The Vienna City Marathon in 2025 will feature intense competition among elite runners, especially from Kenya. The event, celebrating Johann Strauss’s 200th birthday, has attracted a record participation, with notable Kenyan athletes like Justus Kangogo, Douglas Chebii, and Stanley Kurgat leading the men’s elite field in pursuit of victory after losing the crown last year.
The upcoming Vienna City Marathon will intertwine with the celebration of Johann Strauss’s 200th birthday, featuring the Danube Waltz prior to the race’s commencement. While music will provide a charming atmosphere, the competition promises to be intense, as there are no clear favorites this year.
The elite male contenders set to compete on April 6 include a strong Kenyan trio: Justus Kangogo, Douglas Chebii, and Stanley Kurgat. Their personal best times range from 2:06 to 2:07, with other athletes on the start list having completed marathons under 2:09.
This year’s marathon has attracted a record nearly 13,000 participants for its 42nd edition, which is classified as a World Athletics Elite Label Race. In total, over 45,000 athletes will partake in the event, including those in shorter distance races.
Kenya’s elite male runners are poised to reclaim the Vienna City Marathon title, having lost it to Ethiopia’s Chala Regasa last year after a streak of four consecutive Kenyan victories. Notably, Samwel Mailu set a course record of 2:05:08 in 2023.
All three Kenyans have demonstrated strong capabilities in recent marathons. Justus Kangogo ran 2:06:45 to finish fourth in Amsterdam last October and achieved a personal best of 2:05:57 in Berlin a year earlier. Douglas Chebii, with a consistent performance history, set his personal best of 2:06:31 in Linz, Austria in 2022. Chebii’s recent times include a commendable 2:08:15 in Dubai, where he was recognized as the fastest Kenyan.
Stanley Kurgat, the youngest of the trio at 25, recently improved his personal best to 2:07:05 in Berlin. Though he finished 15th in that race, he is familiar with the Vienna course, previously serving as a pacemaker until the 30-kilometer mark last year.
Additional Kenyan participants include Charles Ndiema and Benard Kimeli, both boasting personal bests under 2:09. Ndiema’s past performance includes a fourth-place finish in Vienna with a time of 2:08:12, while Kimeli clocked 2:08:34 in Tokyo last year.
Bernard Muia, a noteworthy competitor, was the runner-up at last year’s Vienna City Marathon, finishing with a time of 2:10:42. He notably made a significant recovery in the race’s final kilometers. Muia also recorded a 2:09:17 personal best in 2023 at the Munich Marathon.
Austrian elite runner Peter Herzog aims to lead the national field with a target time of around 2:12, following his record achievement of 2:10:06 in the 2020 London Marathon. Former Austrian record holder Lemawork Ketema, with a personal best of 2:10:44, hopes for a successful return after an injury break.
In conclusion, the Vienna City Marathon in 2025 expects fierce competition among elite runners, particularly from strong Kenyan athletes seeking to reclaim their title. The unique celebration of music and the impressive entry numbers highlight the event’s prominence, setting the stage for a thrilling race. Athletes like Justus Kangogo, Douglas Chebii, and Stanley Kurgat, alongside other competitors, are anticipated to deliver exciting performances, making this marathon a significant occasion for both participants and spectators.
Original Source: www.athletics.africa
