The Hindu (Bangalore)

Emmaculate and Agnes to lead the charge in women elite eld

The Kenyans had a breakout performanc­e in the Valencia Ibercaja 10k run earlier this year, nishing in under 29 minutes

- Ashwin Achal

Emmaculate Achol came into the limelight after a breakout performanc­e in the Valencia Ibercaja 10k run earlier this year. In an incredible race, two Kenyans — Emmaculate and Agnes Ngetich — went under the 10k women’s world record.

Agnes (28:46s) snatched gold, and became the rst woman to nish a 10k in under 29 minutes. Emmaculate (28:57s) was not far behind in second place.

Emmaculate, among the favourites in the internatio­nal women elite athletes at the 2024 TCS World 10K Bengaluru, recalled how events unfolded at Valencia.

“Before the

Valencia

The internatio­nal elite men and women runners.

10k, Agnes announced that conference here on Friday. challenged by 2017 World she would attempt to break The heat wave in the city Cross Country Championsh­ip the world record. is likely to test runners bronze medallist Lilian on Sunday, but Emmaculate Kasait, and 2022 World is not too concerned. Indoor Championsh­ip “Hot, cold — we accept it. I 3,000m gold medal winner will run anywhere,” the 24year-old Lemlem Hailu. said.

Emmaculate

“So I told myself that if Agnes is trying to break the world record, so will I. We pushed each other hard, and it worked very well,” Emmaculate said at a press will be under-20 10,000m winner Bravin Kiptoo leads the internatio­nal men elite eld.

Kiptoo stated that he was destined to become a runner, as it came fairly naturally to him even as a child in Kenya.

“I used a run a lot as a kid. Our school was very far from home. Every morning I would run to school, run home for lunch, and then run to school and back.

“Sometimes, my parents would send me to the super market to buy groceries. They would warn me that I had to come back home in ve minutes, or else… that is where my running journey started,” Kiptoo said.

And did he complete the super market errand in time? “Yes, I would always be back home in under four minutes,” Kiptoo replied.

 ?? SPECIAL ARRANGEMEN­T ?? Star-studded line-up:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMEN­T Star-studded line-up:

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