With less than a week to go until the 11th ING Night Marathon, the race's high-level riders have been announced.

In the men's category, the Night Marathon taking place on Saturday 28 May 2016 will mark a duel of sorts between two of the most prominent runners in the history of the Luxembourg marathon.

Kenyan Bellor Yátor holds a personal best time of 2:08:39 and has won the marathon twice in the Grand Duchy in 2012 and 2013. He established the course record in 2012 with a time of 2:13:47. His competitor will be compatriot John Komen, 2015's victor with a time 2:13:55 and a personal best time of 2:07:13.

"He missed the course record by nine seconds," explained Erich François, race director. "His fall at 100 metres from the start caused him to lose about six seconds - what a pity!"

The race will be no less exciting for women, with the three top runners from 2015 making their return to this year's race: Kenyan Rael Jepyator Kimaiyo (2:37:46); Ethiopian Zerfe Boku (2:37:06); and Kenyan Naomi Tuei (2:34:23). 43-year-old marathon record runner Irina Mikitenko will also take up her place alongside this year's top competitors.

The work on the tramway currently underway in Kirchberg has led to changes in the race route, with Erich François commenting: "We took advantage of these constraints to make the course more attractive."

At 19:00, 12,000 runners will start from Luxexpo, heading past the European Instutionsm crossing over the Red Bridge, through Limpertsberg, down into the Val-Ste-Croix and Merl before heading back into the city, across the Blue Bridge, along the Pétrusse Valley up to the Gare Disxtrict, across the viaduct, through the city centre and back to Kirchberg.

 

Photo by ING Night Marathon 2015