Issy-les-Moulineaux, 19 January 2015 2015 Schneider Electric Paris Marathon: A star-studded elite field Who will take Bekele's crown? The 2014 edition of the Schneider Electric Paris Marathon was one for the history books, with running prodigy Kenenisa Bekele setting a new event record of 2:05:04 in his first attempt over the 42.195 km distance. Flomena Cheyech also produced a brilliant performance in the ladies' race to win with a time of 2:22:41. Who will take their crown on the tarmac of the French capital next April 12? The 39th edition of the Schneider Electric Paris Marathon will once again feature a star-studded elite field. Kenyan Moses Mosop, with a personal best of 2:03:06, will be the favourite. Mosop won in Chicago and finished second in Boston in 2011. However, three athletes who have already broken the 2:05:00 barrier will be there to take the fight to him: Kenyan Vincent Kipruto (winner in Paris in 2009) and Ethiopians Bazu Worku (third in Berlin in 2010) and Deresse Chimsa (second in Frankfurt in 2012). Kenya's Laban Korir, Gilbert Kirwa and Mike Kigen will also be worth keeping an eye on, just like Ethiopia's Seboka Tola and Raji Assefa. All of them have run marathons in under 2:07:00. The home crowds will be counting on Abdellatif Meftah, best French athlete in the 2014 edition (2:13:00), as well as Jean Damascene Habarurema and Yassine Mandour. Sophie Duarte's big debut The ladies' 2015 Schneider Electric Paris Marathon should also be fiercely contested. Four athletes have set personal bests within one minute of one another: Ethiopians Mulu Seboka (2:23:13) and Amane Gobena (2:23:50), Kenyan Philes Ongari (2:23:22) and Ukrainian Olena Shurkhno (2:23:32). It will also be Sophie Duarte's big marathon debut —quite a challenge for the 33-year-old from Rodez, France, who won the European cross-country championship in 2013 and has held the national record in the 3,000 metres steeplechase since 2009. The Parisian crowds will shout themselves hoarse to cheer her on throughout the 42.195 km race. For more information: www.schneiderelectricparismarathon.com Press contacts Laetitia Briand Delphine Gallais +33 (0)6 60 76 92 78 +33 (0)6 26 25 20 50 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] .