Brigid Kosgei lines up for the 2025 Hamburg Marathon
The Men’s draw is also interesting with three men all on a time of under 2:04.00
Former world record holder Brigid Kosgei has signed up for the forthcoming Haspa Marathon in Hamburg, Germany in a contest featuring a the strong elite field.
The 31-year-old will be eyeing a comeback in the event slated for April 27 after a series of injury drawbacks that have affected her career. Kosgei memorably missed the Paris Olympics games due to an injury. The 2019 Chicago marathon champion (2:14.04) last year ran few select events with the two key ones being the EDP Lisbon Marathon and London Marathon where she finished fifth overall.
The 2019 & 2020 London Marathon winner goes up against the likes of Roza Dereje and Workenesh Edesa are the two fastest of them with personal records of 2:18:30 and 2:18:51 respectively. Another Ethiopian, Sichala Kumeshi, has also been confirmed for the race. In that field, she still stands the fastest and therefore all factors remaining constant, it should be her race to lose.
In 2017 in Chicago, she finished second and also finished second in 2018 in London. With her 2:14:04 PB she still is the fourth fastest women in history. This will be her first race at the classic distance since taking fifth in London with 2:19:02 a year ago. The Kenyan sensationally broke Briton Paula Radcliffe’s long standing mark with a time of 2:14:04 back in 2019 in Chicago.
The Men’s draw is also interesting with three men all on a time of under 2:04.00. It will be headlined by Kenya’s Amos Kipruto who has a personal best time of 2:03.13 alongside the Ethiopian pair of Guye Adola and Kinde Atanaw have achieved times of 2:03:46 and 2:03:51 respectively. Kenyans Bethwel Chumba (2:04:37) and Philemon Kiplimo (2:04:56) are the other two with PBs of sub 2:05:00.
“With regard to the fastest men and women on the start list, this is the best field ever assembled in the history of the Haspa Marathon Hamburg. We are looking forward to some thrilling and fast racing,” race director Frank Thaleiser said.
Meanwhile, preparations for the seventh edition of the Eldoret City Marathon are in top gear with organizers keen to make a good mark. Race director Moses Tanui stated that this year’s edition should be big and better. He had earlier announced that the Eldoret City Marathon will enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Great Ethiopian Run, one of Africa’s premier running events.
The partnership, set to be formalised on April 26, will bring greater international recognition to the marathon and create new opportunities for cross-border sporting collaboration.
“The signing of this MOU with the Great Ethiopian Run is a significant step forward in expanding the Eldoret City Marathon’s reach and impact,” said Tanui. “We are excited to strengthen our ties with one of Africa’s largest and most respected running events. This partnership will help elevate the profile of the marathon and attract more global participants.”
