Former women’s world marathon record holder Brigid Kosgei hopes to secure her first 42km victory of the season when she lines up at the Shanghai Marathon on Sunday.
The 31-year-old is the undisputed favourite to dominate the Chinese streets, buoyed by a glittering resume that still ranks among the finest in global marathon running.
She opened her year with a strong runner-up finish at the Hamburg Marathon in April, clocking 2:18:26.
Ethiopia’s Workenesh Edesa clinched the title in 2:17:55, with her compatriot Sichala Kumeshi third in 2:19:53.
Kosgei’s most recent outing over the classic distance came in August at the Sydney Marathon, where she clocked 2:18:56 to finish behind Dutch star Sifan Hassan (2:18:22).
Edesa once again completed the podium in 2:22:15.
Kosgei remains one of Kenya’s most decorated road-running specialists, having shattered the then women’s world marathon record in Chicago in 2019 with 2:14:04.
The mark was later eclipsed in 2023 by Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa, who ran 2:11:53 in Berlin.
Another major highlight in Kosgei’s illustrious career was claiming Olympic silver at the Tokyo 2020 Games, clocking 2:27:36 behind compatriot Peres Jepchirchir (2:27:20).
The Kenyan star is also a two-time Chicago Marathon champion, winning in 2018 (2:18:35) and again in 2019 when she delivered her record-breaking run.
She had earlier finished second in 2017 (2:20:22) behind Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba (2:18:30).
Kosgei has twice ruled the London Marathon, triumphing in 2019 (2:18:20) and 2020 (2:18:58), and finishing second in the 2018 edition after clocking 2:20:13.
In 2021, she captured the Tokyo Marathon crown in a commanding 2:16:02, ahead of Ethiopians Ashete Bekere (2:17:58) and Gotytom Gebreslase (2:18:18).
In Shanghai, Kosgei will be joined by 2024 Hamburg Marathon champion Irene Cheptai and 2022 Frankfurt Marathon winner Selly Chepyego.
Cheptai is chasing her first podium finish of the year after narrowly missing out in Boston, where she placed fourth in 2:21:32 behind Sharon Lokedi (2:17:22), Hellen Obiri (2:17:41) and Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw (2:18:06).
Chepyego, meanwhile, will also be seeking her first podium of the season following below-par outings in Barcelona (sixth in 2:23:40) and Hokkaido, where she placed fifth in 2:38:49.
The Kenyan trio will, however, face stiff competition from Ethiopia’s Tiruye Mesfin, who is also looking to rediscover her top gear after a fourth-place finish in 2:22:27 at the Rotterdam Marathon.
The hosts’ hopes will rest solely on Deshun Zhang, the national half marathon record holder.
![[PHOTOS] Ruto launches Rironi-Mau Summit road](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.radioafrica.digital%2Fimage%2F2025%2F11%2F6f6601a6-9bec-4bfc-932e-635b7982daf2.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
