Eliud Kipchoge’s exit no setback for Kenya’s rich athletics talent pool

Two-time Olympics marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge, 41, who broke the Marathon world record twice, announced he will run in all seven continents over the next two years just for fun and to inspire new talent and fans after a seventh-placed finish in the New York Marathon last month.

He had finished ninth in the Sydney Marathon in August. A great force, but in decline.

Read: Why the greats like Eliud Kipchoge never retire 

Two-time world marathon champions, Edna Kiplagat, at 46 years, did not feature in the big city races this season but was still good enough to finish second at the Abu Dhabi Marathon last week.

Still, across the major city marathons this year, emerging Kenyan athletes delivered commanding performances, signalling a handing of the baton in long-distance running in the country.

There are seven Abbott World Marathon Majors held annually -- the Tokyo Marathon (March), Boston Marathon (April), London Marathon (April), Sydney Marathon (August), Berlin Marathon (September), Chicago Marathon (October), and New York City Marathon (November).

Kenyan men and women were major factors in all these Majors this season.

Sabastian Sawe, 28, has emerged as one of the fastest-rising marathon runners on the global circuit.

He clinched the overall Majors title following his victory in London in April and Berlin in September for a haul of 50 points.

Sawe made his marathon debut in 2024 at the Valencia Marathon, where he stunned the field with victory in a blistering 2:02:05.

In just his second marathon appearance, the 2Running Athletics Club athlete from Kapsabet claimed the London Marathon in 2:02:27, relegating Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo to second place in 2:03:37, with fellow Kenyan Alexander Mutiso completing the podium in 2:04:20.

Read: Sabastian Sawe: The rising king of marathon

Berlin, renowned for its fast course and record-breaking performances, presented Sawe with another opportunity to test his limits. this year, but he admitted that the unusually high temperatures hampered his efforts as he nevertheless won the race in 2:02:16.

“My target was to run a new personal best, but after the half mark, the weather started changing, and it became humid, and that slowed my pace in the second half. I believe with good weather conditions, it is possible to run a world record, and I will still work for it,” Sawe said in an earlier interview.

Another athlete making significant strides is reigning Boston Marathon champion John Korir, who recently capped a fine season with victory at the Valencia Marathon in Spain.

Korir, 29, claimed the Boston Marathon title in April, joining his elder brother, Wesley Korir, who won the race in 2013 to become the first siblings in history to appear on the winners’ list.

Read: I’m back, John Korir declares after Valencia Marathon victory 

Renowned for his tactical approach, particularly his decisive surge after the halfway mark when pacemakers drop out, Korir dominated a strong field to win in 2:04:45, finishing ahead of Tanzania’s Alphonse Simbu (2:05:04), with Kenya’s Cyprian Kotut, who is the younger brother of former London Marathon champion Martin Lel, finishing third.

Korir later lined up at the Chicago Marathon in an attempt to defend his title, but endured a difficult outing, dropping out after the halfway point, as Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo galloped to victory.

Korir bounced back at the Valencia Marathon on December 7 and with a statement performance, crossing the finish line in a fast 2:02:25.

Benson Kipruto, 34, also flew Kenya’s flag high after clinching victory at the New York City Marathon. He prevailed in a dramatic sprint finish, clocking 2:08:09 to narrowly edge out Alexander Mutiso, who finished second in the same time. Albert Korir completed a Kenyan sweep in 2:08:57.

At the Chicago Marathon, Amos Kipruto, 33, finished second behind Uganda’s Kiplimo, with another upcoming US-based Kenyan, Alex Masai, third.

In the women’s category, Kenyan runners continued to assert their dominance, led by Sharon Lokedi, Hellen Obiri, Rosemary Wanjiru, Peres Jepchirchir, and Joyciline Jepkosgei.

At the Boston Marathon, Lokedi produced a stunning finish to defeat Obiri in a course record 2:17:22, erasing the previous mark of 2:19:59 set by Ethiopia’s Buzunesh Deba in 2014.

Obiri finished second in 2:17:41, while Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw placed third in 2:18:06.

However, the script flipped at the New York City Marathon last month. Obiri claimed victory in a course record 2:19:51, shattering the long-standing 22-year-old time of 2:22:31 set by fellow Kenyan Margaret Okayo in 2003. Lokedi finished second in 2:20:07, with Sheila Chepkirui rounding off the Kenyan whitewash in 2:20:24.

Then there is the World marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir. After missing the first season, including the London Marathon after she picked up an injury, she announced her return by winning the 2025 Tokyo World Athletics Championships in September in a sprint finish.

Jepchirchir crossed the finish line in 2:24:43, beating Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa narrowly, who clocked 2:24:45. Uruguay’s Julia Paternain was third in 2:27:23.

Then there is Rosemary Wanjiru, who bagged the Berlin Marathon title with a time of 2:21:05. Wanjiru, just like Sawe, was seeking to run faster but was affected by the rising temperatures.

Former world record holder in women’s marathon Brigid Kosgei showed her strength with a second-place finish at the Sydney Marathon, clocking 2:18:56 behind Dutch Sifan Hassan, who timed 2:18:22.

Jepchirchir raced in the Valencia Marathon, finishing in second place in 2:14:43 as Joyciline Jepkosgei claimed victory with a world lead time of 2:14:00 to move to fourth on the world all-time list. She was also second at the London Marathon in April.

Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich holds the women’s marathon world record of 2:09:56.

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