Ruth Chepng’etich will fine-tune her preparations for the London Marathon by scaling down to a shorter distance on March 9.
Reigning world marathon record holder Ruth Chepng’etich will be fine-tuning for the London Marathon at the Lisbon Half Marathon scheduled for Sunday, March 9.
Chepng’etich expressed her excitement to have been included in the line-up and she will be going for nothing short of a win at the event.
The Kenyan distance sensation has proven to be a formidable road runner and the half marathon in Lisbon will not be a new challenge to her as her main focus remains on London.
“I am thrilled to announce that I will be running the Lisbon Half Marathon on March 9. I can’t wait. See you soon, Lisbon!” Ruth Chepng’etich told the organisers of the event.
The President of the Maratona Clube de Portugal, Carlos Moia also explained the significance of having great athletes like Ruth Chepng’etich in the line-up, revealing that they elevate the event.
On her part, Chepng’etich opened her 2025 season with a fourth-place finish at the Athletics Kenya Prisons Cross country championship and as she heads to Lisbon, she has hopes to sharpen her weak areas before taking on a strong field in London.
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The London Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, April 27 and Chepng’etich has been one of the unlucky competitors in the English capital.
She competed at the 2020 London Marathon where she rounded up the podium before her disappointing ninth-place finish at the 2024 London Marathon that ruled her out of the Paris Olympics Kenyan team.
Having shattered the world record, clocking 2:09:56 to win the 2024 Chicago Marathon, Ruth Chepng’etich has the much-needed confidence to continue her winning ways in London.
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However, she lines up against one of the strongest fields assembled with some women having already beaten her in previous races.
One of her notable competitors in the streets of London is Olympic champion Sifan Hassan. The Dutch woman denied Ruth Chepng’etich a chance to win her third successive title at the 2023 Chicago Marathon.
Having also won the London Marathon on her debut in 2023, Sifan Hassan hopes to successfully reclaim her title.
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Defending champion Peres Jepchirchir is also in the mix after setting a women-only world record as she won the race last year.
Former world record holder Tigst Assefa also lines up for the marathon having faced challenges in her previous outings where she failed to win. She goes into the race with the same mindset as Ruth Chepng’etich.
Meanwhile, before the do-or-die challenge, Ruth Chepng’etich wants to test the waters in Lisbon first.
