Sammy Kitwara at the 2017 Valencia Marathon/ HANDOUT
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The 2017 Valencia Marathon champion Sammy Kitwara will be in the spotlight as he goes toe-to-toe with Olympic marathon champion Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia at the Doha Marathon on January 16.
Kitwara, a seasoned road campaigner, heads into the Qatari showdown seeking a reset after a frustrating 2025 campaign.
His only outing last year came at the Wuxi Marathon, where he finished fifth in 2:07:19.
The Chinese race was claimed by Eritrea’s Samson Amare in 2:07:00, with Ethiopians Gaddisa Dekebe (2:07:02) and Chalu Deso (2:07:07) completing the podium.
Despite the setbacks of last season, Kitwara remains a formidable force over 42km, boasting an enviable resume built over a decade at the elite level.
His marathon pedigree was underlined in Valencia in 2017, where he stormed to victory in a then-course record of 2:05:15, holding off compatriot Evans Chebet (2:05:30) and Ethiopia’s Deribe Melka (2:06:38).
He finished third at the 2013 Chicago Marathon in 2:05:16 behind Kenyan greats Dennis Kimetto (2:03:45) and Emmanuel Mutai (2:03:52).
A year later, he went one better in Chicago, clocking 2:04:28 behind the legendary Eliud Kipchoge, who won in 2:04:11.
Kitwara left his mark in the half marathon, highlighted by victory at the 2009 Rotterdam Half Marathon in 58:58, alongside runner-up finishes in Philadelphia in 2011 (58:48) and Abu Dhabi in 2010 (59:34).
Joining him in Doha will be Nicholas Kirwa, the 2025 Hangzhou Marathon runner-up.
However, Kenya’s sternest challenge is expected from a powerful Ethiopian contingent spearheaded by Tola.
However, the Ethiopian endured a frustrating 2025 season, managing just one appearance, a fifth-place finish at the London Marathon in 2:04:42.
Race organisers are bracing for a high-octane spectacle in the streets of Qatar.
“These world-class athletes will bring elite performance to the start line of the Doha Marathon,” organisers said in a statement.
In the women’s race, Amana Kipyatich, the 2024 Kigali Marathon champion, will be out for redemption after a below-par showing in last year’s edition.
At the 2025 Doha Marathon, Kipyatich faded to eighth place in 2:47:37, a stark contrast to her runner-up finish in 2024, where she clocked 2:23:45.
She will face stiff opposition from a strong Ethiopian contingent led by the 2022 Sydney Marathon champion Tigist Girma.
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