The sixth edition of the Mattoni Olomouc Half Marathon will feature the latest episode of the duelling training partners when Wilson Kipsang and Geoffrey Ronoh stand on the start line in the Czech Republic on Saturday, June 20 while the Kenyan theme of excellence will be boosted by the women’s former world record holder at the distance, Mary Keitany. The Mattoni Olomouc Half Marathon is an IAAF Gold Label road race and forms part of the seven events in the RunCzech series.
A year ago
Wilson Kipsang was the world record holder in the marathon and Geoffrey
Ronoh a little known member of Kipsang’s illustrious training group in
Kenya. That impression changed dramatically in the course of just over
one hour as Ronoh beat Kipsang by eight seconds to win the Olomouc title
in 60:17, his debut at the distance and only his second race at elite
level outside of Kenya. The duo, who remain training partners, will
renew their rivalry and both have shown the kind of form in 2015 which
suggests another epic contest is in prospect.
Kipsang lost his
pre-eminence in the marathon when his compatriot and training partner
Dennis Kimetto broke the world record in Berlin last September. However,
the 2012 Olympic marathon bronze medallist remains a formidable and
consistent competitor at any distance, as shown by his second place in 2:04:47
in the London Marathon in late April. He is confident that regular
strength sessions in the gym and track sessions have maintained his
ability to be a contender at the half marathon. Moreover, he relished
his debut in the RunCzech series last year in Olomouc: “People here love
the sport of running.” He has broken the hour for the distance on five
occasions, the best being 58:59 to win the Ras Al Khaimah event in 2009.
The
presence of Geoffrey Ronoh alongside Kipsang makes the prospect of a
men’s course record highly feasible. Ronoh holds that current honour
with 60:17 from last year’s win. In the week before the Volkswagen
Prague Marathon on May 3, where he improved his marathon time by almost
five minutes with 2:10:52
for fifth place, Ronoh was confident his current training would bring
rewards: “I’ve improved in training, meeting new targets for speedwork
and long runs, compared to a year ago.”
A back injury, now
healed, hindered his preparation for the Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon
in late March and he has long since been in a successful training
groove and also full of respect for his rival in Olomouc, Wilson
Kipsang: “He is my mentor, I learn from him. You may try to do other
things but they can hurt your career. He tells me, after a workout,
relax, take your time, wait for the next workout, things like that.”
Geoffrey Ronoh soon built upon his success in Olomouc a year ago,
bringing his best for the half marathon distance down to 59:45 with
victory at Klagenfurt in Austria two weeks before making a triumphant
return to Prague roads and winning the 10k race in the Birell Prague
Grand Prix on September 6.
Prospects
are also enticing for the women’s race in Olomouc where the former half
marathon world record holder Mary Keitany makes her Czech debut. She
has returned strongly from maternity leave, winning the highly
competitive Ras Al Khaimah event in mid-February in 66:02, the fourth
fastest performance in history and only 12 seconds slower than her world
record mark of 2011. She continued her form with second place in the
London Marathon on April 26. This form should put the Olomouc course
record of 68:53, set last year by the World marathon champion Edna
Kiplagat, under pressure. Whatever the stop watch shows after the race
on June 20, high quality competition should be on the menu.
Carlo
Capalbo, president of the RunCzech organising committee is among the
many running fans who is eagerly awaiting the starting gun of the
Mattoni Olomouc Half Marathon 2015: “Having such big athletic stars as
Wilson Kipsang and Mary Keitany is the best promotion not only for the
race but also for the city. Last year, Olomouc got the attention of the
whole athletic world, thanks to the surprise that caused the victory of
Geoffrey Ronoh. I believe that also this year we can look forward to
very fast times and superb sporting achievements.“
For further information online, please go to: www.runczech.com
Photo credit: Mattoni Olomouc Half Marathon