Former world half marathon champion Florence Kiplagat highlights Sunday’s Dublin Marathon.
The two-time Berlin Marathon champion, who finished sixth at the Gold Coast Marathon on July 2 in Australia, is a clear favourite although she will have to outdo defending champion Nigist Muluneh of Ethiopia.
Kiplagat enjoys a personal best time of 2:19:44 set while winning the 2011 Berlin Marathon while Muluneh has a PB of 2:27:41 set at the Riyadh Marathon in Saudi Arabia earlier this year.
Kiplagat — who is based in Iten, will also face Amente Sorome (2:26:40), the second-fastest in the startlist, as well as Genet Habela (2:29:22), Moroccan Hanane Quallouj (2:31:27) and Hawi Megersa (2:33:14).
Kiplagat, who played football at the national level during her secondary school days, broke the world half marathon record twice, 1:05:12 in 2014 and 1:05:09 in 2015 at the Barcelona Half Marathon.
She is greatly remembered for ending Kenya’s 16-year-old title drought at the 2009 World Cross-Country Championships in Amman, Jordan before winning the World Half Marathon title in Nanning, China in 2011.
Rome Marathon champion Taoufik Allam from Morocco will lead the men’s contest alongside Ethiopians Tadesse Mamo, Workneh Fikre and Ugandan Geoffrey Kusuro.
In Spain, Kenyans Bravin Kogei and Veronica Loleo will lead compatriots at the Malaga Half Marathon set for Sunday.
Kogei will be in the company of compatriots Boniface Kibiwott, Geoffrey Toroitich and Victor Kipruto.
Loleo will have Caroline Nyaguthii and Cynthia Chemweno for company.
