Runners from Kenya&nbsp;look set&nbsp;to continue their recent&nbsp;dominance at the Kosice Peace Marathon, an IAAF Bronze Label Road Race, on Sunday (2).
Founded in 1924, the Kosice event is Europe's oldest marathon, this year celebrating its 93rd edition.
The course records --Lawrence Kimaiyo's 2:07:01 men's mark set in 2012 and Ashete Bekere Dido's 2:27:47 women's standard set in 2013-- may not be under imminent threat, but the solid fields attracted to this eastern Slovak city promise strong head-to-head battles.
As expected, the strongest contingent comes from Kenya, particularly in the men's race, where runners from the east African distance running powerhouse have won at 10 of the past 11 editions.
Daniel Limo may be a factor. The 32-year-old has a career best of 2:08:09 which dates back to 2011, but comes armed with a victory at last year's Los Angeles Marathon, where he clocked 2:10:36, his second fastest time. Earlier this year he was second in Stockholm in 2:12:00.
The field includes Elijah Kemboi, who won here in 2011 in 2:11:15, and has since produced three sub-2:08 performances, his best a 2:07:34 from Frankfurt in 2013. He finished a distant 11th in Paris last spring and will be eager to put that performance behind him.
Evans Ruto is another familiar face in Kosice. In 2012 he finished third in 2:07:49, still his personal best, and returned last year as a pace setter, leading Sammy Kosgei to his 2:07:07 victory.
Samson Bungei, who clocked a 2:08:33 career best in Cologne in 2009, ran 2:10:27 last year in Milan but hasn't raced over the distance this year.
Others with sub-2:10 credentials include Josphat Leting, who clocked 2:09:34 in Enschede in 2013, and Henry Kipsigei Chirchir, who ran 2:09:24 in Cologne in 2012 and has notched victories in Hannover and Nagano in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
Leading the Ethiopian charge is Abere Kassaw Belay, the 22-year-old who ran his 2:08:18 personal best in Dubai in 2014. More recently, he finished second at this year's Zurich Marathon in 2:13:34.
On paper the fastest man in the field is Kenyan David Kiyeng, who clocked 2:06:26 in 2009 when he finished third in Paris. However, the 33-year-old hasn't dipped under 2:14 in the past two years and won't start among the favourites.
<h3>Ruto, Diro and Damastevich&nbsp;eager&nbsp;to collect second victories</h3>
On the women's side, Kenyan Emily Ngetich paces the field.
The 32-year-old Kenyan brings a 2:25:14 personal best to the line from her fourth place finish at the Frankfurt Marathon in 2014. She hasn't contested a marathon this year, but last year finished ninth in Paris clocking 2:30:47.
Lydia Rutto meanwhile returns to collect a second Kosice victory after her 2:28:48 triumph in 2014. The 22-year-old has a 2:28:22 personal best from 2013.
Likewise for another 22-year-old, Mulu Diro of Ethiopia, who returns to defend her title. Diro won in 2:35:33 last year, but also has two sub-2:30 outings to her credit along with runner-finishes in Barcelona and Rome in 2015 and 2016 respectively.
Another Ethiopian, former junior steeplechase standout Halima Hassen, also returns to familiar stomping grounds. The 23-year-old was second here when still a junior in 2011, clocking 2:35:47, but has since improved steadily, most recently to 2:30:07 one year ago.
Others to watch include Ethiopian Chaltu Waka, who ran her 2:29:30 best last year; 2011 winner Maryna Damastchevich of Belarus, a 2016 Olympian in the event who clocked 2:30:07 in 2015; and Ethiopian Tinbit Gidey Weldegebriel, the winner this year in Hainan, clocking 2:31:27.
Runners from 58 countries have registered for the weekend&rsquo;s events which also include a half marathon and relay events.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF

Runners from Kenya look set to continue their recent dominance at the Kosice Peace Marathon, an IAAF Bronze Label Road Race, on Sunday (2).

