Istanbul Marathon looking to produce the next world champion

It was the Istanbul Marathon that provided the platform for two current stars to significantly propel their marathon careers. Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich and Victor Kiplangat of Uganda both ran their debuts and won in Istanbul in 2017 and 2021 respectively.

The two then went on to become World Marathon Champions. Chepngetich took the gold in 2019 in Doha and Kiplangat triumphed in Budapest this August.

Could the next edition of the Türkiye Is Bankasi Istanbul Marathon on 5 November produce another future star runner after world champions Chepngetich and Kiplangat?

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While Kenyans Reuben Kipyego and Beatrice Cheptoo head the current start lists with strong personal bests (PB) of 2:03:55 and 2:22:28 respectively, compatriot Moses Koech and Rachael Chebet of Uganda are promising debutants. 

Kipyego is the fastest runner ever entered into the Istanbul Marathon. The 27-year-old Kenyan achieved his personal best in Milan where he was runner-up in 2021. Additionally, Kipyego has run a couple of more strong marathons. Among those is his third place in Rotterdam with 2:05:12 in 2022. It will be the first time the Kenyan competes in Istanbul and he will face a tough field. 

Ethiopia’s Gadise Shumie currently is the second fastest runner on the start list with a PB of 2:04:59. With this time he won the Sevilla Marathon earlier this year, improving his former personal best by well over four minutes.

Although already 31 years old, his international career only begun two years ago, when Shumie won his debut marathon in Montreal with 2:09:25. He will travel to Istanbul unbeaten in the marathon so far. 

Knowing the Istanbul course can be of significant advantage, especially with regard to the tough uphill stretch in the final section. It was here where Robert Kipkemboi dropped his last remaining rival a year ago and went on to win the race in 2:10:18.

The defending champion from Kenya, who has a PB of 2:07:09, will return to the Türkiye Is Bankasi Istanbul Marathon. Compatriot Koech looks promising among a number of debutants. He has run a 59:31 half marathon in Ostia, Italy, last year. 

Meanwhile, with regard to her international career Cheptoo can still be considered a newcomer. The 30-year-old Kenyan ran her first race outside Kenya less than 24 months ago, when she finished third in Malaga with 2:25:20.

A year ago, she took the Melbourne marathon and in January Cheptoo then improved significantly to 2:22:28 when she was third in Doha. With this time the Kenyan currently is the fastest woman in the field and considering her development, she is a strong favorite in Istanbul. 

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At Just 23 years old Sifan Melaku is still very young for a marathon runner but a strong contender. When the Ethiopian clocked her PB of 2:23:49 in Seville over three years ago she had just turned 20. This summer Melaku showed fine form, when she won the Stockholm Marathon.

A debutant who could shine in the Türkiye Is Bankasi Istanbul Marathon is Chebet. The Ugandan, who will celebrate her 27th birthday on the race day, has a strong cross-country background. In 2019 she was fourth in the World Championships. A half marathon PB of 68:46 from earlier this year indicates that she should be ready for a good marathon debut.  

For Chebet as well as Turkey’s Sultan Haydar qualification for the Olympic Games in 2024 is probably the main goal. Haydar, who holds the national record with 2:24:44 from 2015, started a comeback a year ago. Now 36 years old, she recently showed improved form with a 69:12 half marathon in Ankara. Sultan Haydar may well be able to break the Olympic qualifying standard of 2:26:50 on 5 November in Istanbul.