RunCzech Announces Elite Start List for Mattoni Ústí nad Labem Half Marathon
The organizers of the Mattoni Ústí nad Labem Half Marathon today announced a strong elite field for the September 15 race.
The men will be led by two sub one hour favorites from Kenya who ran their personal records here in the Czech Republic. Philemon Limo is the defending champion who ran the first half marathon ever recorded below one hour in the Czech Republic when he finished the Hervis Prague Half Marathon in 59:30 in 2011. He will be challenged by Daniel Chebii the first man to run a sub one hour in the Czech Republic outside of Prague when he won the Mattoni Ceske Budejovice Half Marathon last year in 59:49. Chebii is in peak form following his victory last Saturday in O2 Prague Grand Prix when he ran 27:35 just missing Limo's event record by only one second.
They both will also face stiff competition from Julius Lomerinyang of Kenya who will be looking to improve his PB of 1:00:31, as well as Lema Feysa and Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia. Nichoas Bor is another Kenyan who could challenge for the win as he showed he is in good condition with his sixth place finish in the O2 Prague Grand Prix last week. Other contenders for the podium include Bethwel Kiprono, and Silas Ngetich of Kenya as well as Keiji Akutsu, and Taiga Ito of Japan, and Daniel Chepyegon from Uganda.
The top Czech men are led by Jan Kreisinger and Jiri Homolac who are both preparing for a marathon in Franfurt next month as well as Milan Kocourek who will be making his had marathon debut.
The women's field also looks to be a very competitive group with Josephine Chepkoech, who won the O2 Prague Grand Prix in 32:00, looking to be a favorite for the top of the podium. Josephine will face several strong challengers including Caroline Chepkwony who has the fastest personal best in the field with a 1:08:36 run in Berlin last year. The other strong contenders include Betelhem Moges of Ethiopia, a 1:10:38 performer, and Natalya Popkova of Russia making her debut at the distance.
The Czech women will be led by the veterans Petra Kaminkova and Ivana Sekyrova vying for national honors.
The Mattoni Ústí and Labem Half Marathon is a part of the RunCzech Running League and an IAAF Silver Label Road Race.
