• The 28-year-old triumphed at the Stockholm Marathon in June, crossing the line in 2:14:17 while also leading a Kenyan top five finish.
• Hannover Marathon third-place finisher Lilian Jebitok will headline the women’s elite field.
Image: HANDOUT
Fresh from winning the 2024 Stockholm Marathon triumph, Fredrick Kibii will spearhead a formidable Kenyan lineup at the Hengshui Lake Marathon in China on Sunday.
The 28-year-old triumphed at the Stockholm Marathon in June, crossing the line in 2:14:17, leading a Kenyan top-five finish.
Robert Ng'eno (2:14:30) and Benard Kipkorir (2:15:41) completed the podium with Kennedy Kipyeko (2:15:53) and Abednego Cheruiyot (2:16:46) in tow.
In April, Kibii clocked 2:08:56 to finish fourth at the Linz Marathon, trailing Eritrea’s Goitom Kifle (2:08:15), Denis Chirchir (2:08:28) and Ethiopia’s Dejene Debela (2:08:38).
Kibii's impressive resume boasts a third-place finish at the 2023 Hannover Marathon, clocking 2:08:09 behind Germany’s Amanal Petros (2:07:02) and Chirchir (2:07:17).
He finished a solid seventh-place finish at the Frankfurt Marathon later that year (2:09:33).
Joining Kibii in China is Boaz Kipkemei, who finished second at this year’s Hannover Marathon in April in a time of 2:07:06.
Gevin Kerich, who was three seconds (2:06:52) behind last year’s Doha Marathon winner, Morocco's Mohcin Outalha, is also in contention.
Kerich grabbed second place at the 2022 Eindhoven Marathon (2:07:07).
Boniface Kimutai rounds off a strong Kenyan contingent, who face stiff competition from Ethiopian runners, led by 2020 Seville Marathon champion Mekuant Ayenew, Copenhagen Marathon runner-up Gadisa Birhanu and Daegu Marathon third-place finisher Berhane Tsegay.
Hannover Marathon third-place finisher Lilian Jebitok will headline the women’s elite field.
Her resume includes a victory at the 2019 Casablanca Marathon (2:31:31) and a third-place finish at the 2018 Nairobi Standard Chartered Marathon (2:42:23).
She is joined by Tallinn Marathon champion Mercy Kwambai, second at the Copenhagen Marathon in May (2:28:12) and runner-up at the 2022 Bregenz Marathon (2:30:15).
Ethiopia will once again provide the competition with 2021 Stockholm Marathon champion Atalel Anmut leading the charge.
She has Seville Marathon third-place finisher Urge Diro and Xuzhou Marathon champion Derartu Hailu for company.