Florence Kiplagat takes Kenya's only individual victory of the day (© Getty Images)
Florence Kiplagat and Wilson Kiprop will lead a strong Kenyan squad at the IAAF / Sinopec World Half-Marathon Championships in Nanning, China, on 16 October, as the east African powerhouse looks to defend both team titles.
Kiplagat, the 2009 World Cross Country champion, impressed in her debut over the 21.1 Km distance, clocking 1:07:40 in Lille on 4 September to find herself well inside the event’s all-time top 20. The 23-year-old is also the national record holder in the 10,000m at 30:11.53.
Kiprop, who raced to the African 10,000m title in Nairobi in July, also made a strong debut over the distance in Lille, winning in 59:39.
The men’s team also includes Moses Mosop, Sammy Kitwara, Silas Kipruto, Martin Mathathi and Titus Masai. Mosop, the 2005 World 10,000m bronze medallist, has clocked 59:20 this season with his March victory in Milano. Kitwara (59:34) and Kipruto (59:39) are also inside the season's top-five along with Mosop and Kiprop.
Backing up Kiplagat on the women’s squad is Peninah Arusei, who was second to Kiplagat in Lille with a 1:07:48 lifetime best. Agnes Kiprop, fifth at last year’s Boston Marathon, Flomena Cheyech, Sarah Chepchirchir and Pascalia Chepkorir, round out the women’s team.
Both teams will arrive in the southern Chinese city with four consecutive team victories.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
Kiplagat, the 2009 World Cross Country champion, impressed in her debut over the 21.1 Km distance, clocking 1:07:40 in Lille on 4 September to find herself well inside the event’s all-time top 20. The 23-year-old is also the national record holder in the 10,000m at 30:11.53.
Kiprop, who raced to the African 10,000m title in Nairobi in July, also made a strong debut over the distance in Lille, winning in 59:39.
The men’s team also includes Moses Mosop, Sammy Kitwara, Silas Kipruto, Martin Mathathi and Titus Masai. Mosop, the 2005 World 10,000m bronze medallist, has clocked 59:20 this season with his March victory in Milano. Kitwara (59:34) and Kipruto (59:39) are also inside the season's top-five along with Mosop and Kiprop.
Backing up Kiplagat on the women’s squad is Peninah Arusei, who was second to Kiplagat in Lille with a 1:07:48 lifetime best. Agnes Kiprop, fifth at last year’s Boston Marathon, Flomena Cheyech, Sarah Chepchirchir and Pascalia Chepkorir, round out the women’s team.
Both teams will arrive in the southern Chinese city with four consecutive team victories.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
