Athletics: World 21km record holder Jepkosgei eyes victory in Prague
Athletics
By
DENNIS OKEYO
| Sep 09, 2017
Joycline Jepkosgei, the world 21km record holder, will be the star attraction at the Birell Prague 10km Grand Prix, an IAAF Gold Label Race, in Czech Republic today.
23-year-old Jepkosgei, who set a new world record mark of 1:04.52 in April at Prague Half Marathon, takes on her former compatriot and the race's defending champion Violah Jepchumba, who switched nationality to Bahrain.
Nicholas Koech, her husband and coach, is upbeat Jepkosgei will weather the storm in the Czech Republic's capital.
Just 22 days after breaking the world record, Jepkosgei won Gifu Half Marathon in 1:07:44.
"We have prepared well, everything went according to our plans ahead of this road race. We had full concentration. Joycline is ok ahead of today's race," said Koech.
Jepchumba has raced sparingly since winning Birell Prague Grand Prix last year, most recently finishing second in 1:08:10 at the Gothenburg Half Marathon in Sweden in May.
She has, however, returned to defend her title having clocked a superb 30:24 course record last year which stood –at the time –as the second fastest of all-time.
Other athletes to watch include another Kenyan, Gladys Jerop, who has improved to 31:15 this season. Ethiopia's Netsanet Gudeta is also in the mix.
The men's race also features the return of the 2016 champion Abraham Kipyatich.[Dennis Okeyo and IAAF]