SPORTISIMO PRAGUE HALF MARATHON ON APRIL 5 – High quality fields chase titles in Prague

What is probably the best field ever assembled in the history of the event will be on the start line for the Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon on April 5. Five men in this pedigree entry have broken the hour for the distance while the women's field is equally high quality: seven of them have run under 69 minutes.

Such statistics reflect the continued development of the Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon which has become one of the strongest events at the distance in terms of strength in depth worldwide. It is an IAAF Gold Label race, the top category for road racing awarded by the governing body of world athletics.

In the men's race the course record holder, the 22-year-old Ethiopian Atsedu Tsegay will encounter Philemon Limo, the former holder of that distinction, among his rivals. Tsegay's time of 58:47 set in Prague two years ago is absolutely world class while Limo's 2010 win in 59:30 makes him a genuine contender.

"We've twice had winning times under the magical barrier of the hour in Prague. First it was thanks to Philemon Limo, then Atsedu Tsegay ran even faster. Now they will be racing each other and I hope that we'll have a sub-60 minute performance for the third time," said Jana Moberly, the elite race co-ordinator. "If weather conditions are good, we'll be hoping for a time of around 59 minutes."

Apart from Tsegay and Limo there are half a dozen athletes who have high hopes of being in contention. Three of them have already run under the hour: Hunegnaw Mesfin has shown top class form this year for the half marathon, finishing second in the Rome to Ostia event in a personal best of 59:39 for the Ethiopian. Coincidentally, Kenya's Peter Kirui has exactly the same lifetime best, achieved when he won the New York title with a course record two years ago. Completing this trio, his fellow Kenyan Evans Barkowet Kiplagat has a best of 59:56 from his performance in Lille in 2009.

These are by no means the only competitors to take into consideration for the race on April 5. Two more Kenyans, Henry Kiplagat and Nicholas Kipkemboi, have proven records on the road. Kiplagat was runner-up in Prague with 60:01 two years ago and Kipkemboi has clocked 60:15. Zimbabwe's Cuthbert Nyasango is also one to watch and has a history of producing surprises. He finished seventh in the London's Olympic Marathon in 2012 and has a half marathon best of 60:26.

It would be hard to find a half marathon anywhere this spring with a stronger women's field than Prague. Seven runners have broken 69 minutes for the distance and Kenya leads the way in the line-up: Joyce Chepkirui is the fastest with 67:03, thanks to her course record in Prague in 2012. However she is no longer the Prague record holder, since compatriot Gladys Cherono improved that time 12 months ago with 66:48.

Others likely to mount a strong challenge include the reigning World Cross Country champion Emily Chebet of Kenya, whose best of 68:20 makes her a prime contender. The 2011 New York Marathon champion, Firehiwot Dado of Ethiopia should also come into the reckoning with her best of 68:35. Others who have broken the 69 minute barrier are the Ethiopians Abebu Gelan (67:57), Wude Ayalew (67:58), Genet Getaneh (68:18) and Waganesh Mekasha (68:48). Other nationalities could feature with Morocco represented by Malika Asahssah (69:11) and Japan has Azusa Nojiri (70:53). A debutant might even steal the show since Kenya's Esther Chemtai has a very handy 10 km best on the road of 31:33.

For more information, please go to: www.runczech.com

Source: Run Czech Running League

The "Run Czech Running League": seven races, five cities, a beautiful country!

Last year more than 60,000 runners took part in these events in the Czech Republic. It all began with the inaugural Prague Marathon in 1995 and has developed into the successful "Run Czech Running League." The Run Czech League is not only a series of road running events but creates a link between elite and mass runners. The races are staged in cities which are also attractive tourist destinations. They bring people from around the world together who enjoy an active, healthy and happy life style.

Run Czech is the only road race organiser in the world which has been awarded the highest distinction by the International Athletics Association (IAAF) for six of its races. This guarantees the quality of its organisation and customer care. The Run Czech events also offer plenty of variety and diversity. Runners can choose where they want to race and over what distance.

For more information, please go to: www.runczech.com