News26 Jul 2009


Makau set to Run Bogota

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Patrick Makau winning the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon (© Victah Sailer)

The year’s fastest half marathoner, Patrick Makau Musyoki, will compete in the 10th running of the Bogota International Half Marathon on 2 August.

The Bogota International Half Marathon is an IAAF Gold Label Road Race.

Makau, who ran a 58:52 personal best to win the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon earlier this year, is a seasoned Half Marathon specialist at the young age of 24.  Makau broke onto the international stage in 2007 with a runner-up performance at Ras Al Khaimah. He followed that with a 58:56 win at the Berlin Half Marathon and a second place finish—to Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea—at the IAAF World Road Running Championships. In 2008 he was again second to Tadese at the World championships, but had a special year, winning half marathons at Ras Al Khaimah, Reading, City Pier City and Berlin. He was also second at the Rotterdam Half and the New York Half Marathon.

A native of the famous Ngong Hills of Kenya, Makau has nine sub-one-hour half marathons to his credit, and three of the top eight fastest Half Marathons of all time, including history’s second fastest, 58:52. Only 2008 Olympic Marathon gold medalist Samuel Wanjiru has run faster. Wanjiru’s 58:33 is the current world mark.

Makau debuted at the full marathon distance at the Fortis Rotterdam Marathon this year, and he did not disappoint, blitzing a 2:06:14. He seems destined for even bigger things.

But Makau, a smart, tactical runner, will be tested in Bogota. The course, though mostly flat, is at 2600 metersabove sea level and a battle-ready elite field, including two-time defending champion Isaac Macharia, awaits.

Organisers for the IAAF

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