The 2017 African U-20 10,000m champion Nicholas Kipkorir is set for a heavyweight showdown against Uganda’s Olympic champion Joshua Cheptegei and Tanzania’s World marathon champion Alphonce Simbu at the Burj2Burj Half Marathon, Dubai, on February 8.
Race organisers have tipped an explosive contest in the streets of Dubai.
“An iconic route calls for high speed. On February 8, Burj2Burj brings world-class men and women to Dubai’s streets, where some of the fastest runners in the world, including Olympic medallists, go head to head through the heart of the city,” organisers said in a statement.
Kipkorir arrives in Dubai fresh from a demanding 2025 season that tested his range across cross-country, track and road.
His campaign began on a sobering note at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, where he placed 13th in 1:01:26 on February 1.
Kipkorir, however, quickly rediscovered his rhythm three weeks later at the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country Tour, storming to a podium finish in 30:15 as Daniel Simiu (29:57) and Gideon Rono (30:07) claimed the top two spots.
On April 26, he lined up at the Adidas Adizero Road to Records in Herzogenaurach, Germany, clocking 26:56 over 10k.
The 27-year-old then shifted to the tartan, featuring in the 5,000m at the Shanghai Diamond League on May 3, where he narrowly missed the podium with a fourth-place finish in 12:56.81.
He followed that up with 14th place over 5,000m at the Oslo Diamond League (13:06.92) before grinding out a ninth-place finish over 10,000m at the Prefontaine Classic, clocking 27:06.76.
Back on the roads, Kipkorir rediscovered his stride, producing a strong run to claim victory at the Copenhagen Half Marathon in 58:23, before settling for sixth place at the Valencia Half Marathon in 59:44.
He rounded off his 2025 season on a winning note at the Al Sharqiyah Half Marathon, stopping the clock at 59:28 ahead of Ethiopian Jemal Mekonen (59:35) and compatriot James Kipkogei (1:00:18).
Kipkorir’s half-marathon credentials are further underlined by third-place finishes at New Delhi (59:59) and Al Khobar (1:00:23) in 2024.
However, Dubai presents a daunting examination as Uganda’s 2024 Olympic 10,000m champion Cheptegei stands in his way.
The Ugandan comes into the showdown after having closed his 2025 campaign in commanding fashion with victory at the Kolkata 25K Road Race on December 21, clocking 1:11:49.
Also looming large is Tanzania’s Simbu, who had an exemplary 2025 campaign that saw him script history by delivering his country’s first-ever World Championships gold medal in Tokyo, storming to marathon glory in 2:09:48.
by TEDDY MULEI