Kenyans looking to extend their dominance in Kosice

Ethiopia is set to conquer the Italian capital once again at Sunday's&nbsp;ACEA Rome Marathon, the 22nd edition of this IAAF Gold Label Road Race, having enjoyed a proud tradition in the Italian capital since the days of Abebe Bikila&rsquo;s legendary Olympic title run in 1960.
More recently, Ethiopia has dominated the last two editions in both the men&rsquo;s and women&rsquo;s races and their runners have arrived well prepared to do so again.
Tariku Jufar is the second fastest man in the field at 2:06:51, set in his 2012 victory in Houston. The 31-year-old, who hails from Debre Zeyit in the Oromia region, also won the Beijing Marathon in 2012 and has notched top-three finishes in Istanbul, Mumbai, Los Angeles, Lake Biwa and Hamburg.
Jufar will take on last year&rsquo;s Rome Marathon winner Abebe Negewo Degefa, who clocked a lifetime best of 2:08:46 in Beijing 2013; Debebe Tolossa, who ran his career best of 2:07:41 in Houston in 2012; and Adhana Gebretsadik, who has a best of 2:08:35.
The Kenyan challenge will be led by Cheboit Silas, who clocked 2:07:15 in Gyeong in 2014; Ezekiel Omullo, who ran 2:09:19 in Warsaw in 2015; and Robert Kipkemboi Kiplimo, who won the Padua Marathon in 2015 in 2:09:32.
Morocco will be represented by Rachid Kisri who clocked 2:06:48 in Paris in 2009 and is the fastest man in the field.
The leading Italian runners include the popular Rome taxi driver Giorgio Calcaterra, who won three 100km world titles and Martin Dematteis, a member of Italy's the 2015 world mountain running gold medal-winning team.
The favourite in the women&rsquo;s race is Kenya's Emily Chemutai Ngetich, who registered her 2:25:14 personal best at the Frankfurt Marathon in 2014.
She will take on an Ethiopian trio led by Mulu Diro (personal best of 2:29:10), Metaferiya Zeneba (PB 2:30:08) and Adhana Desalegn (PB 2:31:25). Another notable entry is Julia Andreeva, from Kyrgyzstan, with a best of 2:30:57.
In all, 16,764 runners from 115 countries have entered.
The course this year is similar to last year&rsquo;s, passing by some of Rome&rsquo;s most famous monuments. The start is on the Via del Teatro Marcello near Piazza Venezia with the finish on Via IV November in front of the Colosseum.
Diego Sampaolo for the IAAF

Jufar and Chemutai lead Rome Marathon Fields

Jufar and Chemutai lead Rome Marathon fields

Ethiopia is set to conquer the Italian capital once again at Sunday's ACEA Rome Marathon, the 22nd edition of this IAAF Gold Label Race.

After the success of its half marathon event held barely four weeks ago, when Kenya&rsquo;s Abraham Cheroben ran the fastest time in the world this year, the Mediterranean city of Valencia stages its highly regarded marathon, an IAAF Silver Label Road Race, on Sunday (15). The men&rsquo;s course record belongs to Kenya&rsquo;s 2013 winner, Felix Kipkemboi Keny, who clocked 2:07:14 to set a Spanish all-comers&rsquo; best in the process but the organisers hope to see the first time under 2:07 on Spanish soil and have a powerful contingent of African runners led by the Ethiopian duo of Seboka Tola Dibaba and Gebretsadik Abraha. Tola Dibaba, who turned 28 earlier this week, will be the quickest runner on the start line thanks to his 2:06:17 clocking in Dubai back in 2012 although he has also run well this year with 2:07:33 when finishing third in the Paris Marathon.As for Abraha, he has 2:06:21 to his name from his outing in Amsterdam three years ago, at the age of just 20, and he should be eager to bounce back from his recent lacklustre performance in Hengshui where he ran 2:13:09.The always-mighty Kenyan armada has dominated the event in recent times and won for the past five years.Keny returns and will be bidding to become just the third man to win the race twice since its first edition in 1981.The Valencia Marathon record holder will be having his third appearance over the distance this year after efforts of 2:14:02 and 2:09:05. Other notable Kenyan names in the men&rsquo;s field include 2012 Valencia Marathon winner Luka Kanda, the runner-up in Paris earlier this year in a career best of 2:07:20; Philip Kangogo, who took the Barcelona Marathon title last March in 2:08:16; Philemon Rono, 2:08:18 in Hamburg last April; the in-form John Mwangangi, who was second at the Zaandam 10 mile race in 45:58 in September; and Felix Kandie, the 2015 Prague Marathon victor in 2:08:32.Watch out too for Morocco&rsquo;s Mustapha El Aziz, who proved to be in fine form at the Valencia Half Marathon one month ago when he managed a personal best of of 1:01:05, while Kenya&rsquo;s Matthew Kisorio and Eritrea&rsquo;s marathon debutant Dawit Weldeslasie Hagos, finished second and third with 59:52 and 1:00:27 respectively in Valencia.Kenya&rsquo;s Richard Mengich is an accomplished half marathon specialist with no less than four performances under 1:01 this year, topped by a 59:59 fourth place in Berlin, and could also surprise the more experienced marathon runners.<h3>Naigambo ready to strike again</h3>The women&rsquo;s race has a solid and in-depth field which will also be aiming for a new course record, the current mark being 2:27:01 by Ethiopia&rsquo;s Azalech Woldeselasse.Namibia&rsquo;s Beata Naigambo is the defending winner and looks set to attack Woldeselasse&rsquo;s mark after her personal best of 2:27:28 in Hamburg last April although she failed to finish in the world championships marathon at the end of August.She will also be aiming to become the first back-to-back women's winner in more than two decades, since local runner Elisenda Pucurull won her third consecutive title in 1991.Kenyan hopes rest with the duo of Emily Ngetich, who clocked 2:25:14 last year in Frankfurt, and Janet Rono, 2:26:31 this season in Prague; while Algeria&rsquo;s Souad A&iuml;t Salem, the Hannover Marathon winner in 2:27:21 should also be in the running for a high place and like Naiagambo, she is looking for a modicum of redemption after failing to finish in Beijing.The event is jointly organized by the City Council of Valencia and the &lsquo;Sociedad Deportiva Correcaminos&rsquo; and this year&rsquo;s event has seen a record 16,500 entries. In addition to the main event, which was promoted to IAAF Silver Label Road Race status last December, the associated Valencia 10km race will have about 8500 runners.The start and finish areas of both races are located in the magnificent City of Arts and Sciences, which is close to the centre of Valencia and the course passes some of the city&rsquo;s most famous landmarks, such as the Formula 1 circuit, the historic city centre, and the America&rsquo;s Cup port area.Weather forecasters predict good conditions for distance runner: a relatively sunny day with no wind, and a temperature in the range of 14-16 degrees Celsius during the first couple of hours of the race when the elite runners will be on the road.Emeterio Valiente for the IAAF

