Almenesh Herpha and Abraham Kiprotich, the 2018 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon winners, will line up against formidable opposition when they defend their titles at the IAAF Bronze Label road race on Saturday (2).

Despite a 23km/h headwind between the 10th and 26th kilometres, Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich shattered the Turkish all-comers’ record at the Vodafone Istanbul Marathon, winning the IAAF Gold Label road race in 2:22:36.

In just her second ever race over the classic distance, Kenya’s Rebecca Chesire held off a late charge from marathon debutante Elvan Abeylegesse to win the Vodafone Istanbul Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race, on Sunday (17).

Ethiopia’s former Boston Marathon winner Deriba Merga and France’s 2013 Daegu Marathon champion Abraham Kiprotich, the fastest European runner this year, will both have points to prove at the 35th edition of the 2013 Vodafone Istanbul Eurasia Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race, on Sunday (17).

Course records are expected to be under threat at the 35th edition of the 2013 Vodafone Istanbul Eurasia Marathon on 17 November, after organisers released their elite field for the IAAF Gold Label Road Race on Wednesday (6).

France’s Abraham Kiprotich provided what is now a rare European win at a major Marathon when he triumphed at the Daegu International Marathon, an IAAF Silver Label Road Race, and improved his personal best by two seconds to 2:08:33 on Sunday (14).

Kenya’s David Kiyeng was optimistic that he could beat his own course record of 2:07:57 at the Daegu International Marathon on Sunday 14 April, when the IAAF Silver Label Road Race held its pre-race press conference on Friday (12).