Alema ETH 2:26:50

9. Ayantu Kumela ETH 2:27:19

10. Neheng Khatala LES 2:28:37