Kiptanui, Ndiwa for Delhi Half Marathon

Commonwealth trials Stacy Ndiwa (left) and Sandra Felis Chebet competes during the national Commonwealth Games trials [Dennis Okeyo, Standard]

Kiptanui and Ndiwa set for Delhi Half Marathon

Three-time Olympic champion Tirunesh Dibaba is among star attractions 

Three Kenyans must be at their best to stop Ethiopia’s Belihu and Gebresilase.

Eric Kiptanui, the 2018 Berlin Half Marathon champion, will be up against his training mate Daniel Kipchumba at the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon on October 21.

Kipchumba paced Kiptanui during the Berlin race to the 15 kilometre mark and the contest in the Indian capital will no doubt give them an opportunity to size up each other.

The two, who are guided by Italian coach Renato Canova, will carry their under 60 minutes best times they posted last year.

Kiptanui, who made his half marathon debut in Lisbon after years failing to impress in 1,500m, set a world leading time of 58:42 in the Berlin race.

With temperatures expected to range from 31 to 34 degrees in Delhi, Kiptanui’s compatriot Kipchumba hopes to write history, going to the IAAF gold label race with a 59:06 best time recorded in Copenhagen this year.

Joseph Tanui, the 2016 Kabarak 15K race winner, will carry his good shows from Prague and Usti Nad Labem Half marathons to the line up.

Tanui clocked 59:22 at the 2017 Usti Nad Labem Half Marathon, settling for second place before running 1:01:14 during this year’s Prague Half marathon where he came in eighth.

The three Kenyans must be at their best to stop Ethiopians Andamlak Belihu and Leul Gebresilase during the race.

Belihu came second during the 2017 Delhi Half Marathon, running his best of 59:51 behind Kenya’s Alex Korio, who ran 58:51.

Gebresilase heads to Delhi with a half marathon best of 59:18 he set during the 2017 Valencia Half Marathon.
Uganda’s Moses Kurong, who registered 59:50 best at the 2017 Copenhagen half marathon and USA’s Leonard Korir – the second runner-up in last year’s Delhi half marathon will also star in this year’s race.

In the women’s category, three-time Olympic champion Tirunesh Dibaba is among star attractions in New Delhi.
The 2017 Chicago marathon champion, who is the current 5000m world record holder, has won five world titles on the track as well as four world cross country championships victories and will be aiming to break the Delhi Half Marathon course record held by Mary Keitany since 2009.

Yangzhou and Istanbul Half marathons champion Ababel Yeshaneh hope to outclass Dibaba. Yeshaneh had earlier this year set a personal best over the half marathon distance in Turkey where she ran 69:36. She weathered a strong competition to come in second in the 2017 Delhi Half Marathon.

The 2018 African Championships 10,000m winner and Commonwealth Games runner-up Stacy Ndiwa will challenge the Ethiopians.