New Delhi: The capital city’s much-awaited Airtel Delhi Half Marathon heats up even more this season with a total of over 25 elite athletes in attendance, with the Ethiopians ruling the roost. Defending Champions and Course Record holder Guye Adola along with the Half Marathon World Record holder Florence Kilpagat, will take centre stage on Sunday, 29th November 2015.
Touted as one of the fastest half marathon courses, the elite line-up this year is one of the best ADHM has seen in all its eight years.
Adola only started running internationally in 2014, and achieved his personal best time in the 2014 edition of ADHM. He won a bronze at the World Half Marathon Championship. Closing in on his trail are Mosinet Geremew (ETH), who clocked 59:11 at the previous run in the city, his personal best; Jonathan Maiyo (KEN) who came in 8th last year, if his performance this year in the Mattoni Olomouc and RAK Half Marathons are anything to go by, Maiyois is in it to win it at ADHM 2015;Atsedu Tsegay (ETH) who placed 1stat the 2013 edition of ADHM, will be back in the capital this year and is vying to reclaim his title.
New to ADHM this year are - TCS World 10K champ Alex Korio (KEN), who clocked the fourth fastest time this year, will try his hand at the title, having achieved his best (59:28) at the recently concluded Copenhagen Marathon; Tsegaye Kebede (ETH), known to be one of the most consistent runners in the international circuit will be running his first Indian marathon this November, and has nine medals to his credit from some of the world’s largest marathons; Edwin Kiptoo (KEN) is no stranger to Indian running, having participated in both SCMM 2015 as a pacer and TCS World 10K 2015 where he placed third, he is looking to make his mark at ADHM as well.
The foremost among the women athletes participating in the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon 2015 is World Record Holder, Florence Kiplagat (KEN) who set record time at Barcelona in 2014, only to break it herself a year later. Kiplagat placed first at ADHM 2013, is in good form to make a comeback this year; Cynthia Limo (KEN), well-known in the US running circle, won podium places at 10 out the 11 races she has run this year, and will give Kiplagat a fight for the title; Worknesh Degefa (ETH), though young has won podium places at many of the world’s renowned marathons, after bagging the first place at the Göteborg Half Marathon is ready to run for a podium finish this year.
Reigning Olympic marathon champion Tiki Gelana (ETH), who most recently took home the bronze at the Tokyo Marathon, will be gunning for gold at ADHM.
Helah Kiprop (KEN) is a familiar name in the Indian running scenario, having won the TCS World 10K and Cochin Half Marathon, armed with silver at the 2015 World Championships Marathon and is one to watch out;NetsanetGudeta (ETH) has represented her country at the World Half Marathon Championships, and was placed first at the Valencia Half Marathon with her personal best time of 67:31; WudeAyalew (ETH) is also a household name in the Indian circuit, having run at ADHM thrice before, as well as at the TCS World 10K 2015 held in Bangalore where she placed second.
Other super fast male athletes in the field are Birhanu Legese (ETH, Berlin Half Marathon 2015, 59:45), Shumi Dechasa (BRN, World Championships Marathon 2015, 2:14:35), Geoffrey Kirui (KEN, Yangzhou Half Marathon 2015, 59:55), Fentahun Hunegnaw (ETH, All-Africa Games half marathon 2015, 65:27), JosphatKiptis (KEN, Prague 10k 2015, 29:07), Vincent Rono (KEN, CPC Half Marathon 2015, 60:52), Jackson Kiprop (UGA, World Championships Beijing 2015, 2:15:15), Moses Kipsiro (UGA, Great South Run 10 miles, 46:00), and Abrar Osman (ERI, World Championships 10.000m, 27:43.21).
A few more notable female athletes participating at the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon are Genet Yalew (ETH, Valencia Half Marathon, 68:12), Valentine Kipketer (KEN, Amsterdam Marathon 2013, 2:23:02), Tadelech Bekele (ETH, Berlin Marathon 2015, 2:25:01), Gladys Chesir (KEN, Berlin 10K, 30:41), and Beatrice Mutai (KEN, Lisbon Half Marathon 2015, 69:50).
The race will flag off from the iconic Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, on 29th November 2015.
