Star-studded line up for Delhi Half Marathon in Nov
Reigning marathon world champion Geoffrey Kirui andLondonWorlds10,000mwinnerAlmazAyanawillheadlinea strong elite field in themen’sand women’s events at the 13th editionoftheAirtelDelhiHalfMarathon, which will be held on November 19.
Kenyan Kirui, who won the men’smarathonraceintheIAAF WorldChampionshipsLondonin August, is familiar with the circuit as he was sixth in a highquality field two years ago when he clocked his personal best of 59:38.
Incontrast,thereigningworld 10,000mchampionAyanaofEthiopia will be setting foot on the Indian soil for the first time and alsobemakingherdebutoverthe half marathon distance.
However,alleyeswillbeonthe Ethiopiantoseewhethershecan transferherstunningformonthe track of the last twoyears, which also saw her break the 10,000m worldrecordwhilewinninggold over 25 laps of the track in Rio Olympics, to the roads.
Both runners, and the rest of the elite field which was announcedonThursday,willbe chasing the very strong course records in Delhi.
This edition of the IAAF Gold Label RoadRace is the 10th anniversary of Airtel becoming the titlesponsorandmayturnoutto beaspectacularcontest,racepromoters Procam International said.
The men’s course record is 59:06 and was set by Ethiopia’s Guye Adola in 2014 while the women’s record has been standing since 2009 and belongs to Kenya’s MaryKeitanyat1:06.54.
Despite his fine credentials which also include a win in the Boston Marathon back in April, Kirui will not start as a out-andout favourite.
Threeof his compatriots have run under 59 minutes, with the in-formJorumOkumbothefastest man in the field having run 58:48earlier this year, whileEthiopia’sYigremDemelashwassecond in 2016 and determined to climb one step higher on the
NEW DELHI:
podium this time around.
In the women’s race, Ayana will face her compatriot Worknesh Degefa, who is not only the defendingchampionbutthefastest woman in the field having clocked 66:14 in 2016.
Indeed, the top three women from 2016 return with Ababel YeshanehandHelahKipropalso comingbacktoDelhitochallenge for the title again.
“Bringing two global champions from London to this race showsourcommitmenttohaving theverybestrunnersintheworld compete at the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon,” said Vivek Singh, jointmanagingdirector Procam International.
“ThisIAAFGoldLabeleventis deservedly one of the world’s most prestigious half marathon andwiththeappearanceofGeoffrey and Almaz this year, it adds further lustre to its reputation. It is renowned among the world’s top distance runners for its fast courseandcomprehensivefield,” he added.
All the leading runners will alsohaveintheirsightsfirstprize cheques of $27,000 with a total prize money purse (combined men and women) of $ 275,000.