Kenyan athletes will once again line up among the leading contenders as the 46th edition of the Copenhagen Marathon gets underway this Sunday in Denmark, with both the men’s and women’s races promising high-quality contests.
Kenya’s Vincent Mutai headlines the men’s field as he returns to the Danish capital determined to go one better than last year. Mutai finished second in the 2025 edition, clocking a personal best of 2:09:09 on the same course, and will be banking on his familiarity with the flat, fast streets of Copenhagen as he hunts for victory.
He lines up in a formidable elite field that includes eleven athletes who have previously dipped under the 2:10 mark, underlining the depth of competition expected. Belgium’s Lahsene Bouchikhi, who boasts a personal best of 2:08:36, stands out as the only European among the top contenders.
The memory of last year’s race remains fresh, when Eritrea’s Berhane Tesfaye stormed to victory in 2:08:25, setting a high benchmark for this year’s challengers.
Attention will also shift to a stacked women’s race where Kenya has assembled a powerful squad led by defending champion Sharon Kiptugen. The 27-year-old came agonisingly close to breaking the course record in 2025, missing it by just five seconds as she claimed victory in 2:23:19.
Kiptugen returns facing a sterner test this time round. Former champion Rodah Chepkorir is also back in the field, eager to reclaim the crown she won in 2023 when she set the current course record of 2:23:14.
Ethiopia’s challenge will be equally strong. Bezunesh Getachew, a past winner of the Frankfurt Marathon with an impressive 2:19:27 personal best, is expected to mount a serious bid for the title. Meanwhile, compatriots Sofia Assefa and Abebech Afework, who finished second and third, respectively, last year in 2:26:21 and a personal best 2:28:37, add further depth to the elite lineup.
Another Kenyan athlete to watch closely is Mercy Chepwogen, who will be making her full marathon debut on Sunday. Chepwogen signalled her growing pedigree earlier this year when she finished third at the Paris Half Marathon in 1:06:33.
The race will carry added significance for the Kenyan as she celebrates her 30th birthday on race day, a milestone that could provide extra motivation as she seeks to announce herself on the global marathon stage with a strong performance in Copenhagen.
With seasoned champions, returning record holders and ambitious debutants all in the mix, Sunday’s showdown in Denmark promises to deliver another thrilling chapter in the history of the Copenhagen Marathon.