Bekele's Opponenets Announced for Paris Marathon

Published by the IAAF on March 18, 2014

Two months after legendary Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele announced that he will be making his 26.2 mile debut at the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris, the rest of the elite fields have been revealed for the IAAF Gold Label Road Race on 6 April.

Aside from the multiple world record-holder, there will be another Ethiopian Bekele competing in the French capital. Azmeraw Bekele smashed his marathon personal best by more than three minutes when finishing fifth in Dubai this year with 2:07:12.

But another Ethiopian, Abdullah Shami, will have the honour of being the fastest man on the start-line. Winner of the Hamburg Marathon two years ago, Shami recorded two sub-2:06 marathons in 2012, setting his personal best of 2:05:42 in Dubai that year.

Getachew Negari Terfa is one of the most consistent performers in the field. Undefeated in 2013, the Ethiopian won in Xiamen with a personal best of 2:07:32 and followed it two months later with a 2:07:56 victory in Rome.

Limenih Getachew will be keen to secure his first marathon win, having finished on the podium in his first three marathons. The 23-year-old Ethiopian has a best of 2:07:35 set in Hamburg last year.

Gezahagn Girma is another Ethiopian with a sub-2:08 best who will be competing in Paris for the first time. The former Marrakech Marathon winner has a PB of 2:07:41.

The men’s race at the past three editions of the Paris Marathon has been won by Kenyan athletes and Mark Kiptoo will be looking to continue that tradition. The 37-year-old will be contesting just his second marathon to date after his impressive 2:06:16 debut in Frankfurt last year.

ELITE FIELDS (with PBs)

Men
Abdullah Shami (ETH) 2:05:42
Mark Kiptoo (KEN) 2:06:16
Getachew Negari Terfa (ETH) 2:07:32
Limenih Getachew (ETH) 2:07:35
Gezahagn Girma (ETH) 2:07:41
Luka Kanda (KEN) 2:08:04
Gideon Kipketer (KEN) 2:08:14
Mike Kigen (KEN) 2:08:24
Simon Munyutu (FRA) 2:09:24
Gregoriy Andreyev (RUS) 2:10:25
Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) debut
Behailu Ketema (ETH) debut
Mule Wasihun (ETH) debut

Women
Valentine Kipketer (KEN) 2:23:05
Flomena Cheyech (KEN) 2:24:34
Meskerem Assefa (ETH) 2:25:17
Martha Komu (FRA) 2:25:33
Zemzem Ahmed (ETH) 2:27:12
Sarah Chepchirchir (KEN) debut