FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hervis Prague Half Marathon Gets Ready To Shatter World Record
Prague/ Prague is getting ready for the fastest half-marathon of all times.
Leonard Patrick Komon, world record holder in the 10 km and 15 km has
chosen Prague as his first ever half-marathon race. And on top of that he
has announced his designs on smashing the world record!
"We are trying to turn our dreams into reality. And this will be one of
those dreams. I would like to tell you about one other matter. A matter of
global importance – that of his assault on the world record, that would be
a first here in Prague" said Carlo Capalbo, President of the Organising
Committee for the Prague International Marathon spol. s r.o. (PIM).
Komon, a 24 year old long-distance runner from Kenya, should be spurred on
to achieving a record time by two pacemakers from his team, Rono and
Chesari. His two fellow compatriots should also be able to contribute with
this. Last year's winner Philemon Limo was the first to run the course on
Czech soil in under one hour (59:30). Kenneth Kipkemoi will also be coming
along who just last week managed the third fastest time so far this year at
59:11 at the City-Pier-City in The Hague.
The world record title is currently held by Zersenay Tadese, from Eritrea
at 58:23 achieved back in 2010 in Lisbon. "Acquiring such elite start
positions involves a huge amount of talks however we are delighted that
Leonard chose Prague all by himself. It is a huge honour", says Jana
Moberly, Manager for PIM International Athletes. "Prague has now
established a name for itself as a place where new stars are born, a fact
proven by the likes of Kiptanui and Limo".
The objective of the organisers is to invite more top runners who are able
to maintain maximum pace for the longest time possible. Not just one
superstar, and beside him a crowd of second-class runners such as in
Berlin. "We are also reliant on there being good weather on the day. But we
know we have five runners able to run in under one hour" boasts Moberly.
For anyone able to beat the world record, there is a prize of 100 000 Euros
which, when converted, amounts to approximately 2.4 million Czech crowns. A
further 4000 Euros is up for grabs for scooping up first place and 5000
Euros for the course record. Success this year would be a wonderful way for
us to mark the sixtieth anniversary of the Gold Hat trick by our legendary
runner, Emil Zátopek at the Olympics in Helsinki.
"This piece of news is music to the ears of chairman from the Czech
Athletics Federation. I value the work of the PIM organisers and hope that
it all works out", says Libor Varhaník, the main man behind Czech
athletics.
Komon comes from a family of twelve siblings in the Kenyan Rift Valley, a
traditional longdistance hatching ground. As a youngster he had to help out
at the family farm and was later to work as a fire-fighter at the airport.
In 2008 he was made a substitute runner at the Beijing Olympics. He
triumphed with one Silver and one Gold medal at the World Cross Country
Championships in 2008 and 2009. In 2009 he smashed both world records on
the road, 26:44 in the 10 km in Utrecht and 41:13 in the 15 km in Nijmegen.
The Hervis Prague Half Marathon has been running now since 1999 and boasts
the Gold Label from the International Association of Athletics Federations,
IAAF. This is indication of its ranking in the highest quality category.
Prague is the only organiser in the world to claim the Gold Label for both
the marathon and the half-marathon.
Aside from top runners, the Hervis Prague Half Marathon also draws a wide
range of other runners. The record capacity of 11,000 start numbers was
sold out already two months in advance. We are also expecting ten thousand
spectators to come along and adorn the beautiful backdrop of the historical
city centre through which the course leads. This year the course will be
modified slightly in two areas of Podolí. "We will be adding in Plavecka
and Botièska streets, instead of Vnislavova street ensuring runners have
more space and don't collide with one another when meeting in opposite
directions", said Václav Skøivánek from the Organising Committee.
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