FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RAK CELEBRATES ANOTHER ALL-STAR CAST
Ras Al Khaimah, U.A.E, January 25, 2016 -- The Hollywood blockbuster film
franchise "Fast and Furious," will be up to its 8th installment later this
year, but 2016 sees it's road running equivalent already celebrating a 10th
edition on Friday February 12th.
Since its premiere in 2007, the RAK half marathon has attracted the very
best distance runners in the world. The illustrious list of winners reads
like a who's who of global stars, all of them using this prestigious race
The tone was set by the late Sammy Wanjiru, the hugely talented Kenyan who
stormed to victory in the inaugural RAK race just over a year before
becoming Olympic Marathon champion in Beijing.
9 years on the cast list assembled for this year, rivals the best line up's
in the world. 6 of the elite men have run under 59 minutes, while 8 of the
women's field have broken 68 minutes. The strength in depth augers well for
Feb 12th.
Heading the men's race is Eritrian Zersensay Tadesse, reigning world record
holder and the greatest half marathon runner in history. His eye watering
time of 58.23 may have come 6 years ago, but the 59.24 he ran in New Delhi
in November is a return to form which could see him on the podium again.
Bernard Koech is the third fastest athlete of all time on paper, although
his 2013 time of 58.41 was recorded on a slightly downhill course in San
Diego. A modest 2.09 in Fukuoka in December may be a more up to date
indication of form, but he does have prior knowledge of this course, having
finished 4th back in 2014 with a sub 60 minute run.
Perhaps one of the biggest challenges will come from 23-year-old Abraham
Cheroben, who ran 58.48 in 2014 and was the fastest athlete in the world
last year with 59.10. The fact that he also lowered his 10km PB to 27.35
last autumn may mean there is plenty of speed in his legs come the business
end of the race if it comes down to a sprint like last year.
Ethiopian Birhanu Legese may not be among the fastest 6 on paper here, but
he ran brilliantly to win a high quality half in new Delhi last autumn and
if the pace is anywhere around that winning time of 59.20, he has proved
that he can produce a devastating turn of pace in the last 100m.
Watch out also for the excellent Kenyan marathon runner Stanley Biwott.
Second at RAK in 2013 behind Geoffrey Kamworor, he went on to beat the
reigning world half and world cross country champion in the New York
Marathon last autumn in 2.10.34
Biwott has gone sub 59 minutes, boasts 7 major wins over the half including
Paris and Philadelphia and only just lost out to Mo Farah at the Great
North Run last September. One to watch for sure.
World record holder Tadesse isn't the only Eritrian with one eye on a
podium finish here in RAK. Nguse Amsolom was 2nd here in 2014, (59.39)
narrowly missed a medal at the world half champs in Copenhagen and last
year won the half in Lisbon.
22-year-old Kenyan Edwin Kiptoo has improved considerably since his 4th
place in RAK in 2014, lowering his personal best from 61.13 in October 2014
to 59.26 by the end of last year with 4th place in New Delhi.
Throw into the mix former marathon world record holder Wilson Kipsang, the
2 fastest 10km runners in history in Leonard Komon and Micah Kogo and there
is plenty of intrigue throughout the leading dozen men in their elite race.
The standard in the women's race has been truly exceptional here at RAK,
with every winning time since 2009 ranked among each year's top 3 fastest
times in the world.
This 10th edition promises more of the same. 3 women have broken 67 minutes
including the fastest in the field Priscah Jeptoo.
The World and Olympic marathon silver medalist is as consistent over the
half as she is the full distance, with top 3 finishes in all 10 of her
major half marathon races including victory at the Great North Run in 2013
(in 65.45,) and here at RAK in 2014 (67.02.) Her slightly disappointing 6th
place finish in the New York Marathon last October will have made her even
more determined to return to the podium places here.
But reigning World Half Marathon Champion Gladys Cherono will be hoping
2016 continues her rich vein of form. Last year she ran a 2.20 marathon in
Dubai at the start of the year, followed that up with a very impressive
66.38 half in Istanbul in April and then topped it all off by winning
September's Berlin Marathon with 2.19.25, the 8th fastest time in history.
If she's had a good winter, the 32 year old should be full of confidence.
Joyce Chepkirui is a rangey athlete who has excelled on the track and the
roads. She became Commonwealth Champion over 10,000m in 2014 and won the
Amsterdam Marathon last autumn with a solid 2.24. Her half marathon PB of
66.19 means if she's feeling good she cannot be ruled out of a podium
finish.
Cynthia Limo will be a familiar face and name to the RAK crowds after
finishing 3rd in 2015 with a punchy 67.02. She rounded off the year winning
a high quality New Delhi half in 68.35, an impressive time considering the
first 5 km was run at a pedestrian pace. Is this her year to step out from
the shadow of some of her better known compatriots?
In terms of emerging East African talent, watch out for 22 year old Gladys
Chesir. Apart from producing the fastest 10km of 2015 with 30.41, she
finished 3rd in New Delhi in 68.36 after that slow first 5km.
Ethiopia brings some experienced women hoping to challenge the Kenyan
dominance. Worknesh Debele won the Prague Half Marathon last year in 67.14,
Genet Yalew is a former world cross silver medalist now running sub 69's,
Wude Ayalew has run 3 sub 69 minute half marathons, although her best time
came 7 years ago and Aselefech Mergia, who has previously held 2 podium
places in RAK (in 2009 and 2010) will be making a return.
Like all good Hollywood releases, there will be more than a few twists and
unexpected turns of drama over this famous 13.1 mile race before we see the
real stars emerge battle hardened and victorious in the RAK sunshine.
The lure of one of the world's premiere half marathons has produced great
moments from great stars for 9 years now and this 10th edition will surely
see the legacy of this event continue to run and run for many years.
| Bib | Elite Men | Nat | PB | Bib | Elite Women | Nat | PB |
| 1 | Zersenay Tadese | ERI | 58:23 | 52 | Priscah Jeptoo | KEN | 65:45* |
| 2 | Abraham Cheroben | KEN | 58:48 | 53 | Joyce Chepkirui | KEN | 66:19 |
| 3 | Stanley Biwott | KEN | 58:56 | 54 | Gladys Cherono | KEN | 66:38 |
| 4 | Wilson Kipsang | KEN | 58:59 | 55 | Cynthia Limo | KEN | 66:41 |
| 5 | Micah Kogo | KEN | 59:07 | 56 | Worknesh Degefa | ETH | 67:14 |
| 6 | Bernard Koech | KEN | 59:10 | 57 | Peres Jepchirchir | KEN | 67:17 |
| 7 | Leonard Komon | KEN | 59:14 | 58 | Aselefech Mergia | ETH | 67:21 |
| 8 | Birhanu Legese | ETH | 59:20 | 59 | Wude Ayalew | ETH | 67:58 |
| 9 | Simon Cheprot | KEN | 59:20 | 60 | Genet Yalew | ETH | 68:12 |
| 10 | Edwin Kiprop Kiptoo | KEN | 59:26 | 61 | Rose Chelimo | KEN | 68:22 |
| 11 | Edwin Kipyego | KEN | 59:30 | 62 | Gladys Chesir | KEN | 68:36 |
| 12 | Nguse Amlosom | ERI | 59:30 | 63 | Doris Changeywo | KEN | 68:49 |
| 13 | Martin Mathathi | KEN | 59:48 | |
| 14 | Emmanuel Bett | KEN | 60:08 | |
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