The winners from the past two L.A. Marathons will compete in the event again this year, event organizer Conqur Endurance Group has announced.
Reigning champion Weldon Kirui and 2015 winner Daniel Limo, both Kenyans, have said they will compete in the 32nd annual 26.2-mile race, which will be held March 19.
Olympian Metawet Tufa of Ethiopia leads the women’s field. Angela Orjuela of Columbia, who competed in the 2016 Games, and Kenyans Sarah Kiptoo, Jane Kibii and Hellen Jepkurgat are also entered.
“After hosting the 2015 USA Track and Field marathon championships and the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials marathon, we’re thrilled to keep the momentum going with a strong professional field,” Conqur CEO Tracey Russell said.
Kirui won the race in 2 hours, 13 minutes, 7 seconds last year, the slowest time in the seven years the race has been run on the current course from Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica. Limo was third.
“In 2012, I came in second place in Los Angeles and bought two cows with my prize money, one for my family and one for my parents,” Kirui said. “When I won last year, I built them a house. The people of Los Angeles have been nice and cheerful to me and now I want to be a two-time champion.”
The top American returnee is Jose Madera of Anaheim, who finished seventh.
Nataliya Lehonkova of Ukraine went wire-to-wire to win the women’s race in 2:30:42 last year. She is not scheduled to race this year.
Among the top American women are 2016 Honolulu Marathon winner Lindsey Scherf and 2016 San Francisco Marathon winner Tori Tyler.
Contact the writer: klair@scng.com
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