Adola, Florence to defend Delhi Half Marathon titles

Ethiopian Guye Adola and Kenya's world record holder Florence Kiplagat will defend their Airtel Delhi Half Marathon titles on November 29, organisers confirmed on Friday.

The capital city will also have a total of over 25 elite athletes in attendance, with the Ethiopians ruling the roost.

Adola only started running internationally in 2014, and achieved his personal best time in the 2014 edition of ADHM. He won a bronze at the World Half Marathon Championship.

Closing in on his trail are Mosinet Geremew of Ethiopia, who clocked 59:11 minutes at the previous run in the city, his personal best and Jonathan Maiyo of Kenya who came in eighth last year.

If his performance this year in the Mattoni Olomouc and RAK Half Marathons are anything to go by, Maiyo is in it to win it at ADHM 2015.

Former champion Atsedu Tsegay of Ethiopia will be back in the capital this year and is vying to reclaim his title.

New to ADHM this year are TCS World 10K champ Alex Korio of Kenya, who clocked the fourth fastest time this year, Tsegaye Kebede and Edwin Kiptoo of Kenya.

The foremost among the women athletes participating in ADHM is Florence Kiplagat (KEN) who set a record time at Barcelona in 2014, only to break it herself a year later.

Florence, who also won here in 2013, is in good form.

Kenyan Cynthia Limo, well known in the United States running circles, won podium places at 10 out of the 11 races she has run this year, and will give Kiplagat a fight for the title.

Ethipain Worknesh Degefa, though young but has won podium places at many of the world's renowned marathons after bagging the first place at the Goteborg Half Marathon is ready to run for a podium finish this year.

Reigning Olympic marathon champion Tiki Gelana of Ethiopia, who most recently took home the bronze at the Tokyo Marathon, will be gunning for gold.

Helah Kiprop (KEN) is a familiar name in the Indian running scenario, having won the TCS World 10K and Cochin Half Marathon, armed with silver at the 2015 World Championships Marathon and is also the one to watch out for.