After a largely solo run, Alevtina Biktimirova prevails at the 2010 Tokyo Marathon (© Kazuo TANAKA/Agence SHOT)
Prague, Czech RepublicA top lineup headed by some impressive Ethiopian and Kenyan runners will take on the hour barrier at the 2010 Hervis Prague Half Marathon on Saturday 27 March.
The Hervis Prague Half Marathon is an IAAF Gold Label Road Race.
At the head of the men’s charge will be Wilson Kwambai Chebet (59:15) from Kenya, who, in only his second full year of international athletics has already broken the magical 1 hour on four different occasions. Wilson is from the Marakwet tribe in one of the most beautiful districts of Kenya which has already given rise to many top distance runners.
Chebet will not, however, have things all his own way, as he is joined on the starting line by several other African runners, including Joseph Maregu (59:45) from Kenya, and Azmeraw Bekele Molalign (1:00:57) and Yemane Tsegay Adhane (1:01:50) from Ethiopia. The latter runner was fourth in the marathon at last year’s World Championships in Berlin in a time of 2:08:42 and only two weeks ago won the Lake Biwa Marathon in a time of 2:09:34.
At the top of the list of elite female athletes running on Saturday is the Kenyan Rose Jerotich Kosgei, who is a frequent visitor to the city of Prague, and was the winner in 2009 when she broke the course record with a time of 1:09:03.
Kosgei will be joined by another regular competitor in Prague, Irene Kipchumba Kwambai, also from Kenya, who was second last year.
Also of particular interest is the 43-year-old Lebanese, Elga Marie Trad, who is making her debut in the half marathon here in Prague.
Of the European athletes, the top Czech runner, Robert Stefko, stands out in the men's race, with a personal best time of 1:00:29, whilst in the women’s field Russia's vtina Biktimirova is the obvious choice as a potential threat to the African group, having just won the Tokyo marathon.
Vera Rohanova (organisers) for the IAAF
