Defending Champion Makau Leads Fukuoka Marathon Entries

Published by IAAF on November 2, 2016

Former world record-holder Patrick Makau will aim for a hat-trick of Fukuoka Marathon titles when he lines up for the IAAF Gold Label Road Race on 4 December.

The 31-year-old Kenyan triumphed in the Japanese city in 2015 and 2014. Only four other men have three or more wins in Fukuoka. The last man to win three times in a row was Toshihiko Seko, who was victorious in 1978, 1979 and 1980.

Makau is one of three men in the field with a sub-2:05 personal best. World silver medallist Yemane Tsegay of Ethiopia and James Kwambai of Kenya will be competing in Fukuoka for the first time. Tsegay has a best of 2:04:48 and finished third at this year’s Boston marathon. Kwambai’s best is 2:04:27 and earlier this year he won the Daegu Marathon in 2:10:46.