News01 Sep 2012


Makau to headline Prague 10Km field

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Patrick Makau relaxing in Prague (© Prague 10K organisers)

As we can see, he kept his word. Patrick Makau, the World record holder in the Marathon, is coming back to the Czech Republic to take to the start line for the Metro 10K, an IAAF Silver Label Road Race, in Prague on Saturday, 8 September.

"As you know, I was truly delighted to be invited to Prague last year in autumn," the 27-year-old Kenyan said. "I’ve made some friends there so I am really looking forward to coming back. I consider the Metro 10K Race as a part of my preparation for the Frankfurt Marathon in
autumn."

"Although he is a World record holder in marathon running, his personal best in the 10 km (27:27, set five years ago in Berlin) is faster than the course record. So we’re expecting to see him go for this time, even though his preparations are set on the Marathon," said Jana Moberly, Manager of Elite Athletes said.

After backing out of last spring's London Marathon, Makau surprisingly didn’t make it into the Kenyan Olympic team. "The thing that held me back wasn’t a muscle injury but rather an irritation to my sciatic nerve. I was able to resume training after taking a week-long break. I underwent a few more days of treatment just to ensure that everything was OK."

Makau can expect a jam-packed schedule in the Czech Republic. Firstly he’ll be running alongside amateur runners in Prague’s Stromovka Park, followed by a visit to U´sti´ nad Labem, the venue for another RunCzech.com series event. He is also down to meet Bohuslav Svoboda to pick up the AIMS Fastest Time Award as well as to pop in on the legendary Dana Za´topkova´ to congratulate her on her ninetieth birthday.

Aside from boasting a champion such as Makau, the field also includes his compatriots Boniface Kirui and Henry Kiplagat, 2010 winner Mourad Marofit from Morocco and Yoshinori Oda from Japan. All of them are capable of pushing through the 28-minute barrier.

In the women's race, the strengths of Ethiopian favourite Tadelech Bekele will certainly be put to the test by Polish Olympian Karolina Jarzynska´ and British representative Katrin Wooton.

Czech long-distance runners Jan Kreisinger and Ivana Sekyrova´, fresh from their Olympic appearances in London – will also be taking part.

Organisers for the IAAF
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