Kamworor, Gudeta highlight 10km Bengaluru race

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

World half-marathon champions Geoffrey Kamworor and Natsanet Gudeta will highlight this year’s TCS World 10km Bengaluru race set for May 27.

Race promoters Procam International announced that the duo that won the 2018 IAAF World Half-Marathon in March will lead the men and women’s elite fields in this year’s race.

This will be Kamworor’s first competitive outing since winning world honours in Valencia, Spain. Kamworor, 25, is one of the world’s leading distance runners in recent years, winning the last two world cross country and world half marathon titles.

“I took some rest after Valencia before starting my preparations for Bengaluru. I hold the course record at this race (27:44) so I know about the course and the city," said Kamworor.

“I have some very good memories about running in India and I have also run in Delhi in the past, so I am looking forward to this race.”

On whether he is targeting another course record, Kamworor said he was focused on having a memorable race.

“Many will be asking me about times and whether I can run another course record, but I just want to come to Bengaluru to run a nice race, especially now that there will be no pacemakers this year.”

Ethiopia’s Gudeta has also been preparing for her return to India.

“Since Valencia, I have been training and focusing on Bengaluru. The race has been put back two weeks but that has not affected me. In fact, it’s allowed me more time to prepare,” Gudeta said.

The 27-year-old added that her main aim was to win in India, having fallen short in her previous races.

“I have competed in India several times including this race and three times at the Airtel Delhi Half-Marathon, but I have never won a race in India, so my ambition is to win in Bengaluru this year.”

The rest of the men’s and women’s elite fields for the race will be announced later. The TCS World 10km Bengaluru 2018 has a total prize fund of US$213,000 (Sh23 million) and has gained prominence over the years.