Kenya’s sub-2:07 runners Philip Sanga and Nicholas Kamakya head the start list of the HAJ Hannover Marathon, but South Africa’s defending champion Lusapho April and German marathon record-holder Arne Gabius are very much in the focus ahead of the IAAF Silver Label Road Race on Sunday (9).

Three-time HAJ Hannover Marathon winner Lusapho April will line up against German record-holder Arne Gabius at the IAAF Silver Label Road Race on 9 April.

South Africa’s Lusapho April got a record third win at the HAJ Hannover Marathon, an IAAF Silver Label Road Race, when he crossed the line in 2:11:27 on Sunday (10).Hannover

South African Lusapho April is gunning for his own course record at Sunday’s 26th running of the HAJ Hannover Marathon, an IAAF Silver Label Road Race.

Three years after breaking the course record at the HAJ Marathon Hannover, Lusapho April will return to the IAAF Silver Label Road Race on 10 April.

Despite surprisingly warm weather, both course records were broken at the TUI Marathon Hannover as South Africa’s Lusapho April ran 2:08:32 and Ukraine’s Olena Burkovska crossed the line in 2:27:07 at the IAAF Bronze Label Road Race on Sunday (5).

Germany’s traditionally busy spring marathon season will have its final race of international significance this Sunday, The TUI Marathon Hannover, and the IAAF Bronze Label Road Race will have the defending champion Joseph Kiptum on the starting line.

The TUI Hannover Marathon, an IAAF Bronze Label Road Race, will see a duel of two champions on May 5 as Kenya’s defending champion Joseph Kiptum returns to face 2011 winner Lusapho April of South Africa.