Africa produces world’s best long distance runners. So, it was no wonder that all the top four athletes who were introduced to media on Thursday ahead of Airtel Delhi Half Marathon (ADHM) to be held here on Sunday, were all Africans — three from Kenya and one from Ethiopia.
The presence of the four — defending champion (men) Edwin Kipyego, 2013’s fastest half marathon runner (men) Geoffrey Kipsang, 2011 ADHM champion (women) lucy Kabuu and 2012 World Half Marathon winner Meseret Hailu — along with other elite athletes, makes it the best-ever field in the half marathon.
Kipyego of Kenya admitted that on Sunday he will be facing the “toughest” ever field of his career but said he was confident of not only winning the event but also improving his personal best timing. “The field is very strong. It is the toughest that I have competed ever. But I have trained hard and I will look to better my personal best here.
“I don’t think about the competition, there is no fear, I want to improve and I want to clock sub 60 on Sunday. I am just four seconds shy of the mark,” Kipyego, who has a personal best of 60.04 which he recorded at 2013 Philadelphia Half Marathon, told reporters.
“I have good memories of last year. It was hot and humid but still I won. I am thankful to the organisers for pushing it to December. It favours us, it feels cool but not really cold, so it is better for competition,” he added.
His compatriot, the 19-year-old Kipsang, who is currently ranked No 1 in IAAF top lists, is raring to go on Sunday and will be looking to improve his previous performance when he finished second in 2011. “I was here in 2011, I was second. But I am here again and I want to do well this time. I have been preparing hard and hope good things happen on Sunday,” said the former world junior cross country champion, who is also the star of a movie called “The Unknown Runner”.
Another Kenyan athlete Kabuu, the 2011 ADHM winner who missed last year’s edition, is here again and wants to win the race for her three-year-old daughter.
“In 2011, I won the Delhi Half Marathon with my personal best of 67:04 and I thank God for giving me another chance to compete here again.
“This year I didn’t do well in Moscow and two weeks ago I was down with Malaria but my daughter wants me to win on Sunday and I will run for her,” said lucy, who became the 2nd fastest half marathon runner with the time of 66:09 during RAK Half Marathon earlier this year.