Tola and Jepkirui the Favourites for Paris Marathon

Ethiopia’s Tadesse Tola and Kenya’s Eunice Jepkirui will be the fastest ever marathoners to line up in the French capital when they take part in the 37th edition of the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race, on Sunday (7).

Tola, with a 2:04:49 personal best, is back in Paris three years after winning the event and will be the man to beat, while Jepkirui (2:21:41) will be the big favourite in the women’s race.

Twenty-five-year-old Tola moved to 15th on the world all-time list when finishing third in Dubai this year. He also has the advantage of knowing the course, as he won in Paris in 2010 with 2:06:41 in what was then the second Marathon of his career. On that occasion he chose to stay in the pack before surging away with 5km to go, winning with a storming finish.

Besides Tola, Ethiopia will bring a strong squad including Dadi Yami Gemeda (2:05:41), Gebretsadik Abraha (2:06:21) and Sisay Jisa (2:06:27 last year for third place in Paris). Read more