Chepkurui to chase Vienna Marathon hat-trick in April

Vienna Marathon course record holder Vibian Chepkurui is eyeing a historic hat-trick when she takes to the streets of Austria on April 6.

Chepkurui first stamped her authority in Vienna in 2021, slicing through the tape in 2:24:29, outpacing Ethiopia’s Meseret Dinke (2:25:31) and Gelete Burka (2:25:38).

She returned a year later with an emphatic statement, obliterating the course record in a time of 2:20:59 to lead a Kenyan podium sweep of Ruth Chebitok (2:21:03) and Sheila Jerotich (2:23:01). This year, the stakes are even higher, with race organisers confirming a record-breaking attempt fi eld.

“There will be more than 40,000 athletes competing in Vienna. We are really happy that we have a record entry in the marathon this shows the growing nature of Austria’s major road running event which is also a World Athletics Elite Label Race.”

Chepkurui heads into the race seeking redemption after a turbulent 2024. She kicked off the year with a third place finish at the Guadalajara Half Marathon, clocking 1:10:21 just behind Ethiopian Aberu Ayana (1:08:51) and Hiwot Gebrekidan (1:09:41).

Her marathon form dipped in Boston, where she finished 13th in 2:27:23, before clocking 32:07 for sixth place at the Atlanta 10km road race. Despite this, Chepkurui remains a dominant force on the roads, boasting the 2023 Beijing Marathon title (2:21:57) and the 2023 Atlanta Half Marathon title (1:08:46).

In 2020, she clocked 1:09:28 to secure the Santa Pola Half Marathon crown in Spain. Chepkurui won’t have an easy ride to a third title with last year’s third-place finisher Rebecca Tanui looking to climb higher on the podium.

Tanui clocked 2:26:53 behind Eritrea’s Nazret Weldu (2:24:08) and compatriot Faith Chepkoech (2:26:22). Tanui’s marathon credentials include wins in Kosice (2:21:08) last year, San Sebastián (2:23:09) in 2022 and Venezia (2:25:35) in 2023.

Chepkoech returns keen to upgrade her silver from last year. Adding firepower to the Kenyan charge is Catherine Cherotich, runner-up at the 2024 Taipei Marathon.

Nora Szabo, the 2024 Budapest Half Marathon champion, is the highlight of the local cast.