Koech, Simiu lead charge for Seoul Marathon record

Two-time Haspa Marathon Hamburg champion Bernard Koech and Paris Marathon 2024 champion, Ethiopia's Mestawut Fikir Truneh headline loaded Seoul Marathon fields, set for Sunday 16 March. 

The men's field features two men who have dipped under the current course record of 2:04:43, set by Ethiopia's Mosinet Geremew, with Koech the faster of the two (2:04:09), Haftu Teklu Asefa's personal best (PB) 2:04:42 making him the second top contender. 

In his record-breaking run, Geremew passed 5km in 14:42 and 10km in 29:14. By 20km that pack went through in 58:43 on the clock. He went through 35km in 1:43:31 and five kilometres later he was 1:58:27 in, going on to break the course record by 30 seconds. 

Koech's PB dates back to the 2021 Amsterdam Marathon where he finished in second place behind reigning Olympic champion Tamirat Tola (2:03:37). It remains to be seen whether the 37-year-old could muster the same form and take on the loaded field for victory. His last recorded result in the classic distance dates back to April 2024 where he clocked 2:04:24 to retain his Hamburg title. 

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Koech and Asefa face stiff competition from the Kenyan trio of Philimon Kipchumba, a 2:05:35 runner from Shanghai in 2023, who is joined by Solomon Kirwa Yego who heads to the race with a 2:05:42 PB and Daniel Simiu Ebenyo (2:06:04).

Eyes will be on Ebenyo who wrapped up his season with an impressive marathon debut at the 2024 Chicago Marathon, where he placed fifth with a time of 2:06:04, a PB he is expected to lower in Seoul. 

The world 10,000m silver medalist showed his resilience and perhaps a statement of intent, signaling that he is just beginning his marathon journey and will be a formidable force in future races.

He started his 2025 season by winning the National Police Service Cross Country Championships on Friday 17 January. He crossed the finish line in 29 minutes, 51.60 seconds to win the men’s 10km race.

That performance saw him book a slot at the National Cross-Country Championships held at the Eldoret Sports Club on Saturday 8 February. He went on to defend his Sirikwa title to cap off an impressive cross-country season.

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Meanwhile, Joan Chelimo's course record of 2:18:04 from 2022 is not under threat as leading Truneh would need to run 45 seconds quicker than her current PB. 

Compatriots Bosena Mulatie Mogesie (2:19:00) and Jackline Sakilu (2:21:27) present her toughest challenge with Fikrte Wereta Admasu (2:21:32) and Kenya's  Sandrafelis Chebet Tuei (2:22:22) add to the field's depth. 

Men's Elite Field 

Bernard Kiprop Koech 🇰🇪 PB 2:04:09

Haftu Teklu Asefa 🇪🇹 PB 2:04:42

Philimon Kiptoo Kipchumba 🇰🇪 PB 2:05:35

Solomon Kirwa Yego 🇰🇪 PB 2:05:42

Daniel Simiu Ebenyo 🇰🇪 PB 2:06:04

Jemal Yimer1 🇪🇹 PB 2:06:08

Womens' Elite Field 

Mestawut Fikir Truneh 🇪🇹 PB 2:18:48

Bosena Mulatie Mogesie 🇪🇹 PB 2:19:00

Jackline Sakilu 🇹🇿 PB 2:21:27

Fikrte Wereta Admasu 🇪🇹 PB 2:21:32

Sandrafelis Chebet Tuei 🇰🇪 PB 2:22:22

Bekelech Gudeta Borecha 🇪🇹 PB 2:22:54