Kenenisa Bekele Added to London Marathon Field

By Adam Kopet

Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia will race the Virgin Money London Marathon, according to race organizers.

It's the race the 🌏 wants to see...@KenenisaBekele will take on @EliudKipchoge at the 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon.#LondonMarathon#EliteWeek pic.twitter.com/D76IFXQXFK

— Virgin Money London Marathon (@LondonMarathon) January 16, 2020

After just missing Eliud Kipchoge's world record at last year's Berlin Marathon, the pair will race for the fifth time over the marathon distance. Bekele holds the overall head-to-head advantage, but Kipchoge remains the clear favorite over the marathon distance.

Bekele's best two marathons have come in Berlin in years where Kipchoge was not racing (2016 and 2019) due to other race obligations. Nonetheless, Bekele stands second all-time with the pair of them being the only runners to have personal bests under 2:02.