Kenya's Jepchirchir, Komon seek Prague conquest in half marathon

World half marathon record holder Peres Jepchirchir and Leonard Patrick Komon of Kenya will lead a world-class field at the Prague Half Marathon on April 1.

Komon, who is currently eyeing a medal at the World Cross Country Championships in Kampala, Uganda on March 26, wants to turn to full marathon and will be in the Czech Republic capital to test his fitness after a series of injuries. The Prague half marathon is an IAAF Gold Label Road Race, reports Xinhua news agency.

"I have to focus first on cross country and then the road race. World cross country is good for endurance and then that is what I will be seeking in Prague, to push my body to the limit. Thereafter, the full marathon will be the next goal.

"I have been facing setbacks with injuries tormenting me. But I have been able to train for three months without any problem now and I hope to do well in Prague," said Komon, Friday in Embu, where he is in training camp with the Kenya cross country team.

Alongside the two, the organisers have also called in two Rio Olympic medalists in Galen Rupp (US) and Tamirat Tola (Ethiopia) to spice up the race.

The women's race features world half marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir, fresh from her 1:05:06 hour half marathon world record performance last month in Dubai.

She will be challenged by the Prague event record-holder Violah Jepchumba, whose 1:05:51 clocking in the Czech capital last year was the fastest half marathon performance of 2016.

The race will include three other women who have run faster than 1:07:00. They are Joyciline Jepkosgei, who ran 1:06:08 in Ras al-Khaimah last month, former race record-holder Worknesh Degefa of Ethiopia, and Kenya's African Games 10,000m silver medallist Gladys Chesir.

--IANS

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