Laban Korir out to defend Kigali International Peace Marathon crown
Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 05.06.25. | 15:34
The 39-year-old NN Team runner won last year’s race in 2:16:06, leading a Kenyan 1-4 as Cornelius Kibet (2:16:18), Moses Mengich (2:18:38), and Micah Chemweno (2:18:46) took the other spots
Reigning champion Laban Kipngetich Korir descends into the streets of Kigali, Rwanda, ready to defend his crown at this year's Kigali International Peace Marathon set for Sunday, 8 June.
This year’s edition marks two decades of promoting peace through sport. Held under the theme ‘Bring the World to Kigali and Take Kigali to the World’, it promises some scintillating matchups with Korir, the second fastest on the field, going up against a formidable lineup.
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The 39-year-old NN Team runner won last year’s race in 2:16:06, leading a Kenyan 1-4 as Cornelius Kibet (2:16:18), Moses Mengich (2:18:38), and Micah Chemweno (2:18:46) took the other spots. Home runner Noel Hitimana clocked 2:19:01 to complete the top five places.
Korir’s experience over the years places him as one of the favourites in the Rwandese capital. He started his career as a 10km and half-marathon specialist, made a significant breakthrough in 2010, posting a 21km personal best (PB) of 61:03 in Berlin.
The next year, he made a spectacular marathon debut registering an eye-catching 2:06:05 in the Amsterdam Marathon to finish just 12 seconds adrift of race winner Wilson Chebet.
The 2012 season was very much a learning experience for him, as he placed a solid sixth in tough conditions in the Boston Marathon and 11th in the Chicago Marathon later that year.
After a disappointing outing in the 2014 Dubai Marathon, the Kenyan overcame the setback to place fifth in the Hamburg Marathon (2:08:04) before later that year claiming his first marathon victory in Toronto (2:08:15), courtesy of a strong late surge.
His marathon career further developed in 2015 as he finished a respectable sixth in Paris in 2:07:54 and third in Toronto.
In 2016, his career stepped up to a new level as he finished second in Paris and then fourth in Amsterdam, stopping the clock in an impressive PB of 2:05:54.
A consistent streak continued as he placed third in the 2017 Rotterdam Marathon (2:06:25) before returning to the Dutch port city in April 2018 to finish fourth in 2:05:58.
In 2019, he made his debut appearance for Kenya, finishing 11th in the marathon at the Doha World Championships.
His impressive CV also comes with a sixth-place finish in 2:06:37 at the 2022 Tokyo Marathon.
To defend his crown, he faces a herculean task in 2:04:32 runner and compatriot Jonathan Kipleting Korir, the quickest in the field with his best coming in 2021 when he placed fourth at the Amsterdam Marathon.
Others vying for the title include the Ethiopian duo of Dejene Debela Gonfa (2:05:46) and Debebe Teka Tereda (2:14:00) as well as Kenyan Shadrack Kimining (2:08:29).
