Why the 2024 Nagoya Women's Marathon will be fast-paced

ATHLETICS Why the 2024 Nagoya Women's Marathon will be fast-paced

Abigael Wafula 11:23 - 16.02.2024

The 2024 Nagoya Women's Marathon will promise to be a thrilling show despite defending champion Ruth Chepng'etich missing out on this year's edition.

Commonwealth Games 10,000m bronze medallist Sheila Chepkirui and former world marathon silver medallist Judith Korir will pace the upcoming Nagoya Women’s Marathon on March 10.

It will surely be a fast-paced race owing to the duo who will be joined by Charlie Purdue and Sinead Diver, who are also notable long-distance runners.

Follow the Pulse Sports Kenya WhatsApp Channel for more news.

Chepkirui goes into the race after an impressive season opener at the Kagawe Marugame Half Marathon where she finished second. She had quite an amazing season in 2023 where she finished second at the Berlin Marathon and also finished fourth at the London Marathon.

Locally, she finished second at the National Cross-country Championships and also finished third in the 10,000m race at the Kenya Defense Forces Championships and the Kenya Prisons Championships.

On her part, Korir will open her season at the event after a mixed 2023 season. She finished sixth at the London Marathon before finishing 10th at the Sydney Marathon.

Meanwhile, last year’s champion Ruth Chepng’etich will miss in action at this year’s event of the edition. Chepng’etich won back-to-back titles but she will now leave the mantle to other athletes.

Headlining the field will be former World marathon champion Gotytom Gebreslase of Ethiopia who will be opening her season at the event.

The reigning World marathon silver medallist had a mixed season last year and she will be keen to bounce back to winning ways. She finished 10th at the 2023 Boston Marathon and fourth and second at the Valencia Half Marathon and Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon respectively.

Eunice Chumba and Delvine Meringor will also be in action at the event. The home charge will be led by Yuka Ando, Ai Hosoda and Ayuko Suzuki.