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From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Fri Mar 18 2011 - 07:38:14 EST
http://www.iaaf.org/LRR11/news/newsid=59541.html
Friday, 18 March 2011
Tadese returns to Lisbon, World Half Marathon record setting - Preview
Lisbon, Portugal – One year after breaking the World record for the Half
Marathon, Zersenay Tadese will again toe the line as the major guest at the
21st edition of *EDP Lisbon Half Marathon* on Sunday (20).
The four-time IAAF World Half Marathon champion is focused on trying to
improve his own 58:23 World record he set at this *IAAF Gold Label Road Race
* last year on the some course in the most famous and participated in event
in Portugal.
Organisers have put a US$50,000 bonus on offer to anyone who can lower the
mark Tadese set last year. And the Eritrean will have plenty of fast
company.
Among them are his fellow-Eritreans Yonas Kifle, the 2005 World Half
Marathon silver medallist with a 59:30 personal best; 2008 Olympic and 2009
World championships 10,000m finalist Kidane Tadese, whose 1:04:06 personal
best is likely to fall; and Hais Welday, a Steeplechase specialist.
Leading the Kenyan contingent are Silas Sang (1:00:20), winner of the 2008
and 2009 Portugal Half Marathon; Evans Kiprop Cheruyiot (59:05) runner-up at
the 2011 Dubai Marathon in 2:08.17; Josphat Kiprono Menjo (1:01:42), who was
second at the 2010 Portugal Half marathon; Robert Kipchumba Kipkorir
(59:28), winner of the 2007 EDP Lisbon Half Marathon and 2009 Rotterdam
Marathon; Leonard Langat (59:52), who was third at the 2011 Ras Al Khaimad
Half Marathon; Mike Kigen (27:25 at 10 km); and John Nzau Mwangangi (59:56),
third at the Den Hague Half Marathon.
Other African nations will be reprented by Tanzanian Dickson Marwa (59:52),
who was fourth in the 2010 Portugal Half Marathon; Ethiopian Yacob Jarso
Kintra (1:00:07), third at the 2010 New Delhi Half Marathon; and Moroccan
Abderhaim Bouramdane (1:00:01), who was fourth at the 2010 London Marathon.
Portuguese hopes lie with Hermano Ferreira (1:01:24), the national road race
champion; Rui Pedro Silva (1:02:42), winner at the 2010 Ovar Half Marathon;
Luis Feiteira (1:03:43), who was tenth at the 2010 European championship
Marathon; Helder Ornelas (1:02.57); and Fernando Silva (1:02.58).
Jose Telles (1:03:33), winner of the Praia Grande, will lead Brazil’s
contingent.
Organisers tried to secure the presence of Olympic Marathon champion and
former World Half Marathon record holder Samuel Wanjiru, but the Kenyan was
unable to attend.
*Kosgei and Jeptoo in the front line – women’s race*
In the women’s field, organisers have attracted two past winners. Kenyan
Salina Kosgei (1:07:52) has won here twice, in 2006 and 2008, while her
countrywoman Rita Jeptoo (1:07:05), took the title in 2007.
Facing them is a formidable Ethiopian squad led by Marathon ace Aberu Kebede
(1:07:39), winner of the 2010 Berlin and Rotterdam Marathons. Joining the
21-year-old is veteran Berhane Adere (1:07:52), who has raced here several
times but has yet to win; and Askale Tafa (1:09:46), winner of 2010 Paris
and Milano Marathons.
Other Kenyans looking for a breakout include Helena Kirop (1:09:37), the
2010 Nairobi Marathon winner; Pauline Ndjeri (1:10:23); Ines Chenonge; Alice
Timbilili (1:08:56); Grace Momanyi (1:10:19), and Diana Chepkemoi (1:10:36).
Also looking to rise to the next level are Moroccan Souad Kanbouchia
(1:11:06), Spanish Beatriz Ros (1:12:38), Brasilian Rosangela Faria
(1:11:42), Russians Yevgeniya Danilova (1:13:20) and Marina Kovaleva
(1:13:36) and Portuguese Ana Dulce Felix (1:09:01) and Claudia Pereira
(1:13:49), among others.
So, this fields will, certainly, produce great performances in this
fantastic Half Marathon with two courses: one, totally flat, for the elite
fields; and the other, on the top of the 25 of April Bridge and crossing the
Tagus river, where more than 35,000 runners will participate. Only the wind
can be an obstacle to great performances.
We’ll see.
*António Manuel Fernandes for the IAAF*
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