The men
This year, the Vienna City Marathon will feature elite fields that are expected to produce competitive performances on April 6. However, there is no clear favourite in either the men’s or women’s competition. Kenyans Justus Kangogo and Vibian Chepkirui, who hold the course records, head the start list with personal bests of 2:05:57 and 2:20:59, respectively.
The personal bests of the top four men differ by just over one minute. This could point to a close finish. Justus Kangogo remains the leading runner on the list with his PB of 2:05:57, which he ran in Berlin 2023. Fellow Kenyan Asbel Rutto is a late addition to the field. A year ago, he established the current course record of the Rome Marathon with 2:06:24, which was over three minutes faster than the previous record and over one and a half minutes ahead of his nearest rival. The time is still Rutto’s personal best. Two other athletes are on Vienna’s start list who have run well below 2:08. Kenyans Douglas Chebii and Stanley Kurgat have personal bests of 2:06:31 and 2:07:05, respectively.
While these four runners look the strongest on paper, there are another five men who have run below 2:10. A debutant who has the potential for a strong marathon time is Wisley Kibichii. The Kenyan ran the half marathon distance in 59:57.
The women
With Vienna’s very strong 2:05:08 men’s course record from Kenya’s Samwel Mailu, the women’s mark is the more likely one to fall. When Vibian Chepkirui defended her title in 2022, she smashed the course record with 2:20:59. The Kenyan now hopes to make it three starts and three victories at the event.
As it stands, fellow Kenyans Rebecca Tanui and Catherine Cherotich are two strong challengers who may well be on the same level as Chepkirui. Tanui was third here a year ago before she ran a 2:21:08 PB and course record in Kosice. Cherotich made huge steps when she improved by over a quarter of an hour to 2:22:42 in Frankfurt last year. Germany’s Fabienne Königstein is the fastest European on the current start list with a PB of 2:25:48. She will be challenged by Nora Szabo of Hungary and Poland’s Aleksandra Brzezinska, who have run times of 2:25:52 and 2:27:20.
Organizers of the 42nd edition of the marathon — a World Athletics Elite Label event — have registered a record total of more than 45,000 entries.
Eleven of the top 15 seeds are Kenyan men. Five of the top 11 women are also Kenyan.
Elite runners with personal bests
MEN:
Justus Kangogo KEN 2:05:57
Asbel Rutto KEN 2:06:24
Douglas Chebii KEN 2:06:31
Stanley Kurgat KEN 2:07:05
Charles Ndiema KEN 2:08:12
Benard Kimeli KEN 2:08:34
Bernard Muia KEN 2:09:17
Mica Cheserek KEN 2:09:26
Kipsambu Kimakal KEN 2:09:41
Geoffrey Koech KEN 2:10:12
Haftamu Abadi ETH 2:10:33
Lemawork Ketema AUT 2:10:44
Gadisa Tajebe ETH 2:11:02
Wisley Kibichii KEN Debut
Mogos Tuemay ETH Debut
WOMEN:
Vibian Chepkirui KEN 2:20:59
Rebecca Tanui KEN 2:21:08
Catherine Cherotich KEN 2:22:42
Risper Chebet KEN 2:23:45
Fabienne Königstein GER 2:25:48
Nora Szabo HUN 2:25:52
Faith Chepkoech KEN 2:26:22
Aleksandra Brzezinska POL 2:27:20
Zaida Ramos PER 2:29:49
Eva Wutti AUT 2:30:43
Rutendo Nyahora ZIM 2:32:00
