Oqbe Kibrom targets history in second Vienna City Marathon attempt
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Eritrea’s Oqbe Kibrom will headline the Vienna City Marathon on April 19 as the 2:05:37 marathoner seeks to become the first Eritrean man to win the prestigious race. After finishing third in Vienna in 2022, Kibrom returns as the fastest athlete on the start list and one of the leading contenders for victory in the 43rd edition of Austria’s biggest road race.
Organizers of the 43rd edition of the race, a World Athletics Elite Label Road Race, have registered around 13,000 runners for the marathon distance. Including shorter races staged during the two-day festival, the total number of participants is expected to exceed 46,000 athletes, marking a record turnout for the event.
When Kibrom competed in Vienna four years ago, history appeared within reach. After the final pacemaker stepped aside at the 30 km mark, the Eritrean surged to the front and briefly looked capable of becoming the first Eritrean man to win in the Austrian capital. However, Kibrom—whose manager is Swiss marathon record holder Tadesse Abraham—had pushed the pace too aggressively. Eventual winner Cosmas Muteti reeled him in and passed him with five kilometers remaining. Kibrom ultimately finished third in 2:07:25. While an Eritrean woman has previously triumphed in Vienna, the men’s title has yet to be claimed by an athlete from Eritrea.
With three performances under 2:06 in his career, Kibrom has established himself as a consistent performer at the marathon distance. His personal best of 2:05:37 came in Berlin Marathon, where he finished eighth two years ago. In 2025, he added another strong result by placing fourth at the Daegu Marathon in 2:06:04. At 28 years old, Kibrom may now be approaching the moment to secure his first marathon victory.
The Eritrean will face strong competition from several African contenders who also recorded their best times two years ago. Ethiopia’s Tafese Delegen owns a personal best of 2:06:11, achieved in Seville Marathon, while Kenya’s Stanley Kurgat clocked 2:07:05 at the Berlin Marathon, finishing seven places behind Kibrom.
Another athlete to watch is Kenya’s Albert Kangogo, who set a recent personal best of 2:07:26 when finishing runner-up at the Mersin Marathon in December. Kangogo is also familiar with the Vienna course, having placed third in 2023 with a time of 2:10:44.
Austria could also see a standout home performance from Aaron Gruen. The 27-year-old made headlines last spring when he became the first Austrian to break 2:10, running 2:09:53 in Congers, New York and improving his personal best by nearly five minutes. In preparation for Vienna, Gruen set a promising half-marathon PB of 61:14 in Houston this January. However, he continues to balance elite marathon training with his studies at Harvard Medical School.
European Marathon Classics launched in Vienna
Alongside seven other major races, the Vienna City Marathon has become part of a newly introduced series called European Marathon Classics, officially launched in Vienna.
The series brings together leading European races in London Marathon, Rome Marathon, Madrid Marathon, Lisbon Marathon, Warsaw Marathon, Copenhagen Marathon, and the Frankfurt Marathon, forming a new continental challenge for distance runners.
Athletes who complete at least five of these marathons in different cities—with no time limit—will receive a specially crafted commemorative medal.
“European Marathon Classics embodies our ambition to explore Europe together while pushing boundaries—both geographically and philosophically. I am confident this series will show that across Europe we are better together than we are apart and that we are more similar than we are different,” said Hugh Brasher, Event Director of the TCS London Marathon.
“The European Marathon Classics are an inspiring challenge. By bringing together leading European marathons, we aim to inspire even more people to embrace marathon running. We are united by shared values such as a passion for the sport, community, health and sustainability,” added Kathrin Widu, joint managing director of the Vienna City Marathon together with Dominik Konrad.
