FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Florence Kiplagat Makes History Once Again
The record woman in half marathon confirms her participation at the eDreams
Mitja Marató de Barcelona 2015. One year after achieving the feminine world
record in the last edition of the half marathon in Barcelona, the Kenyan
athlete will return to Barcelona.
Born in 1987 in the Kenyan locality of Iten, Kiplagat is double world
champion thanks to the victories achieved at the IAAF World Cross Country
2009 championship and the IAAF Half Marathon World Championship in 2010.
Florence is nowadays the world record woman in half marathon, record
achieved in the last edition of the eDreams Mitja Marató de Barcelona, with
a time of 1:05:12. That same day, she beat the world record in 20km,
establishing the new record in 1:01:56.
On track and representing her country, she achieved a silver medal in 5.000
meters in the Junior World Athletics Championship in 2006. She holds the
record in Kenya in 10.000 meters, achieved in the World Athletics
Championship in 2009 with a record of 30:11:53.
In her debut in half marathon in 2010 she achieved a victory, to succeed
two years later to lower the record of 1 hour and 7 minutes in this
distance. Last February at the eDreams Mitja Marató de Barcelona, she
accomplished to lower in 38 seconds the old record established by her
compatriot Maria Keitany. Kiplagat debuted in the marathon distance in
2011, at the Berlin Marathon, race that she won with a time of 2:19:44.
Just a few days ago, the Kenyan athlete was awarded by AIMS (International
Association of Marathons and Long Distance Races) along with the athlete
Dennis Kimetto as the best marathoners of the year.
Florence Kiplagat will arrive to Barcelona more motivated than ever, in her
own words from this week "My dream is to run under 65 minutes in
Barcelona".
Maite Fandos, Deputy Mayor for Life, Equality and Sports has very much
appreciated the participation of the Kenyan runner, "the participation of
the Kenyan athlete Florence Jebet Kiplagat highlights the ability of the
city to rally not only popular runners but also elite runners, and the
capability of the Catalan city to promote feminine sports".
The news has been very well received in the athletic community in the
country:
Marc Roig, pacemaker at the half marathon of Barcelona recalled how he
experienced first-hand the world record achieved by Florence in Barcelona.
"The eDreams Mitja Marató de Barcelona has a before and after with the
world record achieved by Florence. Today everyone knows that the date and
the city are ideal to run really fast. There are not too many people as
professional as her and personally, I'm very proud that she relied
completely on me to help her beat the world record. Being a pacemaker is a
huge responsibility and I'm very proud of my role. It is one of the best
memories in my sporting life. Moreover, being able to exchange some words
in Suajili with Flroence during the race (such as cheering her on in this
language) was one of the funniest situations I have ever experienced."
Paula Villalobos: "I'm really proud that test such as the eDreams Mitja
Marató de Barcelona become part of the agenda of top athletes. It is
incredible that an athlete of her level comes back to participate in
Barcelona, whether she beats the record or not".
Carles Castillejos: "It is always important that the best athletes come to
Barcelona to compete, and Kiplagat comes back to the city where she
achieved the world record, it is a fact that reveals that things are being
done correctly. To see a woman run at the speed she did and being able to
experience that moment on spot it is something to thank the organization
for the effort they have made".
Nacho Cáceres: "The fact that the record woman in half marathon comes back
to Barcelona gives prestige to the city and the race. Enhances the test and
places it as a referent among the runners and demystifies the fact that you
can't run fast in Barcelona. With the record achieved last month of
February, it is confirmed that the course of the eDreams Mitja Marató de
Barcelona is a very fast circuit, where you can run at the pace of a world
record."
María Basco: "As an ex-professional athlete and sole Olympic medalist for
the country, I highly appreciate 3 aspects: 1. That the organization opted
for a feminine athlete and the efforts done to have a world record at home.
2. To opt for a woman, shows the importance in this sector, women are one
of the values experiencing the most growth in the Running sector and we are
far from other countries. And finally, that the organization opted for her
one more time is a double prize, for her as recognition and for the city it
is a beautiful anecdote. It will be a pleasure to share km and an event
with Florence."
Jaume Leiva: "To be able to see a WR in Barcelona means being able to run
next to a star sportswoman. We have to assess this very positively and
congratulate the organization for the efforts they have done so that
thousands of people can run next to the fastest runner in half marathon.
Not all of us have been able to play basketball next to Michael Jordan."
Pedro Nimo del Oro: "The presence of a referent of our sport such as
Florence Kiplagat is a great positive fact and not only in the sports
sector, but also as an organization, since top figures of her level give
great importance to the human touch, attention and organization of the
tests. If she opts for this test it means that things are getting done
properly and that the eDreams Mitja Marató de Barcelona is a "safe bet" to
achieve our best records. Let's get ready to share the track with a world
star".
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