Formers Winners John Komen and Edwin Kiptoo to Compete in ING Night Marathon

Two-time winner John Komen and defending champion Edwin Kiptoo are set to compete in the 13^th edition of the ING Night Marathon Luxembourg, taking place next Saturday 12 May.

For a long time, it seemed like this year’s ING Night Marathon would be a race between last year’s winner Kenyan Edwin Kibet Kiptoo and a troupe of young talents. However, it has now been confirmed that Kiptoo will be competing with his compatriot John Kopkorir Komen, who twice won the marathon in past years.

After pulling out of a marathon in April this year, Edwin Kiptoo (born in 1987), will don his running shoes once more to defend his title as winner of the 2017 marathon. With a personal best time of 2:11:29 in 2016 in Brighton, Kiptoo crossed the finish line of last year’s marathon at 7pm with a time of 2:16:55 hours. As the race took place during a heatwave, Kiptoo commented: "It was so hot, I really had to fight".

Kiptoo will also have to fight in this year’s marathon, this time against his motivated compatriot John Komen (born in 1977), a former football player who is seeking his third victory at the ING Night Marathon Luxembourg. The 2015 and 2016 winner placed 2^nd last year.

On 12 May, other top-athletes will also be lined up at the starting line, some of whom have already been among the first to cross the finish line of the ING Night Marathon Luxembourg in other years: Kenyan Hosea KikpemboiI who came second in 2015, Kenyan Stephen Kipchumba Rutto whoc came twice second and once third between 2012 and 2016, and Ethiopian Alemayehu Abebe Gezahegn.

On the women’s side, Kenyan Pamela Jemeli Kipchoge, who finished 5th in the 2015 ING Night Marathon Luxembourg, is among the favourites to win. Ethiopian Lakelesh Feysa Dera also has a lot of potential. The talented 20-year-old achieved two marathon victories in China in 2017.

The top national athletes also promise an interesting race, namely Bertil Muller, who placed 13th in 2017, and Frazer Alexander, who came 7^th overall in 2016, as well as Fabienne Gehlen and Thierry Dondelinger.

With 16,000 registered racers in total, this edition of the ING Night Marathon Luxembourg has set a new record for participants with the event being full since the end of March. 

The race will begin at 19:00.