Yegon, Jepkorir headline Buenos Aires International Marathon fields
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Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 21.09.24. | 12:10
Last year it was a Kenyan sweep across the board
Berlin Marathon 2021 silver medalist Bethwell Yegon headlines this year’s Buenos Aires International Marathon men’s field with compatriot Rodah Jepkorir Tanui the favourite in the women’s category.
The race will once again include the South American Marathon Championship, as it did in four previous editions, even as it marks four decades of this competition, which was inaugurated with the sponsorship of Adidas in 1984 when the winner was the then Olympic marathoner Rubén Aguiar.
Yegon ran his personal best of 2:06:14 in Berlin and also finished second in Vienna back in April with 2:06:57, an improvement from his 2:12:17 at Fukuoka International Marathon on 3 December 2023 for ninth.
With four other runners having gone under 2:10, a dogfight is expected, the toughest challenge expected from another Kenyan Dominic Letting, a 2:08:23 runner, a PB he set at the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon in October last year.
This year, the 29-year-old was in action on 19 May where he clocked 2:11:48 to win the Lima Marathon, leading a Kenya 1-4 in the Peru capital.
Meanwhile, another Kenyan Eliasa Kibet who was second this year in Padua with 2:08:47, Ethiopian Asnake Dubre Negawo a 2:09:16 runner from last March in Wuihan, China, and Fikadu Kebebe Debele who holds a PB of 2:08:27 attained on the same course last year to finish fifth.
The men’s course set by two-time Boston marathon champion Evans Chebet, with 2:05:00 in 2019 could come under attack but could survive given the assembled field.
In the women's category, Jepkorir stands out. She has won her last three appearances in 2019, 2022, and 2023, setting the record for the event with 2:24:52, and is expected to continue her dominance.
Five other runners with records under 2:30, in Ethiopians Maeregu Hayelm (2:24:42), Tigist Memuye Gebeyahu (2:24:23), Yeneneshi Tilakum Dinkesa (2:24:09), as well as Kenyans Caroline Jepchirchir (2:26:11) and Tecla Kirongo (2:27:56), will contest for the title.
