Kiptum, Biwott set for Abu Dhabi Marathon
abu dhabi — Kenya’s Abraham Kiptum and Stanley Biwott were among the top names revealed to participate in the ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon.
The organisers on Sunday revealed the first round of world class runners joining the elite race, taking place for the first time in Abu Dhabi on Dec. 7.
“The UAE is proud to welcome elite athletes from across the globe to join us for the inaugural ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon. These athletes are at the top of their game and we hope it will inspire the wider community,” said Aref Hamad Al Awani, General Secretary of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council.
The Elite Male Category will see, Kiptum, the world half marathon record holder, a title he won last Sunday in the Valencia Half Marathon in a record time of 58:18. Kiptum also won the 2018 Daegu Marathon (2:06:29) and got his best performance at the 2017 Amsterdam Marathon (2:05:26).
Next up is Kenya’s Stanley Biwott, winner of the 2015 New York City marathon, will also be on the starting line. Biwott earned his first major marathon victory in 2015, crossing the line in 2:10:32, 14 seconds ahead of his competition.
Representing the Elite Women, and hailing from Ethiopia will be Gelete Burka, 10,000m silver medalist at the 2015 IAAF World Championships, World Champion at the 2006 IAAF World Cross Country Championships and World Indoor Champion at the 2008 IAAF World Indoor Championships.
Eunice Chumba Chebichii of Bahrain, 10,000m silver medallist at the 2018 Asian Games and 2015 Asian Athletics Championships, will also join the race.
The full line up of word class runners will be announced at a press conference on Dec. 6