A total of 25 Kenyan marathoners will descend on the Seoul Marathon course with hopes of finishing among the top eight and pocketing the hefty prize purse that has been set aside.
The stage is set for Sunday's Seoul Marathon with the men’s course record in danger owing to the quality field that this year’s edition of the race has assembled.
As per the race organisers, the elite category has attracted 141 runners with 53 from outside South Korea and 88 being domestic elites. Kenyans and Ethiopians headline the field with 17 runners from the former and eight from the latter.
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The prize money for the male winner who crosses the finish line under 2:05:00 is approximately Ksh14 million while the woman who wins under 2:19:00 walks away with the same amount.
If the first male athlete finishes between 2:05:00 and 2:07:00, they will walk away with about Ksh11 million while the women who finish between 2:19:00 and 2:21:00 will pocket the same amount.
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If the first male athlete crosses the finish line above 2:07:00, they will pocket about Ksh6 million while the first woman who finishes above 2:21:00 will bank the same amount.
Since the race was upgraded to an international competition in 1994, 22 African athletes have won the laurel wreath with Kenyans winning 11 times.
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Ethiopia’s Guye Adola Idermo headlines the field as he holds the fastest time of 2:03:46. Adola, widely regarded as a world-class marathoner, won the 2021 Berlin Marathon and finished second in the 2023 Paris Marathon. In addition, Dursch Keunde Kase and Kuberu Negus Rudahun will also run with Ethiopia's pride.
There are also many Kenyan players who are traditionally strong including Joel Kemboi Kimurere, Philimon Kipchumba, Rabun Kipngetige Korir, and Solomon Kirwa Yego who are ready candidates for the championship.