Kamworor and Jepkosgei lead Kenya’s assault in Valencia

Two-time champion Geoffrey Kamworor and World half marathon record-holder Joyciline Jepkosgei lead Kenya’s assault against a strong challenge at the World Half Marathon in Valencia, Spain, on Saturday.

The women’s race gets underway at 7.05pm (Kenyan time), followed by men’s contest from 7.30pm.

Kamworor, who won his maiden title in 2014 in Copenhagen and retained the crown in 2016 (Cardiff), will again be in focus as he seeks a strong partnership from the 2017 Family Bank Half Marathon winner Jorum Okombo (58:48) and World Cross Country silver medallist Leonard Barsoton.

Also in Kenya’s team that will be targeting to retain the team title are Barselius Kipyego, the winner of the Ústí nad Labem Half Marathon in Czech Republic last year, and Alex Oloitiptip from Kenya Defence Forces.

Okombo and Oloitiptip finished second and third in 58:48 and 58:51 respectively in personal bests in Copenhagen Half Marathon last September, while Kipyego broke the course record with victory in 59:15 at Ústí nad Labem Half Marathon.

Okombo, who turned 20 in December, has already run three races in under one hour in little more than the last six months. After his best in Copenhagen, Okombo ran 59:36 to finish fourth in the RAK Half Marathon last month.

Oloitiptip impressed when finishing third in Copenhagen in September with a personal best of 58:51, but his two half marathon outings so far in 2018 have been much more modest.

Kamworor, who claimed his maiden marathon in New York City on November 5 in 2:10:53, won in 2014 Copenhagen in a world lead and championship record time of 59:08 before retaining the crown in 2016 (Cardiff) in 59:10, the second fastest time in the championship. He led compatriot Bedan Karoki for silver in 59:36 in Cardiff, relegating Briton Mo Farah to third in 59:59.

The 25-year-old Kamworor, who has personal best 58:54, might not be the fastest athlete in the field but remains the favourite. Some light rains have been predicted for the late Saturday afternoon start time with a temperature of around 15 degrees Celsius expected.

“I have done everything to prepare for this race and even though I face a tough field including my compatriots, I am in Valencia for nothing short of victory,” said Kamworor.

The Kenyans will face their former countrymen Abraham Cheroben from Bahrain and USA’s Leonard Korir and Ethiopians Jemal Yimer and Leul Gebresilasie.

Cheroben is the fastest man in the field, having won in Copenhagen last year in a world-leading time of 58:40, which moved him up to third on the world all-time list for the distance.

Cheroben has won twice in Valencia in 2014 and 2015, setting the present course record of 58:48 at the former race, and although the course has been modified for these championships.

Yimer, just 21, broke through to international recognition in 2017 helped by finishing fourth at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships and then fifth – one place in front of Kamworor – in the IAAF World Championships 10,000m.

CHUMBA IN THE MIX

Jepkosgei, who broke the world half marathon record twice last year, returns to Valencia, the course where she broke the world half marathon record last on October 22 in a new time of 1 hour, 04 minutes and 51 seconds.

Jepkosgei, who had on April 1 last year lowered the world half marathon record to 1:04:52 in Prague, will team up with the 2017 Istanbul Half Marathon winner Ruth Chepng’etich and Pauline Kaveke.

They face Bahrain’s Eunice Chumba, who could dent their hopes.