Bekele, Kiplagat star attractions for Kolkata 25K run

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Kenenisa Bekele and former world champion Florence Jebet Kiplagat will be seen in action in the Kolkata 25K run on December 17.

The long-distance running legend will for the first time compete in a 25K race. Bekele's best 25K effort is 1:12:47, an intermediate time en route to winning the Berlin Marathon 2016.

The existing 25K world record is held by Kenya's Denis Kimetto (1:11:18 in 2012).

"After my first visit to India a few years ago, as an ambassador for the Delhi Half Marathon, I have always been wanting to run here. I look forward to running in Kolkata and hope my presence motivates people to come and run," Bekele said in a statement.
 

A world champion on multiple surfaces, having won at the 2009 IAAF World cross country championships and the 2010 IAAF World half-marathon championship, Kenyan Kiplagat will head the women's field.