Press Release - Istanbul Marathon - 11/3/23

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

              Türkiye Is Bankasi Istanbul Marathon on Sunday:
			  
        Two Istanbul champions in race for Turkish allcomers' record

The current champion and a former winner will clash in Sunday's Türkiye Is 
Bankasi Istanbul Marathon when the men's elite runners target the Turkish 
allcomers' record of 2:09:27. Defending champion Robert Kipkemboi will be 
up against fellow-Kenyan Benard Sang who took Turkey's most prestigious 
marathon in 2020. However Abraraw Misganaw of Ethiopia is the fastest 
runner on the final start with a personal best of 2:06:39. Kenya's Beatrice 
Cheptoo heads the women's elite list with a PB of 2:22:28. 

Around 4,500 athletes will run the classic distance on the unique course 
which starts on the Asian side of Istanbul and then finishes in Europe on 
Sultanahmet Square in the city's historic center. Including races at 
shorter distances organisers expect a total of 45,000 runners to compete in 
the event, which is a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race. The Türkiye Is 
Bankasi Istanbul Marathon starts at 9 am on Sunday and will be shown in a 
live stream with an English commentary available worldwide at: 
https://maraton.istanbul

"We are proud to have assembled a strong international field for Turkey's 
premier marathon event once again. Hopefully weather conditions will be 
fine so that there is a chance of establishing the fastest time ever run on 
Turkish soil. It is great to see another very big mass race with 45,000 
runners. This confirms our significant position for the development of our 
sport in Turkey. We are of course the only marathon in the world that 
offers the experience of crossing from one continent to another during the 
race," said Race Director Renay Onur, who also pointed out that the race 
was held annually without any interruptions. „Even during the pandemic we 
managed to stage the race, which was one of only very few in the world that 
went ahead."

"I am ready for a good race. If the weather is suitable and the pacemakers 
are doing their job then I think the course record could be possible for 
me," said Abraraw Misganaw. Daniel Kibet of Kenya holds the record with his 
winning time of 2:09:44 from 2019. This mark is just 17 seconds away from 
the Turkish allcomers' record. Abraraw Misganaw improved his former PB of 
2:09:47 by over three minutes in Dubai this February. He clocked 2:06:39 
and was fifth in this competitive race. "I am in the same shape as before 
the Dubai Marathon," said the 35 year-old from Addis Ababa.

Robert Kipkemboi will be looking to become the first man to achieve back to 
back wins in Istanbul since fellow-Kenyan Vincent Kiplagat defended his 
title in 2011. 35 year old Kipkemboi clocked 2:10:18 a year ago. His 
personal best stands a 2:07:09. Earlier this year he showed very promising 
form when he won the Nairobi Marathon in 2:07:38. This is quite a 
remarkable performance in high altitude. While a total of seven runners 
feature personal bests of sub 2:10 on Istanbul's start list organisers had 
to cope with some late withdrawals. Among them are Kenyans Reuben Kipyego 
and Moses Koech as well as Gadise Shumie of Ethiopia. 

Early this year Beatrice Cheptoo ran a fine personal best of 2:22:28 when 
she was third in Doha. The 30 year-old Kenyan improved by almost two 
minutes. "I have prepared for the race in Istanbul since June and my 
training went really well. So I am hoping for a good time and will try to 
win the race," said Beatrice Cheptoo, who lives in the village of Nandhliis 
near Eldoret and trains in an altitude of around 2,000 metres. "I have got 
my own pacemaker and only train with him," said Beatrice Cheptoo, whose 
husband is a maize farmer and looks after their two children if his wife is 
away for races. 

With a personal best of 2:23:49 Sifan Melaku of Ethiopia is the second 
fastest on the start list. The 23 year-old ran this time three years ago in 
Sevilla. In her most recent race she took the Stockholm Marathon with 
2:30:44 in May. In the same month this year Valentina Mateiko ran a fine 
marathon debut in Copenhagen. The Kenyan was second with 2:25:05. It will 
be interesting to see what she can do in much more competitive field in 
Istanbul. While four women feature personal bests of sub 2:24 another four 
on the start list have run below 2:27. Another Kenyan who might do well on 
Sunday is Linah Cheruto. She was very unfortunate when she suffered of a 
broken foot during her debut marathon in Copenhagen in 2023 around the 30k 
mark. After fully recovering Linah Cheruto now starts a second attempt in 
Istanbul. Turkey's national record holder Sultan Haydar withdrew from the 
race at short notice.

Elite runners with personal bests

MEN:

Abraraw Misganaw    ETH 2:06:39
Robert Kipkemboi    KEN 2:07:09
Polat Kemboi Arikan TUR 2:08:14
Wilfred Kigen       KEN 2:08:45
Alex Saekwo         KEN 2:09:08
James Kiplagat      KEN 2:09:08
John Langat         KEN 2:09:46
Panuel Mkungo       KEN 2:10:20
Benard Sang         KEN 2:10:59
Moses Too           KEN 2:11:45
Mathew Kemboi       KEN 2:11:52
Hüseyin Can         TUR 2:11:56
Ömer Alkanoglu      TUR 2:12:15
Mestan Turhan       TUR 2:12:59
Dominick Kipkirui   KEN Debüt

WOMEN:
Beatrice Cheptoo      KEN 2:22:28
Sifan Melaku          ETH 2:23:49
Aberu Mekuria Zennebe ETH 2:24:30
Workenesh Alemu       ETH 2:24:42
Valentina Mateiko     KEN 2:25:05
Janet Rono            KEN 2:26:03
Veronicah Maina       KEN 2:26:41
Zerfie Limeneh        ETH 2:26:48
Gulzhanat Zhanatbek   KAZ 2:33:25 
Linah Cheruto         KEN  - - -

More information is available at: https://maraton.istanbul

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