Dorcas Jepchirchir among favourites to break Prague course record

Organisers of this year’s Prague Marathon set for Sunday 5 May have their sights set on new course records if the assembled elite fields are anything to go by.

The records are currently held by London Marathon champion Alexander Mutiso (2:05:09 – 2023) and Kenyan-born Israeli Lonah Salpeter (2:19:46 – 2019). 

Kenya's 2:20:02 marathoner Dorcas Jepchirchir is one of the favourites in the women’s race. Last year, she won the Hamburg Marathon in 2:20:09 and also finished third in Amsterdam, where she achieved her personal best (PB).

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Jepchirchir will be up against Ethiopian Buzunesh Getachew, who won last year’s Frankfurt Marathon in a best of 2:19:27, a time that has her as the favourite for gold. Her PB is 19 seconds quicker than the course record. 

The elite men’s field this year is headed up by 2:03:40 marathoner Herpasa Negasa Kitesa. The Ethiopian ran that time at the 2019 Dubai Marathon and also finished second at last year’s Seoul Marathon. However, he sid not finish at the 2022 Chicago and 2023 Boston Marathons.

His biggest challenge may come from 2016 Boston Marathon champion and fellow Ethiopian Lemi Berhanu Hayle. 

With a personal best of 2:04:33 over the classic distance,l set at the 2016 Dubai Marathon, Hayle has the pedigree to win in Prague, especially having represented Ethiopia at the Rio Olympics over the distance. 

Back in January, Hayle also won the Mumbai Marathon in a time of 2:07:50.

Elite runners 

Men

Herpasa Negasa 🇪🇹 2:03:40

Lemi Berhanu Hayle 🇪🇹 2:04:33

Abebe Negewo 🇪🇹 2:04:51

Abayneh Degu 🇪🇹 2:04:53

Women

Buzunesh Getachew 🇪🇹 2:19:27

Dorcas Jepchirchir Tuitoek 🇰🇪 2:20:02

Afera Godfay 🇪🇹 2:22:41

Meseret Gebre 🇪🇹 2:23:11