Chumba hopes to shine once again in Lisbon

Zablon Chumba is returning to Portugal to defend his Lisbon Marathon title after a brilliant race last year.

With a quality field lining up in today’s showdown, Chumba is facing strong opposition in his back-to-back victory campaign.

Chumba, who boasts a 2:07:11 personal best, is one of seven men in the field, who have dipped under 2:08 in recent assignments.

The standout contenders include Kenyans stars such as Jonathan Kiplimo Maiyo (2:04:56) and Timothy Misoi with a 2:06:07 PB which he timed earlier this year in Hamburg.

Chumba and compatriots will be taking on Ethiopian elites including Abdi Ali Gelchu (2:07:15) and Asefa Mengisa 2:07:47 in the contest that will start at Carcavelos.

The stellar field could pose a threat to the Lisbon Marathon course record of 2:05:45, which was set by Ethiopian Andualem Belay Shiferaw in 2022.

Source: The Standard Sports