Irene Cheptai to make her marathon debut in Germany

Former world cross country champion Irene Cheptai will make her marathon debut at the 37th edition of the Haspa Hamburg Marathon slated for April 28, 2024 in Germany.

The 32 year-old who is also the Commonwealth Games 10,000m silver medallist, comes to this race with a life time best of 1:04.53 that she got last year at the Valencia Half Marathon, where she finished in second place.

Cheptai will face an experienced side that include her compatriot Winfridah Moraa Moseti who few months ago ran life time best of 2:20.55 at the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon, where she finished in second place and who finishes second yesterday at the TotalEnergies Malaga Half Marathon in a time of 1:05.59.

Cheptai who was ranked the fourth fastest half marathoner in the world last year will also have to get past two more debutants Nelly Jepchumba and Roselida Jepketer of Bahrain, both holding life time best of 1:07.00 and 1:08.40 respectively.

Sharon Chelimo who finished in third place behind Moseti in October in Frankfurt will also be on the start line as she fights for honors.

Another title contender is Kidusan Alema who holds a personal best of 2:22.28 that she got two years ago at the Zurich Marathon where she finished in sixth place and Canada’s national record holder Natasha Wodak of personal best 2:23.12.