Jelegat leads Kenyan delegation in Berlin marathon

Valencia Marathon champion Nancy Jelagat headlines the women’s elite list for this year’s Berlin Marathon set for 25 September where she will face off with American Keira d’Amato the only other sub 2:20 runner on the field.

In her first major victory in the classic distance, Jelagat completed a Kenyan double in Valencia last year, with Lawrence Cherono bagging the men’s title, as she won the race with a personal best of 2:19.31 from 2:36.22 that she got at the 2015 Taipei Marathon.

The US record holder d’Amato is the fastest on the field with a PB of 2:19:12 recorded at the Houston Marathon earlier this year, followed by Jelagat with her time from Valencia.

Jelagat will hope to continue her good streak of results when she competes on the streets of Berlin. Last year she managed second-place finish at the Generali Berlin Half marathon before victory in Valencia.

Nancy is joined by fellow Kenyan Maurine Chepkemoi who destroyed the course record at the 75th edition of the Enschede marathon in April. The 24-year old holds a 2:20.18 PB that she got at the 2021 Amsterdam Marathon, where she took the silver medal.

Kipchoge set for Berlin Marathon return after missing two editions

Also, in the running for a podium place will be 27-year-old Vibian Chepkirui, who made her marathon debut in September 2021 at the Vienna City Marathon, then went back in April 2022 to set a new course record of 2:20.59 which is her PB.

Jelagat will have to keep an eye on her competitors Gutemi Shone Imana who is the third fastest on the field with a PB of 2:20:11 with her Ethiopian counterparts Workenesh Edesa, American Sara Hall all capable of breaking the 2:20 barrier. Rosemary Wanjiru and Nigsti Haftu will make their debuts. 

Elite Women's list

Keira d'Amato USA 2:19:12

Nancy Jelagat Meto KEN 2:19:31

Guteni Shone Imana ETH 2:20:11

Maurine Chepkemoi KEN 2:20:18

Workenesh Edesa ETH 2:20:24

Sara Hall USA 2:20:32

Sisay Gola ETH 2:20:50

Vibian Chepkirui KEN 2:20:59

Tigist Abayechew ETH 2:22:45

Bekelech Gudeta ETH 2:22:56

Sayaka Sato JPN 2:23:27

Risper Chebet UGA 2:23:45

Yukari Abe JPN 2:24:02

Meseret Belete ETH 2:24:25

Lisa Weightman AUS 2:25:15

Natasha Wodak CAN 2:26:19

Kanako Takemoto JPN 2:26:23

Sonia Samuels GBR 2:28:04

Tigist Assefa ETH 2:34:01

Rosemary Wanjiru KEN Debut

Nigsti Haftu ETH Debut