Riga to welcome world and European elite runners
11 May 2025Next weekend, the Rimi Riga Marathon will gather not only a record number of participants – 40,000 runners from over 100 countries – but also an impressive lineup of world-class running stars.
Elite athletes, who have claimed titles and achieved significant results in prestigious marathons and championships worldwide, will be cheered on by thousands of running enthusiasts on Sunday, May 18.
A fierce battle for the podium is expected not only in the half marathon – where a particularly strong field will compete on the same course where world champions were crowned in Riga in 2023 – but also in the marathon and mile distances. Special highlights include Jelena Prokopcuka’s final marathon as an elite athlete and Agate Caune’s entry in the 10 km race, adding even more sparkle to the 35th anniversary run. Organizers expect that titles and a generous prize fund will drive athletes to break both Rimi Riga Marathon and national records.
The organizers will introduce the elite representatives and race favorites at a press conference on Friday, May 16, at 12:00 PM at the Rimi Olympic Center.
View the list of elite participants:
International Half Marathon Favorites to Challenge Riga Records
Photo: Lauris Vīksne
At the Rimi Riga Half Marathon start line, Kenya’s Victor Kipchirchir will lead the men’s favorites – the only runner among the elites to have broken the magical one-hour barrier with a time of 59:19, achieved at the 2021 Padua Half Marathon in Italy. He will be challenged by Ethiopia’s Abera Mamo, who set a personal best of 1:00:42 this year at the Lille International Half Marathon in France, and Uganda’s Ezekiel Mutai, who won the same race in 2024 with a personal best of 1:00:43.
It is worth noting that the course record of 59:10, set in Riga by 2023 World Running Champion Sebastian Sawe, still stands.
A new course record is also in sight among the top international women, who will aim to break last year’s record of 1:07:13 set by Kenya’s Judy Jelagat Kemboi. Ethiopia’s Bosena Mulatie (1:05:46, 2022), who finished third at the 2024 Berlin Marathon, will be the top favorite. She will be closely followed by compatriots Birho Gidey (1:07:57, 2020) and Mekides Shimeles, who set her personal best (1:08:18) this year in The Hague Half Marathon, finishing first. Notable international athletes also include Belgium’s four-time long-distance champion Hanne Verbruggen (4th place in Riga 2022, 1:11:47) and Italy’s two-time national champion Veronica Inglese (6th place in Riga 2023, 1:18:32).
Strong Latvian runners will also be on the half marathon start line, including multiple national middle-distance champion Edgars Šumskis (1:06:27, 2019), 2023 Latvian marathon bronze medalist Kristaps Vējs-Āboliņš (1:09:30, 2017), and Vadims Marinecs, who was the second fastest Latvian in last year’s half marathon (1:13:46).
Fans should note that elite half marathon runners will start at 7:00 AM on May 18, two hours ahead of the general half marathon start at 9:00 AM.
Exciting Marathon Battles Ahead
An impressive field will also compete for the marathon title and the all-time best Rimi Riga Marathon result. The top contender is Eritrea’s Nguse Amlosom (2:08:23, 2021), closely followed by Kenya’s Wisley Kimeli (2:08:33, 2024), who finished 4th at this year’s Riyadh Marathon, and James Kiplagat (2:09:08, 2023) from Kenya.
Among women, Ethiopia’s Ayantu Kumela (2:24:29, 2022), a top performer in several European marathons, including Slovakia, Barcelona, and Hamburg, will lead the charge. She’ll be joined by world cross-country champion Bone Cheluke (2:24:37, 2022) and Kenya’s Jane Jelagat Seurey (2:26:29, 2017), a frequent podium finisher in Geneva, Singapore, São Paulo, and other marathons.
The all-time fastest Rimi Riga Marathon result belongs to Ethiopia’s Andualem Belay Shiferaw, who won in 2019 with a time of 2:08:51. In the women’s category, Birke Debele Beyene holds the record of 2:26:22, also from 2019.
Marathon runners will start at 7:05 AM on May 18, right after the half marathon elite.
