Kenya’s Martin Mathathi will defend his Fukuoka Marathon title on Sunday 7 December but a lot of eyes will be on the performance of his compatriot and former marathon world record-holder Patrick Makau following the announcement of the elite field for the IAAF Gold Label Road Race.

The big question is: can Vincent Kipruto retain his title at the 69th annual Lake Biwa Marathon, the oldest marathon in Japan and an IAAF Gold Label Road Race, on Sunday (2)?

Kenya’s Martin Mathathi, the 2007 IAAF World Championships 10,000m bronze medalist, was an impressive winner of the 67th Fukuoka International Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race, in 2:07:16 on Sunday (1).

The 67th annual Fukuoka International Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race which doubles as the qualifying race for the Japanese Marathon team for the 17th Asian Games in Inchon, will be held on Sunday (1).

Gebregziabher Gebremariam, the 2009 World cross-country champion, is the fastest man in the field for the Fukuoka Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race, on 1 December.

Joseph Gitau of Kenya won the 66th edition of the Fukuoka International Marathon on Sunday, clocking 2:06:58.