Türkiye Is Bankasi Istanbul Marathon Sunday: Istanbul is getting ready for its fastest elite field ever

With two years remaining before its 50th edition, the Türkiye İş Bankası Istanbul Marathon is getting “jubilee-ready.” Organizers of one of Europe’s most traditional city marathons have assembled the fastest elite field in the event’s history for Sunday’s 48th edition. Four men on the start list have personal bests under 2:06:00, while three women have broken the 2:20:00 barrier.

The Türkiye İş Bankası Istanbul Marathon is the world’s only intercontinental marathon, taking runners from Asia to Europe. It is also Türkiye’s largest marathon and a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race.

A live stream will be available at maraton.istanbul. The race begins at 9 a.m. local time.

“An exciting race awaits us in both the men’s and women’s categories. Including the shorter-distance events, the Türkiye İş Bankası Istanbul Marathon will bring together more than 45,000 participants from 143 countries. We are proud to host such a celebration of sport,” said Race Director Bilge Donuk.

Women’s race

Never before has the Türkiye İş Bankası Istanbul Marathon featured a woman with a personal best under 2:20:00. This year, three women meet that standard, with two having run under 2:19:00.

Kenya’s Judith Korir, the silver medallist in the marathon at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, leads the start list with a personal best of 2:18:20.

Ethiopians Azmera Abreha and Kasanesh Baze rank second and third on the start list, with personal bests of 2:18:33 and 2:19:39, respectively. Eritrea’s Dolshi Tesfu also brings an impressive personal best of 2:20:40.

Turkish record-holder Sultan Haydar, who surprised with a 2:21:27 performance in Valencia three years ago, returns to Istanbul. She finished third in the 2013 race.

This year’s women’s field is so deep that defending champion Bizuager Aderra ranks only ninth on the start list. The Ethiopian won last year’s race in 2:26:19, which remains her personal best. However, she is not concerned with the statistics.

“I will try to win again. I am ready, and I have trained well in Addis Ababa,” said the 30-year-old. “The final section of the course is not easy. It is probably an advantage to know it.”

Korir enjoyed two outstanding seasons in 2022 and 2023. In addition to winning silver at the world championships, the Kenyan won the 2022 Paris Marathon and finished fourth in London that year in 2:18:43. She returned to London in 2023 and finished sixth.

However, injuries prevented her from producing similar results in subsequent seasons.

“I got a hamstring injury which hampered me for around two years,” Korir said.

This spring, she finished eighth at the Milano Marathon in 2:26:48, but the result fell short of her expectations.

“After the Milano race, I changed my set-up and moved my training base from Iten to Kaptagat, where I have strong training partners,” said Korir, who usually returns to Iten on weekends to visit her husband and 13-year-old son.

“I am in good form now and look forward to Sunday.”

Men’s race

Four men on the start list have personal bests under 2:06:00. That matches the number from two years ago, although this year’s group boasts faster credentials.

The four are Ethiopians Sufaro Woliyi (2:04:35), Amdework Walelegn (2:04:50) and Dejene Debela (2:05:46), along with Kenya’s Philimon Kipchumba (2:05:35).

Debela knows the Istanbul course well. The Ethiopian, who recorded his personal best of 2:05:46 in Chicago in 2019, won the race two years ago and finished runner-up last year.

“Compared to last year, I am in much better form,” said Debela, who has not raced so far this year. “The problem was that I got a muscle injury, and it took a long time to recover.”

Could this be the year the course record of 2:09:44, set in 2019, finally falls?

“I am in shape to run under 2:10 in Istanbul. But a major factor is the weather. If conditions are good, we should break it,” Debela said.

Fellow Ethiopian Sufaro Woliyi also knows the course. He finished third at last year’s Türkiye İş Bankası Istanbul Marathon, crossing the finish line just 14 seconds behind Kenyan winner Rhonzas Kilimo.

“My training went very well. I am in the best shape of my life. I hope that this time I will be number one,” said Woliyi, who lives and trains in Asella, Ethiopia.

This spring, he recorded an impressive personal best of 2:04:35 in Seoul, making him the fastest entrant on the Istanbul start list.

Türkiye’s Hüseyin Can ran an ambitious race in Istanbul last year, taking the pace on several occasions. His efforts earned him a personal best of 2:10:58 and a strong fifth-place finish.

He returns this year with an improved personal best of 2:10:0

Elite athletes

Men’s elite field

Women’s elite field

More information: maraton.istanbul