World Record Holders and Olympic Medalists at the Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon

Today the RunCzech Organisation announced a World-Class field including two World Record Holders; Peres Jepchirchir and Leonard Patrick Komon, and two Rio Olympic Medalists; Galen Rupp and Tamirat Tola who will compete on April 1st in the 2017 edition of the Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon an IAAF Gold Label Road Race.

The women’s list features the reigning World Champion, Peres Jepchirchir fresh from her Half marathon World Record performance (1:05:06 in RAK) in February. She will be challenged by the Prague event record holder Violah Jepchumba (1:05:51) who ran the fastest half marathon in the world in 2016, and RunCzech Racing’s young star, Joyciline Jepkosgei (1:06:08 in RAK this year).

The race will include two other women with PRs under 1:07; Worknesh Degefa of Ethiopia, the former event record holder and Kenyan Gladys Chesir. Of interest also are two American challengers Jordan Hasay who debuted in Houston this year with a 1:08:40 and Maegan Krifchin (1:09:51) along with the fastest Czech woman, Eva Vrabcova.

The men’s field is also blessed with a World Record Holder in the person of Leonard Patrick Komon who claims road records at 10K and 15K which he set in 2010. Komon will be trying to improve on his third place finish in Prague from 2015.

The biggest threat may come from another Kenyan, Barselius Kipyego who ran 59:15 in Usti nad Labem last September setting a course record on what had not previously been considered a fast course. But they both will face strong contenders in the Rio and London OG medalists, Galen Rupp of the U.S. and Tamirat Tola from Ethiopia. Tola took a Bronze medal in the 10,000 metres in Rio and he looks to be in top condition this year after his win in the Dubai Marathon in January. His winning time of 2:04:11 made him the ninth fastest performer of all-time.

The Rio Olympic Marathon Bronze and 10.000 OG London Silver medalist Rupp who is pointing for a fast performance at the Boston Marathon this year is always competitive and could challenge the American record.

The Czech men will feature Jiri Homolac who is currently training in Iten, Kenya in the hope of breaking 1:03 for the first time.

Tadeáš Mahel     

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