Former marathon world record holder Brigid Kosgei, will make a highly anticipated return at the 2024 Hamburg Marathon on April 27. Kosgei, who broke the world record in 2019, leads a strong field targeting Hamburg course records.
The 31-year-old is a two-time London champion, Olympic silver medallist, and winner of Chicago, Tokyo, and Abu Dhabi marathons. An injury disrupted her 2023 season, causing her to miss the Olympics and finish a disappointing fifth in London (2:29:02).
Brigid Kosgei is poised to reassert herself as one of the sport’s most feared competitors.
“With regard to the fastest on the start list, this is the best field ever assembled in the history of the Haspa Marathon Hamburg. We are looking forward to some thrilling and fast racing,” said chief organizer Frank Thaleiser as qouted by The Star.
The Hamburg Marathon records set in 2022 by Kotut and Yehualaw could fall if this year’s conditions are ideal. Kosgei’s personal best is nearly three minutes faster than Yehualaw’s mark, and if conditions align, she could challenge for a statement-making time.
However, she will face fierce competition, notably from Ethiopia’s Roza Dereje, the 2019 Valencia Marathon champion and a familiar rival. Dereje has finished behind Kosgei in multiple major races, including Chicago 2018 (3rd) and London 2019 (3rd).
On the men’s side, Amos Kipruto, the 2022 London Marathon winner, leads a star-studded team that includes 2023 Amsterdam Marathon runner-up Bethwel Chumba, Philemon Kiplimo, who finished on the Hamburg podium last year—and a strong supporting cast in Cyrus Mutai, Erick Sang, and Felix Kibitok. They will face a strong Ethiopian team led by veteran 2014 World Half Marathon bronze medallist Guye Adola.
Kenya’s Cyprian Kotut set the 2:04:47 course record in 2022, which could fall if conditions allow fast racing.