Kenyan athletes set to battle for Ksh18.4 million at Tata Steel World 25K

Reigning champion Daniel Ebenyo is making a return to India as he looks to defend his title in the Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata, scheduled for Sunday 15 December.

Ebenyo clocked 1:11:13 in the same event a year ago to set the World's Best time while the women's race and record went to Ethiopian Sutume Kebede, also on this year's Elite list, in 1:18:47.

The race will witness some of the world's best athletes take to the stage at the Ksh18.4 million prize money race. 

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With equal prize money for the men and women winners, the top three winners each stand to win Ksh1.9 million ($15000), Ksh1.2 million ($10000), and Ksh, 907,000 ($7000) respectively. The runners will be further incentivised by an Event Record Bonus of Ksh648,000 ($5,000). 

Ebenyo is looking to better his timing (1:11:13) from last year. "The Kolkata roads are fast, and conditions are ideal; it is a perfect opportunity for me to defend my title and better my timing." the reigning champion revealed while confirming his entry for 2024.

Kenya's Benson Kipruto and Haymanot Alew of Ethiopia will make the men's field attractive. Earlier this year, Kipruto won the Tokyo Marathon with a season-leading time of 2:02:16.

While doing so, he was officially timed at 1:11:39 at 25K. He went on to win the bronze medal in the Paris Olympics this summer.

Alew finished just outside the podium in Kolkata last year but was lucky to compensate for it after a month with a second-place finish in the Tata Mumbai Marathon.

The presence of Kipruto and Alew alongside Ebenyo is already suggesting a great race in Bengal's capital in mid-December, and anticipation is high for some remarkable performances. 

Two other notable entries in the men's section are Stephen Kissa and Diriba Girma. Kissa, the Ugandan, finished fifth in the World Championships Marathon in Budapest last year. Diriba (21), the younger brother of multiple world championship medalist Lamecha Girma, is expecting a big break on his entry into the road running circuit.

Meanwhile, the women's line-up for 2024 also includes Desi Jisa from Bahrain, who won the 2022 edition. Jisa was part of the Bahraini team that took a bronze medal in the World Cross Country Championships in 2017 and placed second in the recent Doha (2023) and Seoul (2024) marathons.

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"I am always eager to run again in Kolkata and am happy to be part of this year's race," said Jisa, returning after a year's absence.  

Another past champion in Kolkata (2017), Degitu Azimeraw, will also be on the start list. Earlier this year, she won the Barcelona Marathon, clocking 2:19:52.

She made an incredible comeback to place sixth in the recent edition of the Chicago Marathon in October after maternity break and she will be another notable runner to watch in Kolkata.

Ethiopian Alemaddis Eyayu, the winner in this year's Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, is making her debut in 25K.

Kenyan Viola Chepngeno, who finished third in Delhi last year, and Ethiopia's cross-country World bronze medalist Shintayehu Lewetegn confirmed their entries.

Early this year, Kebede improved her personal bests in the half marathon (1:04:37) and marathon (2:15:55) to take initial world leads in both events in 2024. It set the tone for faster timing and a keen contest among women runners.

Speaking about the immensely competitive international athlete line-up in the elite category, Vivek Singh, Joint MD, Procam International, said, "The return of the defending champions and course record holders, Ebenyo and Kebede, augurs well for the world's first, World Athletics Gold Label 25K race. It underscores the event's growing global stature." 

Elite Field

MEN

1. Daniel Ebenyo (25KM PB 1:11:13) 

2. Benson Kipruto (HM PB 60.06) 

3. Stephen Kissa (HM PB 58:56) 

4. Haymanot Alew 1:13:44 

5. Bravin Kiptoo (HM PB 59:37) 

6. Samuel Kibet (HM PB 60:50) 

7. Dejene Hailu (HM PB 61:16) 

8. Teka Assefa (HM PB 61:47) 

9. Anthony Kipchirchir (HM PB 62:02) 

10. Diriba Girma- Debut 

11. Alazar Tefera- Debut 

12. Asbel Rutto- Debut 

13. Bernard Cheptoch- Debut 

WOMEN

1. Sutume Kebede (Hakim PB 1:18:47) 

2. Degitu Azimeraw (HM PB 66:07) 

3. Desi Jisa (25KM PB 1:21:04) 

4. Viola Chepngeno (HM PB 66:43) 

5. Alemaddis Eyayu (HM PB 67:04) 

6. Meseret Dinke (HM PB 69:53) 

7. Annet Chelangat (HM PB 70:16) 

8. Sintayehu Lewetegn (HM PB 70:23) 

9. Misgane Alemayehu Debut