With two years to go to its 50th edition, the Türkiye Is Bankasi Istanbul Marathon is getting 'jubilee-ready'.Organisers of one of Europe’s most traditional city marathon races have assembled the fastest elite field in the history of the event for Sunday’s 1, November 48th edition.Four men ,on the start list, have personal bests (PB) of sub 2:06:00 while three women have already broken the 2:20:00 barrier.Download our MozzartSport App For More NewsThe marathon is Türkiye’s biggest, and the world’s only Intercontinental marathon, leading the runners from Asia to Europe."An exciting race awaits us in both the men’s and women’s categories. Including races at shorter distances the Türkiye Is Bankasi Istanbul Marathon will bring together over 45,000 participants from 143 different countries. We are proud to host such a celebration of sports,“ said Race Director Bilge Donuk.The Women’s RaceThere has never been a woman on the start list of the Türkiye Is Bankasi Istanbul Marathon with a PB of sub 2:20:00. This time there are three in this category and two of them have even run under 2:19:00.Kenya’s Judith Korir, the silver medalist from the World Championships’ marathon in Eugene in 2022, leads the start list with a PB of 2:18:20. Ethiopians Azmera Abreha and Kasanesh Baze are second and third with PBs of 2:18:33 and 2:19:39 respectively.Obiri, Chepkirui renew rivalry in New York City, who wins?Dolshi Tesfu of Eritrea has a strong PB of 2:20:40 as well. Turkish record holder Sultan Haydar, who surprised with a 2:21:27 in Valencia three years ago, will return to the Türkiye Is Bankasi Istanbul Marathon where she was third back in 2013.Such is the depth of this year’s women’s field that defending champion Bizuager Aderra is only the ninth fastest on the start list. A year ago the Ethiopian won the race with 2:26:19 which remains her PB. But Aderra is not bothered by the statistics. “"I will try to win again. I am ready and I have trained well in Addis Ababa,“ said the 30 year-old. “The final section of the course is not easy. It is probably an advantage to know it.“Meanwhile, Korir had two very strong years in 2022 and 2023. Besides taking the silver medal in the global championships the Kenyan won the Paris Marathon in 2022, was fourth in the London Marathon in 2022 with 2:18:43 and again sixth in London a year later. However in the following years she could not achieve similar results because of an injury.“I got a hamstring injury which hampered me for around two years,“ said Korir. In April, she was eighth in the Milano Marathon with 2:26:48. But it was not what she had hoped for.##NAJAVA_MECA_10075977##“After the Milano race I changed my set-up and moved my training base from Iten to Kaptagat, where I have strong training partners," Korir, who usually travels back to Iten for weekends to see her husband and 13 year-old son explained. "I am in good form now and look forward to Sunday.“The Men’s RaceFour men are on the start list with PBs of sub 2:06:00. This is the same number as two years ago, but this time the individual PBs are even stronger. Ethiopians Sufaro Woliyi (2:04:35), Amdework Walelegn (2:04:50) and Dejene Debela (2:05:46) as well as Kenya’s Philimon Kipchumba (2:05:35) are the four.Debela has plenty of experience running the Istanbul course. Two years ago the Ethiopian, who clocked his PB of 2:05:46 in Chicago in 2019, won the race and last year he was runner-up.“Compared to last year I am in much better form,“ said Debela, who has not raced at all this year. “The problem was that I got a muscle injury and it took long to recover.“London Marathon considering major change to chase Ruth Chepngetich's World RecordAsked whether this could be the year the 2:09:44 course record from 2019 is finally broken, he says “I am in the shape to run sub 2:10 in Istanbul. But a major factor is the weather. If conditions are fine we should break it."Fellow-Ethiopian Woliyi also knows the course. He was third here a year ago, crossing the line just 14 seconds behind the winner Rhonzas Kilimo of Kenya."My training went very well, I am in the best shape of my life. I hope that this time I will be the number one,“ said Woliyi, who lives and trains in Asala, Ethiopia. Earlier in the year, he ran a strong PB of 2:04:35 in Seoul, which makes him the fastest runner on the Istanbul start list.Hüseyin Can of Türkiye ran a courageous race last year in Istanbul. He pushed the pace a couple of times and was rewarded with a PB of 2:10:58 and a strong fifth place. He returns to the race with an improved PB of 2:10:03.Michael Panther historic Nairobi Marathon raises Ksh5 million for children’s wheelchairs
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