Elite Runners Field for the C&D Xiamen Marathon

The upcoming C&D Xiamen Marathon, a World Athletics Platinum Label road race, is set to take place this Sunday and promises to be an extraordinary event with an exceptional field of athletes. This year's race is especially noteworthy for featuring the fastest marathon pack ever assembled in China.

• C&D Xiamen Marathon Live Stream Details
• RESULTS

In the women's race, all eyes will be on the 2022 world champion Gotytom Gebreslase from Ethiopia. Gebreslase, who has an impressive personal best of 2:18:11, won the world title in Oregon in 2022. She has consistently performed at a high level, with a third-place finish at the 2022 Tokyo Marathon and a victory at the 2021 Berlin Marathon. Her last major race was at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest in 2023, where she earned a silver medal.

This will be Gebreslase's first time competing in Xiamen. She aims not only for the title but also to break the course record of 2:19:52 set by fellow Ethiopian Mare Dibaba in 2015.

Another top contender is Megertu Alemu of Ethiopia, the fastest woman on paper with a career-best of 2:17:09. Alemu has shown remarkable consistency over the past two years, with sub-2:19 finishes in all her four races, including a victory at the 2022 Seville Marathon.

Ruti Aga, also from Ethiopia, is a formidable athlete in the field. With a personal best of 2:18:09, Aga holds the Chinese all-comers’ record. She won the Tokyo Marathon in 2019 and has several runner-up finishes in major marathon races.

Other notable athletes include Tanzanian Magdalena Shauri and Moroccan Fatima Ezzahra Gardadi, both of whom have impressive credentials and will be strong contenders in the race.

In the men's race, defending champion Philimon Kiptoo Kipchumba faces a strong field, including 12 runners with career-best times faster than the current course record. Kipchumba had an unbeaten streak last year, winning all three of his marathon races, including breaking the course record in Shanghai.

Kenyan Kibiwott Kandie and Ethiopia's Chalu Deso are among the top competitors. Kandie recently set a personal best in Valencia, while Deso has won titles in Tokyo, Paris, and Porto. Philemon Kiplimo of Kenya, another sub-2:05 runner, and Moroccan record-holder Othmane El Goumri are also in the mix, making the men's race highly competitive.

This year's C&D Xiamen Marathon is shaping up to be a race filled with high-caliber athletes and potential record-breaking performances, making it a must-watch event for marathon enthusiasts.

Men Elite

1. Kibiwott Kandie (KEN) 2:04:48
2. Chalu Deso (ETH) 2:04:53
3. Philemon Kiplimo (KEN) 2:04:56
4. Philemon Rono (KEN) 2:05:00
5. Marius Kimutai (BRN) 2:05:06
6. Othmane El Goumri (MAR) 2:05:12
7. Nobert Kigen (KEN) 2:05:13
8. Shifera Tamru Aredo (ETH) 2:05:18
9. Philimon Kiptoo Kipchumba (KEN) 2:05:35
10. Solomon Kirwa Yego (KEN) 2:05:42
11. Kenneth Keter (KEN) 2:05:53
12. Fikre Bekele Tefera (ETH) 2:06:16
13. Edwin Kiptoo (KEN) 2:06:52
14. Tesfaye Birhan Nebebew (ETH) 2:06:52
15. Adane Kebede Gebre (ETH) 2:06:54
16. Victor Kipchirchir (KEN) 2:06:54
17. Henok Tesfay Ghebreab (ERI) 2:07:12
18. Mekonen Alene Belay (ETH) 2:09:19
19. Tesfaye Deriba (ETH) debut
20. Kiptanui Shadrack Kipchirchir (KEN) debut

Women Elite

1. Megertu Alemu (ETH) 2:17:09
2. Ruti Aga (ETH) 2:18:09
3. Gotytom Gebreslase (ETH) 2:18:11
4. Magdalena Shauri (TAN) 2:18:41
5. Aberu Ayana Mulisa (ETH) 2:21:54
6. Bekelech Gudeta (ETH) 2:22:56
7. Zhang Deshun (CHN) 2:24:05
8. Fatima Ezzahra Gardadi (MAR) 2:25:03
9. Veronicah Njeri Maina (KEN) 2:26:41
10. Ftaw Zeray (ETH) 2:29:15