Chepkirui faces tough task in Berlin

Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui Kiprotich (left) and Irene Chepet Cheptai compete in the women's 10,000m race during the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. [File]

A dogfight awaits as top marathon stars battle at the 49th Berlin Marathon showdown on Sunday.

Sheila Chepkirui, fourth at the London Marathon last April, will be flying the Kenyan flag in the women's contest against a classy Ethiopian lineup that features defending champion Tigest Assefa.