On 17 May this year, the Rimi Riga Marathon is set to welcome not only a record number of participants – at least 40,000 runners from all over the world – but also the strongest ever elite team in the half-marathon distance. One of the biggest running stars of the moment, two-time Boston Marathon winner Sharon Lokedi, will take to the starting line in Riga. She will be challenged by runners who are already familiar with the Riga course and hospitality – last year’s Rimi Riga Marathon champion and German marathon record holder Domenika Mayer, as well as World Championship bronze medallist Ejgayehu Taye.
In the men’s competition, on the other hand, the main favourites are Gabriel Gerald Geay and James Kipkogei, whose personal bests are well below the magic hour.
A strategic step towards the top of Europe’s running destinations
The high-class elite line-up in the 21 km Rimi Riga Marathon is not a coincidence, but a purposeful effort by the organisers to position Riga as one of the leading running destinations on the continent.
"Attracting a strong global elite is one of the most important steps we are taking to ensure that Riga will become one of Europe’s most desirable running destinations," says Aigars Nords, Head of the Rimi Riga Marathon Organising Team. "Several factors attract top-class runners to Riga: first, the reputation of the event. This is evidenced by the four World Athletics recognised distances and also our experience in hosting top-level events such as the World Championships in Running. Second, the substantial Rimi Riga Marathon prize fund is important for elite athletes, and third, our fast courses allow athletes to gain world-class results. Finally, the opportunity to run in Riga together with world stars is a tempting hook for marathon runners and running enthusiasts who increasingly choose to set their personal bests in Riga."
Lokedi vs. Riga’s track experts: Who will be faster?
The most intriguing battle in the half-marathon is expected to be in the women’s competition. Although Sharon Lokedi has just proved her world-class status by winning her second consecutive Boston Marathon, she will be challenged on the streets of Riga by runners who feel at home in the city. German Domenika Mayer, who triumphed in the half-marathon in Riga last year, returns this year as the German national marathon record holder. Ethiopia’s Edjgayehu Taye not only holds the most impressive personal best in the half-marathon (1:04:14), but also the bronze medal in the 5 km race at the 2023 World Championships in the streets of Riga.
Aim to run "under an hour" in the men’s competition
The men’s half-marathon will be contested by runners whose personal bests are already below the magic 60-minute mark. The main contenders for victory will be Boston Marathon
2023 runner-up Gabriel Gerald Geay (59:18) and Tanzanian James Kipkogei (59:31). They will be closely followed by athletes who are ready to break the hour mark in Riga: Charles Mbatha Matata, Ethiopia’s Aklilu Gebremariam Asfaw and Kenya’s Robert Kiprop Koech.
Rimi Riga Marathon’s Half-Marathon Elite Team
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Women:
- Ejgayehu Taye, Ethiopia: PB 1:04:14 (2024). Bronze at the World Championships 5 km (Riga, 2023).
- Sharon Lokedi, Kenya: PB 1:05:00 (2025). Two-time Boston Marathon winner (2025, 2026), New York City Marathon winner (2022), and 4th place in the Paris Marathon (2024).
- Diniya Abaraya, Ethiopia: PB 1:06:28 (2026). 3rd place in the Barcelona Half-Marathon (2026).
- Bertukan Welde, Ethiopia: PB 1:07:15 (2026). Vice-champion of this year’s Tokyo Marathon (2:16:36).
- Domenika Mayer, Germany: PB 1:08:08 (2026). Rimi Riga Marathon 2025 half-marathon winner and current German marathon record holder.
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Men:
- Gabriel Gerald Geay, Tanzania: PB 59:18 (2025). Boston Marathon runner-up (2023).
- James Kipkogei, Kenya: PB 59:31 (2026). Runner-up of this year’s Rome Half Marathon.
- Charles Mbatha Matata, Kenya: PB 1:00:05 (2023). Winner of the Beijing Half-Marathon (2025).
- Aklilu Gebremariam Asfaw, Ethiopia: PB 1:00:27 (2026).
- Robert Kiprop Koech, Kenya: PB 1:00:56 (2024).
Organisers will announce the elite line-up for all distances in early May
This is the first of the Rimi Riga Marathon elite team announcements. In two weeks, the organisers will reveal the full elite line-up for the marathon, DPD-mile and 10-km distances, as well as introduce Latvia’s fastest runners who will compete for the national championship titles in Riga.
Sharon Lokedi and other leading elite athletes will be available to meet and greet at the official press conference on Friday, 15 May at 12.00 at the Rimi Olympic Centre. More information: www.rimirigamarathon.com