Kandie, Chepngeno headline Zurich Marató Barcelona marathon

Former world half marathon record holder Kibiwott Kandie and compatriot Vicoty Chepngeno are set to tough opposition as they lead Kenya's charge for this year's Zurich Marató Barcelona marathon set for Sunday 16 March. 

Kandie is one of the favourites in the men's category with his 2:04:48 from Valencia in December 2023 just two seconds off leading Mekuant Ayenew Gebre's personal best (PB) of 2:04:46 from the 2020 Sevilla Marathon. 

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Tipped to challenge the duo is 31-year-old Barselius Kipyego whose PB ( 2:04:48), from the Paris Marathon in 2021, matches compatriot Kandie's. 

Kandie has enjoyed a stellar half marathon career, winning the Valencia Half Marathon on three occasions (2020, 2022 and 2023) and breaking the world record for the distance with a time of 57:32 in 2020. 

Competing his fourth race in the classic distance, since his 2021 debut in New York where he clocked 2:13:43, Kandie will hope to lead the chase for the course record that is likely to be threatened. The mark to beat is 2:05:01, achieved by Abraham Tadesse in 2024. The top three entrants have PB's quicker. 

The trio should remain wary of runners like Samwel Mailu, a 2:05:08 competitor whose profile includes a bronze medal at the World Half Marathon in 2023. Ugandan Moses Kibet (2:05:20), Ethiopian Gebru Nguse (2:05:58), Kenyans Enock Onchari (2:05:47), Cornelius Kiplagat (2:05:52) and Asbel Kiprop (2:06:24) and Frenchman Nicolás Navarro (2:05:53) present a real challenge for the podium. 

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Meanwhile, in the women's category, Yebrgual Melese arrives with the best time on paper, a 2:19:36 achieved in Dubai in 2018. Winner of marathons such as Houston, Prague or Shanghai, the Ethiopian will see her expected dominance challenged by among others Chepngeno. 

The Kenyan made her debut at the Houston Marathon in 2024, clocking 2:19:55, a time 11 seconds off the current course record set by Zeineba Yimer in 2023. 

Also chasing a place on the podium will be compatriots Selly Chepyego Kaptich, the 2024 Beijing Marathon champion who heads to the race with a 2:20:03 PB.

Sharon Chelimo (2:22:07) and Linet Masai (2:23:46), a 10000m world champion in 2009, are also in the running for a top-three place.