Kenya: Kipchoge for Delhi Half Marathon
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Kipchoge
Nairobi, Oct. 17, 2016 (PANA/NAN) Kenya’s Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge will have his first race since his memorable triumph in Rio at the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon, an IAAF Bronze Label Road Race, on Nov. 20.
Kipchoge, who turns 32 on Nov. 5, has put together a winning streak of seven successive marathons and is unbeaten over the classic distance in the past three years.
Kipchoge has been gracing local marathon races in Kenya since striking the Olympic gold in Rio as a way of motivating young and upcoming long distance runners.
However, the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon will be his first outing over a shorter distance since he finished sixth at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in February 2015.
“It’s six years down the line since the Commonwealth Games were held in Delhi, where I got the silver medal in the 5000m,’’ Kipchoge said.
“I have great memories of my last visit to India and now I am ready to come back in a different capacity as a road racer.
“India is one of the world’s biggest hubs of technology and business but I am looking forward to visiting the country and once again experiencing competitive sport in India,’’ he added.
Kipchoge has a half marathon personal best of 59:25, which dates from 2012.
Although he has not broken 60 minutes for the half marathon since then, he will still have in his sights the course record of 59:06 set by Ethiopia’s Guye Adola in 2014, which makes the race one of the fastest half marathons in the world.
Kipchoge and the rest of the elite runners will be chasing men’s and women’s first prizes of 27,000 dollars with a total prize fund of 270,000 dollars. (PANA/NAN)
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