After the success of its half marathon event held barely four weeks ago, when Kenya’s Abraham Cheroben ran the fastest time in the world this year, the Mediterranean city of Valencia stages its highly regarded marathon, an IAAF Silver Label Road race, on Sunday (15). 

Course records under attack at the Valencia Marathon

Robert Chemosin clocked a world-leading 59:37 to win the 41st Rome-Ostia Half Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race, on Sunday (1).In sunny conditions, the Kenyan edged out his compatriot Simon Cheprot, who was second in 59:39, while Uganda&rsquo;s Geoffrey Kusuru was third in 59:43, with another four athletes running faster than 61 minutes.For the third consecutive year, the top three all dipped under the one-hour barrierA leading group of nine East African runners&nbsp;&ndash; Peter Kwemoi, William Kibor, Eric Leon Ndiema, Cornelius Kangogo, John Kiprotich, Leonard Kipkoech, Kusuro, Cheprot and Chemosin&nbsp;&ndash; went through 5km in 14:03 and then 10km in 28:05.Chemosin, Cheprot, Kusuro and Kiprotich then started to put daylight between themselves and the rest of the field before going through 15km in 42:11, with a gap of 11 seconds over Kipkoech and Ndiema. In the final three kilometres, firstly Kiprotich and then Kusuro drifted off the back, unable to sustain the relentless pace dictated by Chemosin, who then out-sprinted Cheprot for the victory.Chemosin&rsquo;s winning time was the second fastest of his career after his second place in the same race two years ago, when he finished as the runner-up to Wilson Kiprop in 59:19.&ldquo;Finally I managed to win this race," said Chemosin. "It&rsquo;s my third time in Rome. In the past two editions, I made some tactical mistakes, although I was in good shape. This year, I did better to win the race."<h3>Decision time </h3> &ldquo;We started running at a very fast pace between five and the 10 kilometres. In the second half of the race, I felt the warm weather. I decided to break away at 18 kilometres because I felt that it was the key moment when I had to launch my attack. Following the leading trio home, Kipkoech was fourth in 1:00:06, Kiprotich fifth in 1:00:13, Ndiema sixth in 1:00:45 and Kibor seventh in 1:00:55.Ethiopia&rsquo;s Amane Beriso took the women&rsquo;s race in 1:08:43 with Kenya&rsquo;s Emily Chemutai Ngetich second in 1:09:13, both women running huge personal bests.Kenya's Sharon Cherop finished third but was given the same time as Chemutai Ngetich.Beriso, Hirut Alemayehu, Alemayehu Askale from Ethiopia and Kenya&rsquo;s Peninah Arusei went through 5km in the women&rsquo;s race in 15:32 with a gap of 25 seconds over the Kenyan trio of Sylvia Kibet, Cherop and Chemutai Ngetich. Beriso and Alemayehu then passed 10km in 32:06 with a one-second advantage over Askale Alemayehu and Arusei while Kibet and Cherop were 19 seconds further back.In the seond half of the race, Beriso and Arusei went clear and went through 15km in 48:35, a checkpoint reached by Alemayehu in 48:52 and then Chemutai Ngetich in 49:02. Arusei then started to wilt in the final few kilometres and, after losing contact with Beriso, saw both Chemutai Ngetich and Cherop go past her.&ldquo;I set my goal to run a great race in a big international event," said Beriso. "The weather conditions were perfect and I felt very well from the start. I knew that my rivals had achieved great results in the past. For this reason I chose to control the pace in the middle of the group before launching my attack."Arusei eventually finished fourth in 1:09:20 with Kibet fifth in 1:09:32. About 13,500 runners took part in the race.Diego Sampaolo for the IAAF

Robert Chemosin clocked a world-leading 59:37 to win the 41st Rome-Ostia Half Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race, on Sunday (1).

Kenyans looking to extend their dominance in Kosice

Jufar and Chemutai lead Rome Marathon fields

Course records under attack at the Valencia Marathon

Chemosin clocks world-leading 59:37 to win Rome-Ostia Half Marathon