Remember me
Reigning Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon champion Bethwell Kipkemboi is back in the city and determined not only to successfully defend his title on Sunday but also to break the course record.
Kipkemboi, who claimed last year’s men’s marathon crown in two hours, 11 minutes and 13 seconds, has set his sights on surpassing the 2:09:20 mark set by fellow Kenyan Barnabas Kiptum in 2019.
Even so, the 32-year-old said he did not feel any pressure and was “just focused” on his goal.
“I want to defend the title,” Kipkemboi said. “The course is tough, I know that, but it all depends on how you train before the race and I am ready to tackle it.”
He will need to overcome the challenge of Mekuant Ayenew as well as that posed by the course. The Ethiopian, who is ranked 98th in the world, is the fastest man in the field with a personal best of 2:04:46.
Virginia Lo is back to defend her title as the Hong Kong marathon’s fastest local woman. Photo: Edmond SoAmong the women’s elite, Bahrain’s Shitaye Eshete, who was born in Ethiopia, will make her Hong Kong debut as the fastest of the invited female runners.