Obiri and Korir to chase glory at RAK 21km race

Hellen Obiri of Laikipia Airbase (left) leads women 10km race during the 2023 KDF Cross Country championships at the Lang'ata Sports Complex on January 6. [Kelly Ayodi, Standard]

A stellar field has been assembled, and when the big shots line up on Saturday, February 18, two Kenyan women - World Marathon silver medallist Judith Korir and double World 5,000m champion Hellen Obiri will feature prominently.

The Kenyan duo will be returning to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to claim victory in the women's half marathon after a display of superb racing last year.

Obiri who switched to road racing in 2020 after establishing a strong dominance in the track, was the 2022 RAK Half marathon runner-up while Korir placed fourth before going ahead to win silver at the last World Championships in Oregon, United States.

Last year, Obiri who ran 64:22 at the flat RAK Half marathon course sent a warning of a phenomenal career in road racing. After the RAK Half marathon show, she went ahead to participate in the World Championships, claiming silver in the 10,000m.

Athletes will be eying a slice of the total prize money of $327,000 (Sh41 million).

Organisers reported that the Gold Label race will be returning to its record-breaking fast and flat course, situated in the heart of the Emirate, kicking off at the Marjan Island Boulevard, opposite one of the world's most famous luxury hotels and the Race Village.

Victory for Obiri in UAE will signal a successful transition to the marathon, and for Korir, facing and winning against her resilient compatriot (Obiri) buttresses her ambition and meteoric rise to stardom in long races.

"I can confidently say that the best in road running is still yet to come from me," Obiri said after the RAK Half Marathon second place last year.

The 27-year-old Korir will be looking to lower her personal best time of 1:05:28, a PB she recorded last year.

Korir who showcased splendid tactics to win last year's edition of the Paris Marathon, setting a new course record and a new personal best time of 2:19.48, will have to outsprint Obiri - a prolific track star, who finished last year's RAK Half Marathon with a personal best of 1:04.22, which is also among the fastest times on the 2023 start list.

The Kenyan women will be facing athletics stars from Ethiopia and Asia in the Saturday showdown.

The race organizers have assembled a strong elite field to try and chase the race course record of 1:04.14 that was set last year by Girmawit Gebrzihair from Ethiopia.

"The 2023 edition is set to be even bigger and better, as runners challenge themselves over our stunning, ocean-front course for what is set to be a riveting and action-packed event for both athletes and the local community, with a range of activities and celebrations for all," organisers said days to the event.

The elite men comprise Ethiopian top gun Seifu Tura, who recently claimed second place in the Chicago Marathon 2022, and Kenyan Daniel Mateiko, who holds a personal best time of 58:26 and recently finished third in the Valencia Half Marathon 2023.

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