Legendary Jelena Prokopcuka to Run Her Final Elite Marathon
Photo: Guntis Bērziņš
This year, the marathon – also serving as the Latvian Marathon Championship – will feature Latvia’s most decorated long-distance runner, Jelena Prokopcuka, who will run the 42 km course one final time as an elite athlete. Her decision to compete in the classic marathon in Riga is significant, as she has previously only finished 5 km and half marathon distances in the city. Prokopcuka holds the strongest personal record among Latvian and international elite athletes – 2:22:56 (2005) – which is still the national record.
Other contenders for Latvian championship medals include last year’s champion Anita Siliņa (3:00:22), silver medalist Anna Klučņika (3:04:06), and male athletes Renārs Roze (2nd in 2024, 2:27:14), Kristaps Bērziņš (4th in 2023, 2:28:13), and debuting elite runner Alfrēds Apinis (2:28:14, 2024).
Will a New Latvian 10K Record Be Set?
Excitement is also building in the 10 km race, where Agate Caune will take the start. Last year in Tallinn, she broke her own U23 national record with a time of 32:09 and won the women’s race. Her result is just 36 seconds behind Jelena Prokopcuka’s national record of 31:33 set in 2006 in Manchester. Joining her will be last year’s runner-up Kitija Valtere (39:03), and multiple national champion and World Orienteering Championship 7th place finisher Sandra Grosberga.
Among the men, Uģis Jocis, a decorated middle-distance runner, will compete. He came within 12 seconds of his 10 km personal best at this year’s European Running Championships in Belgium (0:30:23). Promising young athlete Emīls Matiass Reinfelds (U18 record holder, 31:13.42, 2024) and Salvis Gruševs (3rd in the 5 km at Rimi Riga Marathon 2023, 15:41) will also compete.
The 10 km race will start at 12:30 PM on May 18.
Latvian Athletes to Shine on New 5.7 km Course
This year, the usual 5 km course will become a 5.7 km distance, allowing runners to pass the Freedom Monument. Kristers Kudlis, who placed 2nd in last year’s 5 km (15:31), and long-distance runner Lauris Grīniņš will compete.
Among the women, last year’s 3rd place finisher Alise Petrova (18:16), 10 km national road race champion Marta Luīze Pētersone, and DPD Mile bronze medalist Sibilla Vanadziņa will compete.
Latvian School Cup participants will also run the 5.7 km distance, with two separate starts – 2:30 PM and 3:30 PM. Elite runners will start at 2:30 PM.
International Elite Returns for the DPD Mile
The DPD Mile could see new records thanks to international elite participation. Italy’s Giovanni Filippi returns to Riga, where he broke the four-minute barrier with a personal best of 3:57.41 in the 2023 World Running Championships. Other international elites include Ben Claridge (UK, 3:58.68, 2024) and Kenya’s George Manangoi (1500m PB: 3:31.49).
In the women’s elite, Belgium’s Melanie Bovy (1500m PB: 4:27.77) and Germany’s Emily Junginger, debuting in the road mile, will compete.
Among Latvians, mile record holder Ņikita Bogdanovs (4:13.40), last year’s champion Kristers Kudlis, bronze medalist Roberts Glazers, and previous record holder Uģis Jocis will compete.
In the women’s field, Sibilla Vanadziņa (2024 bronze, 5:06.21), decorated runner Elīna Gumarova, and veteran Alise Petrova (11th in 2023, 5:24.74) will represent Latvia.
Prize Fund for All Distances
Prize money will be awarded to the top six finishers in the marathon and half marathon, and to the top three in the 10 km, 5.7 km, and mile races. Separate prize funds are allocated for the top three Latvian finishers in the marathon (also the national championship), half marathon, and mile (Latvian mile championship).
Additional bonuses are planned for course and national records (in all but the 5.7 km race), as well as for high-level results in the marathon and half marathon.
More about the prize fund:
Follow the Elite Races on May 17–18!
The Rimi Riga Marathon will kick off on May 17 at 11:00 AM with the DPD Mile, which will also serve as the Latvian mile championship. On May 18, all elite and general starts, as well as the race-day atmosphere, will be broadcast live on LTV starting from 6:50 AM. The elite half marathon begins at 7:00 AM, followed by the marathon at 7:05 AM, the general half marathon at 9:00 AM, the 10 km at 12:30 PM, and the 5.7 km starts at 2:30 PM (elite and public run) and 3:30 PM (public run only).
