Koech, Tanui lead strong fields in Hamburg Marathon
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Reading Time: 4min | Sun. 26.04.26. | 09:22
With 2:03:46 and 2:17:23 the race's course records are among the fastest in the world
Two-time Hamburg champion Bernard Koech and fellow Kenyan Rebecca Tanui head the start list of the Haspa Marathon Hamburg on Sunday, 26 April.
The two runners are leading the start lists of Germany’s biggest and fastest spring marathon with personal bests (PB) of 2:04:09 and 2:21:06, respectively.
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While Koech hopes to break 2:04 and win the race for a third time, Tanui intends to run sub 2:20:00 on the fast course. Meanwhile, Germany’s Samuel Fitwi carries national hopes in Hamburg and aims to achieve a rare podium finish.
“It was a real challenge this time to put together the elite fields—mainly because of visa problems. Unfortunately, we lost some top women recently. It looked like we would have a world-class field some weeks ago, but we still have a superb line-up,“ said Chief Organizer Frank Thaleiser. “I expect another thrilling race with fast times.“
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Koech wants to make it three out of three
In contrast to the women’s field, the men’s line-up was not affected by major withdrawals.
Twelve runners feature PBs of sub 2:07:00, which shows the strong depth of the field.
“I am very much looking forward to competing in Hamburg again,” said Koech, who has run the Haspa Marathon Hamburg twice and won on both occasions.
In 2023 he triumphed with a course record and tied his personal record of 2:04:09. This remains his PB until today. A year later, Koech defended his title.
“I have trained well and have been running up to 200 kilometers per week. My goal is to win in Hamburg for the third time,” said the 38-year-old, who still feels in top form even after many years as an elite athlete.
“Marathon is very much about experience. I may be 38, but that is just a number,” said Koech, who will try to break his PB in Hamburg.
The pacemakers are expected to run the first half in 62:00.
Kennedy Kimutai, a training partner and friend of Koech, was a late addition to Hamburg’s elite field. This may well be helpful for Koech with regard to achieving a fast time. The 26-year-old, who holds a PB of 2:05:27 and has already clocked a world-class time of 58:28 in the half marathon, was actually due to run the Boston Marathon last Monday.
However, due to visa issues, he could not travel to the US and will now be competing in Hamburg. “Bernard has won here twice, which is why I was interested in running in Hamburg too. We will certainly support each other,” said Kimutai, who has recently been in good form. In early March he won the Paris Half Marathon.
Meanwhile, former German marathon record holder Fitwi has a PB of 2:04:56 and is number three on the start list. “I have been training well in Addis Ababa since the beginning of January," said Fitwi, who will go with the leading group on Sunday. "My goal is to run a PB or at least a 2:05 time. I hope to achieve a podium finish as well."
The last time a German runner finished among the top three men in Hamburg was back in 1999, when Carsten Eich was runner-up. Former German record holder Jörg Peter won the race in 1990 and 1991.
Besides Koech and Kimutai, there are at least three more athletes who will compete for podium places with Fitwi: Israel’s Gashau Ayale (PB: 2:04:53), Othmane El Goumri of Morocco (2:05:12), and Ethiopia’s Abdisa Tola (2:05:42), the brother of Olympic Champion Tamirat Tola.
Tanui facing tough task with six athletes carrying PBs of sub 2:24:00
While there is no woman on the start list who has a PB of sub 2:20:00, such a time will be the target on Sunday.
Six athletes have PBs of sub 2:24:00. Tanui heads the list with a PB of 2:21:08. The Kenyan made no secret about what she wants to achieve on Sunday: “I want to win and run a new best time,” said the 33-year-old during the press conference in Hamburg.
Tanui has recently shown exceptional consistency in the marathon. She won three of her five races, Venice in 2023, Košice in 2024 and Mersin, Turkey, last December, and also finished third (2024) and second (2025) in Vienna. “I intend to break 2:20:00 for the first time and I am optimistic that I can do it,” she adds.
Elsewhere, Marion Kibor returns to Hamburg with fond memories. It was here three years ago where the Kenyan ran her current PB: She was fifth with 2:22:35.
“I hope I can run another PB in Hamburg on Sunday,” said the 31-year-old. “I plan to run with the leading group and will try to achieve a time under 2:20:00. I know that the course is fast."
Ethiopians Kasanesh Baze and Muluhabt Tsega, who have PBs of 2:22:06 and 2:22:21, respectively, are likely to challenge the Kenyans
Mens Elite List
Bernard Koech KEN 2:04:09
Gashau Ayale ISR 2:04:53
Samuel Fitwi GER 2:04:56
Othmane El Goumri MAR 2:05:12
Kennedy Kimutai KEN 2:05:25
Abdisa Tola ETH 2:05:42
Tsedat Ayana ETH 2:06:18
Balew Yihunle ETH 2:06:22
Felix Kibitok KEN 2:06:28
Shumi Dechasa BRN 2:06:43
Mohamed El Aaraby MAR 2:06:45
Belay Bezabeh ETH 2:06:58
Taresa Tolosa ETH 2:07:01
Vincent Nyageo KEN Debut
Aaron Bienenfeld's GER Debut
Women's Elite List
Rebecca Tanui KEN 2:21:08
Kasanesh Baze ETH 2:22:06
Muluhabt Tsega ETH 2:22:21
Marion Kibor KEN 2:22:35
Brillian Kipkoech KEN 2:23:56
Mercy Kwambai KEN 2:23:58
Manon Coste FRA 2:32:46
Vibeke Jensen NOR 2:34:22
Aselef Amare ETH Debut
Selamawit Teferi ETH Debut