New Delhi: Elite athletes runners Eliud Kipchoge, Augustine Choge, Peres Jepchirchir, Valeria Straneo , Helah Kiprop along with Patrick Sang interacted with the media at the ADHM 2016, Media centre at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The Rio olympic marathon gold medalist Eliud, who clocked his personal best (59:25 seconds) in his debut half marathon at Lille , will have tough competition on Sunday, 20th November from his compatriot and friend Augustine Choge whose best timing is 63:24, and Yigrem Demelash whose best timing is 59:49 .
Arguably the fastest among the long distance runners , Kenya’s Eluid Kipchoge was confident of his preparations for ADHM 2016 and targets to finish the race in under 60 minutes. While addressing the media, he said, “Through Delhi half marathon I hope to inspire millions and ignite in them a passion for distance running. . I believe preparation and planning is key to to deliver a great performance during race.
When asked about the changes which came into his life after wining many medals and Rio Olympic early this year. He stated, “the status changed but he is still the same Eliud. I am thankful to my coach Patrick Sang and am still learning and have a long way to go.
Along with he vastly experienced Eliud, Augustine Choge will also be running in this year’s ADHM for the very first time. He has thanked Eliud for being a great mentor and a motivator. Both of them will be competing against each other but the friendship will be intact both off track and on track.
Patrick Sang, the former athlete is back in India after 29 years, but this time he will be coaching Eliud to win his first title in the capital city of India. He takes pride on Eliud’s consistency and performance and feels teaching athletes depends on the percentage of calibre they have in running.
To add grace to ADHM, Peres Jepchirchir, the reigning World Champion half marathon will also make her debut. Her training sessions were filled with all new techniques which will bring out the best of her performance this sunday.
Present at the occasion was also Valeria Straneo who was brave enough to face the degraded weather condition in Delhi as she is trained in the hot Italian conditions as well. ADHM will also see the presence of Helah Kiprop, who is prepared and will deliver the best to improve her results.
Kipchoge and the rest of the elite runners will be chasing men’s and women’s first prizes of US$27,000, with a total prize fund of US$270,000.
