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The 3rd fastest woman half marathon, Ruth Chepng’etich will bring the city of Istanbul today 30th April, 2023 for a fast-course Istanbul Half Marathon 2023.
The 2022 Chicago and 2023 Nagoya marathon will be aiming at lowering her half marathon record of 1:04:02 which she recorded in the same competition in 2021.
Ruth Chepng’etich is targeting her 6th Istanbul Half Marathon title this Sunday. She had shown superb marathon fo earlier this month when she took the Nagoya women’s race with a record of 2:18:08. Now she hopes she is more than ready for another fast performance in Istanbul, Turkey.
“I am super excited to come to the N Kay Istanbul Half Marathon to defend my title. I have always performed well in Istanbul and I am hoping to run another fast race it the weather cooperates,” said Ruth Chepng’etich whose course record of 64:02 while the world record stands at 62:52.
To build on her Istanbul win streak, Ruth Chepng’etich is mixing with top-level field Sunday, 30th April. A. group of Ethiopian athletes could challenge the Kenyan.
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“Turkey has gone through a difficult period due to disasters. During these times sports are the best way to stand up. N Kolay Istanbul Half Marathon is here with us, will very competitive race. Ruth who broke the world record in this competition in 2021 will be with us again, maybe this year we will see another world record,” said Race Director, Renay Onur.
Another Ethiopian who will challenge Ruth Chepng’etich is Bosena Mulatie. Bosena Mulatie already has a strong personal best record running time of 65:46.Sh ran the time in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) in the United Arab Emirates last year where she finished fifth.
READ: N Kolay Istanbul Half Marathon
The 21 years- old achieved the qualification for the world championships and placed eighth in the 10000m final. Other Ethiopians are Ftaw Zeray and Gudeta Bekelech who will also be participating in the competition today.
Gudeta Bekelech ran her PB last year in Istanbul where she finished third.
Other Kenyans in the Race besides Ruth Chepng’etich
Other Kenyan women who will be participating are Eveline Chirchir who ran 66:01 in RAK in 2020. She had since not competed in any international competition. Others are Beatrice Cheserek, Purity Komen, Sandrafells Tuei, and Shamilah Kipsiror.
In the men’s category, Rodgers Kwemoi, the course record holder will try to fly the Kenya flag in the men’s category at Istanbul. The 25 years-old ran 58:30 when he was runner-up in RAK last year after which he broke the Istanbul course record by 20 seconds with 59:15 despite windy conditions.
Among Rodgers Kwemoi ‘s competitors, there will be Amedowork Walelegn from Ethiopia, who has good memories of the Istanbul Half Marathon. The Ethiopian won the 2018 course and at that time he became the first runner to break the one-hour barrier at Bosphorus with a time of 59:50. The 24 years-old was in great form recently, when he first won the Sevilla Half Marathon with 60:28 and later won the Seoul Marathon in 2:05:27.
Other Kenyans Charles Langat and Daniel Ebenyo have suggested that they will be in contention for victory in Istanbul as well. Langat won the Barcelona Half Marathon in February with 58:53 and Ebenyo, who has a very fast 10km PB of 26:58, was runner-up in the Manama Half Marathon in Bahrain in December 2022 with 59:04.
Other men competitors who will be taking part in the competition will be Marc Scott from Britain, Ashenafi Kiros from Ethiopia, Vincent Kipkemoi, Josphat Kemei, Benard Biwott, Bonface Kibiwott both of them coming from Kenya, and other athletes.
Remember it is an event that will be attracting more than 1200 athletes across the world.
