Kiplimo chooses tricky London for marathon debut

Except for Joshua Cheptegei, never before in history has another Ugandan had pomp before their debut marathon.

For Jacob Kiplimo, owing to his proficiency on the road, the announcement of his full marathon debut has been met with both a little surprise and greater anxiety.

For some, it’s been a long wait. For others, well, is it just a little early? Regardless, Kiplimo will make his competitive 42km debut at the London Marathon in England on April 27.

“Yes it is that,” Kiplimo reacted in a brief chat at the weekend. The 24-year-old has swept all major pieces of global silverware on the road mainly at the cross-country and half-marathon stages.

He is the reigning two-time World Cross-country Champion and also won the World Half-Marathon title in 2020 before setting a 21km world record (WR) mark of 57 minutes and 31 seconds in Lisbon, Portugal in 2021.

Kiplimo’s WR mark was broken by Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha by a second last October. Experts in the sport believe Kiplimo only gets better by the distance on the road, with some placing his name among the possible individuals lower the 42km WR under two hours.

And perhaps, having raced six times on the road and only thrice on track in 2024, a debut marathon was on the cards. “I think the management (Rosa Associati) has been in plan on how he can progress to that area of marathon,” Kiplimo’s coach Peter Chelangat said.

Despite being a debutant, Kiplimo’s name and face has been flagged alongside big wigs including marathon great Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge ahead of the London do.

The elite men’s field for this World Marathon Major (WMM) event has attracted nearly every big name. From four-time winner Kipchoge, there is defending champion Kenyan Alexander Mutiso and then Olympic champion Ethiopian Tamirat Tola.

The spices to that meal include reigning world half marathon champion Sabastian Sawe, who posted the fourth fastest time of 2:02:05 to win his debut at the Valencia Marathon in Spain last month.

Other WMM reigning kings including Berlin Marathon winner Ethiopian Milkesa Mengesha and New York City Marathon champion Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands are all entered.

“This is quite simply the greatest elite field in the history of the London Marathon,” London Marathon Events CEO Hugh Brasher told the British media.

In a selfish Ugandan context, the feeling was that Kiplimo could hold on a little bit on track following three-time reigning world 10000-metre champion Cheptegei’s full switch to marathon.

So is Kiplimo fully done with track too? “That will come from his mouth,” Chelangat stated. However in history, several runners have debuted or race the marathon but then returned to compete on track.

Case in point is Cheptegei who ran the 2023 Valencia Marathon and polled 37th in before returning to track to win the 10000-metre Olympic title at the Paris Games in France eight months later.

Does that imply Kiplimo can switch up again from marathon back to track and target a podium finish over the 10000 metres at the forthcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan come September?

“Possibly, you never know what will happen. We will see after London,” added Chelangat. There are four months and 17 days between London and the start of the Tokyo Worlds.

Meanwhile, another Ugandan Stella Chesang is entered for the women’s 42km race in London. Chesang impressed early last month when she came second in a national record (NR) time of 2:18:26 via second place at the Valencia Marathon.

“Yes, I am actually working hard in my training,” Chesang reacted and she will become the first Ugandan lady to run a WMM. Her new personal best (PB) ranks as the seventh best in the field. Of that list, there are the three fastest women in history.

First is WR holder Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya, then two-time Berlin Marathon champion Tigist Assefa of Ethiopia as well as Olympic champion Sifan Hassan from the Netherlands.

Yet, Kenyan Peres Jepchirchir is back too to defend her title at this World Athletics Platinum Label road race.

ABOUT BOSTON MARATHON
Stance: World Marathon Major (WMM) 
Established: Mar 29, 1981; 43 years ago
2025 Date: April 27
Event type: Road
Distance: 42km 
Course records: Course records: Men: 2:01:25 (2023) by Kelvin Kiptum (KEN) & Women: 2:15:25 (2003) by (Paula Radcliffe)

2025 LONDON MARATHON

MEN’S ELITE 42KM FIELD ENTRIES

Eliud Kipchoge (KEN)                       2:01:09

Sabastian Sawe (KEN)                       2:02:05

Timothy Kiplagat (KEN)                    2:02:55

Alexander Mutiso Munyao (KEN)     2:03:11

Milkesa Mengesha (ETH)                   2:03:17

Tamirat Tola (ETH)                             2:03:39

Mohamed Esa (ETH)                          2:04:39

Abdi Nageeye (NED)                          2:04:45

Hillary Kipkoech (KEN)                     2:04:45

Amanal Petros (GER)                         2:04:58

Jacob Kiplimo (UGA)                         Debut

WOMEN’S ELITE 42KM FIELD ENTRIES

Ruth Chepngetich (KEN)                   2:09:56

Tigst Assefa (ETH)                             2:11:53

Sifan Hassan (NED)                           2:13:44

Peres Jepchirchir (KEN)                     2:16:16

Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN)                  2:16:24

Megertu Alemu (ETH)                        2:16:34

Stella Chesang (UGA)                        2:18:26

ROAD TO TOKYO 2025 WORLD CHAMPS - UGANDAN MARATHONERS

MEN’S QUALIFICATION

1 Stephen Kissa (Osaka Marathon, 2nd, 2:06:22, Feb 25, 2024)

Entry Standard: 2:06:30, Qualifying window: Nov 5, 2023 - May 4, 2025

WOMEN’S QUALIFICATION

1 Stella Chesang (Valencia Marathon, 2nd, 2:18:26 on Dec 1, 2024)

Entry Standard: 2:23:30, Qualifying window: Nov 5, 2023 - May 4, 2025

KIPLIMO AT A GLANCE

Date of birth: November 14, 2000

Major events: 5000m, 10000m, Half-Marathon

Coach: Iacorpo Brasi

Personal Bests: 12:40.96 (5000m), 26:33.93 (10000m), 57:31 (21km)

Manager: Federico Rosa

Management: Rosa Associati

KIPLIMO IN 2024

Jan 14, 2024: Valencia 10K Ibercaja (1st, 26:48)

Feb 10, 2024: National Cross-country (1st, 29:04)

Mar 30, 2024: World Cross-country (1st, 28:09)

May 17, 2024: LA Grand Prix, 5000m (4th, 12:52.91)

May 30, 2024: Oslo DL, 5000m (3rd, 12:40.96)

Aug 2, 2024: Paris Olympics, 10000m (8th, 26:46.39)

Sept 15, 2024: Copenhagen Half-Marathon (2nd, 58:09)

Nov 17, 2024: NN Zevenheuvelenloop (1st, 40:42)

Dec 31, 2024: NN San Silvestre Vallecana (2nd, 26:32*)