Kangogo, Chepkirui headline strong fields in Vienna

Strong elite fields are expected to produce thrilling races on Sunday, 6 April, at the Vienna City Marathon.

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Kenyans Justus Kangogo and Vibian Chepkirui, who hold the course record in Vienna, head the start list with personal bests of 2:05:57 and 2:20:59, respectively.

The personal bests of the top four men on the start list differ by just over one minute. This could point to a close race for victory. Kangogo remains the leading runner on the list with his PB of 2:05:57, which he ran in Berlin in 2023.

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Fellow Kenyan Asbel Rutto is a late addition to the field. A year ago, he established the current course record of the Rome Marathon with 2:06:24, which was over three minutes faster than before and over one and a half minutes ahead of his nearest rival.

The time is still Rutto’s personal best. Two other athletes are on Vienna’s start list who have run well below 2:08. Kenyans Douglas Chebii and Stanley Kurgat have personal records of 2:06:31 and 2:07:05, respectively.

While these four runners are the strongest on paper, there are five men who have run below 2:10. A debutant who has the potential for a strong marathon time is Wisley Kibichii. He heads to the race with a half-marathon best time of 59:57.

With Vienna’s very strong 2:05:08 men’s course record from Kenya’s Samwel Mailu, the women’s mark is the more likely one to fall.

When Chepkirui defended her title in 2022, she smashed the course record with 2:20:59. The Kenyan now hopes to make it three starts and three victories in Austria’s capital.

Fellow Kenyans Rebecca Tanui and Catherine Cherotich are two strong challengers who may well be on the same level as Chepkirui. Tanui was third here a year ago before she ran a 2:21:08 PB and course record in Kosice.

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Cherotich made huge steps when she improved by over a quarter of an hour to 2:22:42 in Frankfurt last year.

Germany’s Fabienne Königstein is the fastest European on the current start list with a PB of 2:25:48. She will be challenged by Nora Szabo of Hungary and Poland’s Aleksandra Brzezinska, who have run times of 2:25:52 and 2:27:20.

Elite Fields

Men

Justus Kangogo KEN 2:05:57

Asbel Rutto KEN 2:06:24

Douglas Chebii KEN 2:06:31

Stanley Kurgat KEN 2:07:05

Charles Ndiema KEN 2:08:12

Benard Kimeli KEN 2:08:34

Bernard Muia KEN 2:09:17

Mica Cheserek KEN 2:09:26

Kipsambu Kimakal KEN 2:09:41

Geoffrey Koech KEN 2:10:12

Haftamu Abadi ETH 2:10:33

Lemawork Ketema AUT 2:10:44

Gadisa Tajebe ETH 2:11:02

Wisley Kibichii KEN Debut

Mogos Tuemay ETH Debut

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Women

Vibian Chepkirui KEN 2:20:59

Rebecca Tanui KEN 2:21:08

Catherine Cherotich KEN 2:22:42

Risper Chebet KEN 2:23:45

Fabienne Königstein GER 2:25:48

Nora Szabo HUN 2:25:52

Faith Chepkoech KEN 2:26:22

Aleksandra Brzezinska POL 2:27:20

Zaida Ramos PER 2:29:49

Eva Wutti AUT 2:30:43

Rutendo Nyahora ZIM 2:32:00