News25 Mar 2009


Kibiwot and Kwambai lead the fields in Prague Half Marathon

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Caroline Kwambai setting the course record at the Prague Half Marathon (© Prague International Marathon)

Prague, Czech RepublicKenyans Stephen Kipkoech Kibiwot and Caroline Kwambai lead their respective fields at Sunday’s (28) 15th running of the Hervis Prague Half Marathon.

The Hervis Prague Half Marathon is an IAAF Silver Label Road Race.

Sub-60 men Kibiwott and Koech Kipchirchir top the men’s field

Kibiwot, 28, brings strong credentials to the Czech capital. The winner here in 2006 and third in 2007, Kibiwot has a personal best of 59:44 from 2008, run just a month before he finished fourth at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Rio de Janeiro. Kibiwot is also a two-time winner of the Torino Marathon with a 2:10:10 career best over the distance.

Another man with a sub-60-minute run on his CV, and arguably the man to beat, is Kenyan Matthew Koech Kipchirchir. In the highly competitive Ras Al Khaimah in February, the Kenyan survived a ferocious World record pace to finish a respectable fifth in 59:54, a personal best and the seventh fastest performance of the year.

Two other Kenyans, Nicholas Kamakya (1:00:12) and Denis Ndiso (1:00:33) arrive armed with sub-1:01:00 personal bests, both run in 2008.

Also showing strong form recently was Tanzanian Ezekiel Jafari Ngimba, who won the Lago Maggiore Half Marathon in Verbania, Italy, earlier this month (07-Mar) in 1:00:41, also a personal best. Another threat is Isaac Macharia Wanjoni, who has run 1:00:48 and has a 2:07:16 marathon personal best.

The leading European hope is Austrian Gunther Weidlinger who will be using the race as a tune-up for his Marathon debut in Vienna on 19 April.

The men’s record in Prague is 1:01:00 set by Kenyan Patrick Ivuti in 2007.

Kwambai returns to familiar stomping grounds

Course record holder Caroline Kwambai returns to Prague again after battling strong winds to a runner-up finish last year. The 33-year-old Kenyan set the Prague standard in 2006, clocking 1:10:08, not far from her 1:09:45 career best which dates back to 2001. Very familiar with the charming streets of the Czech capital, Kwambai was third at the Volkswagen Prague Marathon last year.

Her primary challenger appears to be compatriot Rose Kosgei. The 27-year-old ran a solid 1:09:14 career best in Ras Al Khaimah last month, finishing eighth.

Ethiopian ace Werknesh Kidane is the field’s most decorated runner. A multiple medallist at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships as well as on the track, the 27-year-old boasts a 1:08:69 career best from the 2005 Great North Run.

Irina Permitina of Russia, who celebrated her 40th birthday in February, clocked a career best 1:09:56 at the national championships last year and is the reigning European bronze medallist in the Marathon.

Also in the field are Russian Alena Samochvalova and Krisztina Papp of Hungary who have both dipped under 1:11. Kenyan Irene Kipchumba Kwambai (1:09:52, 2001) could also be in the hunt.

Karanja, an inspiration to all

Perhaps one of the most observed runners will be Kenyan Francis Thuo Karanja. Blind since stricken with polio when he was eight, the 33-year-old captured the silver medal in the 5000m at the Beijing Paralympic Games last summer, where he was guided by his brother, James. Karanja brings a 1:10:16 personal best to Prague.

"I would like to inspire blind people around the world through my sports achievements," Karanja said.

Others will certainly be inspired as well.

Bob Ramsak for the IAAF

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