In cold weather with temperatures only slightly over zero degrees both Kenyan winners achieved new course records at the 6th Prague Half Marathon, yesterday.
Joseph Kiprotich with 1:01:46 bettered the previous mark of Anthony Korir (2001) by 23 seconds, and Catherine Kirui took the women's course record with 1:10:38 bettering last year's result of Helena Javornik (SLO) by 35 seconds.
The race was started by Czech President Mr. Vaclav Klaus in presence of Dana Zatopek, among the runners were Czech Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla and Mayor of Prague Pavel Bem.
Best local runner was Slovak Robert Stefko, who is living in Prague and has applied for Czech citizenship. At the moment it is not known when he can get the new citizenship. But it could be in time for World Half Marathon Championships in India.
"I do not know, I think I will run next marathon in Prague in May and then we will see. I am not ruling out Olympic participation, but in principle we can expect there will be very hot weather and that is not for me,“ commented Stefko who in his career has achieved eight half marathon quicker times than on Saturday.
The winners got 4000 euros (Kiprotich) and 2000 euros (Kirui) including course record bonus.
Results
Men:
1. Joseph Kiprotich 1:01:46 - CR, 2. Benjamin Kosgei 1:02:07, 3. David Makori (alll KEN) 1:02:59, 4. Robert Stefko (SVK) 1:03:01, 5. John Kyui (KEN) 1:03:34, 6. Yura Hyhun (UKR) 1:03:56, 7. Pavel Faschingbauer 1:04:48, 8. Philip Rugut (KEN) 1:05:14, 9. Joachim Nishirimana (BUR) 1:05:35, 10. Miroslav Vitek 1:08:11.
Women:
1. Catherine Kirui (KEN) 1:10:38 - CR, 2. Aniko Kalovics (HUN) 1:11:12, 3. Jane Ekimat (KEN) 1:11:26, 4. Izabela Zatorska (POL) 1:14:31, 5. Alice Chelangat (KEN) 1:14:50, 6. Petra Kaminkova 1:14:55, 7. Dana Janeckova (SVK) 1:15:14, 8. Jana Klimesova 1:16:21, 9. Christina Johansson, SWE 1:18:12, 10. Hana Harokova 1:23:34.
