Kipsang, Cheroben to clash at RAK Half Marathon
What you need to know:
- In the company of Kipsang, who has personal best 58 minutes and 59 seconds, is last year’s fastest man over the distance last year Abraham Cheroben (58:48).
- Other Kenyans in the race are Cynthia Limo and Gladys Chesir.
- The Kenyans are up against Ethiopian runners - who are yet to win at RAK in seven years.
Former World marathon record-holder Wilson Kipsang is among elite Kenyan athletes who will battle out at the Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Half Marathon on February 13 in the United Arab Emirates.
In the company of Kipsang, who has personal best 58 minutes and 59 seconds, is last year’s fastest man over the distance last year Abraham Cheroben (58:48).
New York City Marathon champion Stanley Biwott (58:56) is also part of the field.
The trio are among four of the elite men who have run under 59 minutes. The other is World record holder Zersenay Tadese from Eritrea.
The 33-year-old Eritrean is the most decorated half-marathon runner in history, having won five world titles over the distance. Although his world record of 58:23 was set six years ago, his 59:24 timing in Delhi last November showed he still ranks among the best in the world.
The other Kenyan to watch is Bernard Koech, who is the third-fastest athlete of all time, although his PB of 58:41 was achieved on a slightly downhill course in San Diego. He finished fourth in Ras Al Khaimah in 2014, running 59:46.
The 23-year-old Cheroben, who ran world-leading times in 2014 and 2015 with runs of 58:48 and 59:10 respectively, will be the man to watch in the race.
Biwott finished second in Ras Al Khaimah in 2013 and went on to win the New York Marathon in November last year. He has a PB of 58:56 and boasts seven major wins over the half marathon.
Two fastest 10km runners in history, Leonard Komon and Micah Kogo from Kenya, are also in the start list. After finishing fourth in Ras Al Khaimah in 2015, Kenya’s 22-year-old Edwin Kiptoo, who improved to 59:26 in Delhi, has joined the mix.
LONDON MARATHON PREPS
Kipsang and Biwott will be using the race as preparations for the London Marathon planned for April 24.
“It’s exciting to make a comeback at RAK after eight years. I hope to win the race this time around despite the good entries,” said Kipsang, who finished second during the 2009 race in personal best 58:59. “It will be a good build up ahead of the London Marathon.”
Olympic marathon silver medallist Priscah Jeptoo, World Half Marathon champion Gladys Cherono and Commonwealth 10,000m champion Joyce Chepkirui are in for a thriller in the women’s race.
Jeptoo has fond memories of the RAK Half Marathon. In 2013, she finished second in 1:06:11, her fastest time on a record-eligible course, and returned in 2014 to win in 1:07:02.
The 31-year-old Kenyan, who won the London and New York marathons in 2013, has never finished outside the podium in a half marathon.
Cherono, who is the reigning Berlin Marathon champion, has a similarly impressive career record over the distance, winning 10 of her 20 half marathons to date, setting a PB of 1:06:38 in Istanbul last year.
She ran 2:20:03 on her marathon debut in Dubai at the start of 2015, then went on to win the Berlin Marathon in a PB of 2:19:25.
Chepkirui has impressive 17 victories from 28 half marathons, setting PB of 1:06:19 in April 2014 and then won the Commonwealth and African 10,000m titles on the track.
Other Kenyans in the race are Cynthia Limo and Gladys Chesir.
The Kenyans are up against Ethiopian runners - who are yet to win at RAK in seven years.
Last year’s Prague Half Marathon champion Worknesh Degefa, three-time Dubai Marathon winner Aselefech Mergia, 2009 world 10,000m bronze medallist Wude Ayalew, and 2011 world junior cross-country silver medallist Genet Yalew will be in the mix.
