More big names join top city race

What you need to know:

  • The 2016 Los Angeles Marathon champion Weldon Kirui and 2012 Bogota Marathon champion Cheruiyot Kirui are the latest entrants for the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon that will be held on Sunday.
  • Eight months after winning the Los Angeles Marathon, Weldon found the streets of Nairobi tough last year, settling for seventh spot in 2 hours, 15 minutes and 28 seconds, losing the battle to the winner Robert Kipkemboi in 2:13:27.
  • Weldon won the Los Angeles Marathon in 2:13:07 in February, last but has a personal best of 2:09:06 from 2012 Eindhoven Marathon.   

The 2016 Los Angeles Marathon champion Weldon Kirui and 2012 Bogota Marathon champion Cheruiyot Kirui are the latest entrants for the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon that will be held on Sunday.

Eight months after winning the Los Angeles Marathon, Weldon found the streets of Nairobi tough last year, settling for seventh spot in 2 hours, 15 minutes and 28 seconds, losing the battle to the winner Robert Kipkemboi in 2:13:27.

Weldon won the Los Angeles Marathon in 2:13:07 in February, last but has a personal best of 2:09:06 from 2012 Eindhoven Marathon.   

Weldon’s first appearance at the Stanchart Nairobi marathon was in 2014 where he finished third in 2014 in 2:12:44, losing the battle to the winner Peter Kosgei (2:12.24) and second placed Elisha Kiprop (2:12.28).

This year, Weldon failed to defend his Los Angeles Marathon title in March, finishing fourth in 2:13:23 where Kenya’s Elisha Barno triumphed in 2:11:52. Weldon would claim a second place in Grandma’s Marathon in June once again losing to Barno, who won the race in 2:12:08.

“I am ready and well prepared for the race and hopefully I will win this time around,” said Weldon, who is leading a strong team from Bomet that includes Cheruiyot.

Cheruiyot, the 2011 Kenyan champion over 10,000, oozes experience from road racing, having been a pacemaker in major marathons including Berlin 2011 where Patrick Makau’s set a world record.

Cheruiyot, who has a marathon best of 2:06:31, won the New York City and Bogota Half Marathons in 2012 and has competed in major marathons like Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Lake Biwa.

The men’s half marathon race is also dotted with talent but an interesting entry is that of the Patrick Kipng’eno, who is fresh from defending his Ndakaini Half Marathon title in September.

Kipng’eno will face among others Benard Korir, who is also from winning Tallinn Half Marathon in Estonia.

Gilbert Korir and Faith Chepkoech all from Bomet are back to defend their men and women’s 10km titles.