PRESS RELEASE 22 March 2017

World Record Holder and Olympic Medalists at the Sportisimo Prague Half

RunCzech Organisation has announced a World-Class field including a World Record Holder; Leonard Patrick Komon, and two Rio Olympic Medalists; Galen Rupp and Tamirat Tola who will compete on April 1st in the 2017 edition of the Sportisimo Prague .

Although the reigning women’s half marathon World Record Holder, Peres Jepchirchir was forced to withdraw from the race due to a bout with a serious virus the women’s field remains very strong. It will be led by the Prague event record holder Violah Jepchumba (1:05:51) who ran the fastest half marathon in the world in 2016, and RunCzech Racing’s rising young star, (1:06:08 in RAK this year).

The race will also include another young star with a PR under 1:07, Kenyan Gladys Chesir. Of interest also are the two American challengers Jordan Hasay who debuted in Houston this year with 1:08:40 and Maegan Krifchin (1:09:51) along with the fastest Czech woman, Eva Vrabcova (1:11:06) looking for a substantial improvement.

The men’s field is blessed with a World Record Holder, Komon who claims road records at 10K and 15K which he set in 2010. He will be trying to improve on his third place finish in Prague from 2015.

The biggest threat may come from another Kenyan, Barselius Kipyego who ran 59:15 in the Mattoni Usti nad Labem Half Marathon last September setting a course record on what had not previously been considered a fast course. But they both will face strong contenders in the Rio and London OG medalists, Galen Rupp of the U.S. and Tamirat Tola from Ethiopia.

Tola took a Bronze medal in the 10,000 metres in Rio and he looks to be in top condition this year after his win in the in January. His winning time of 2:04:11 made him the ninth fastest performer of all-time. The Rio Olympic Marathon Bronze and London 10,000 OG Silver medalist Rupp, who is pointing for a fast performance at the Boston Marathon this year, is always competitive and could challenge the ten year old U.S. record of 59:43.

The Czech men will feature Jiri Homolac who is currently training in Iten, Kenya in the hope of breaking 1:03 for the first time.

TOP 10 MEN

KIPYEGO Barselius KEN 0:59:15 KOMON Leonard Patrick KEN 0:59:14 YEGON Geoffrey KEN 0:59:44 YATOR Vincent Kipsegechi KEN 0:59:55 TOLA Tamirat ETH 1:00:06 KIPYATICH Abraham KEN 1:00:03 TEWELDE Hiskel ERI 1:00:29 RUPP Galen USA 1:00:30 MEUCCI Daniele ITA 1:01:06 HOMOLÁČ Jiří CZE 1:03:50

TOP 10 WOMEN

JEPCHUMBA Violah KEN 1:05:51 JEPKOSGEI Joyciline KEN 1:06:08 CHESIR Gladys KEN 1:06:57 CHERUIYOT Lucy KEN 1:08:17 HASAY Jordan USA 1:08:40 JELAGAT Viola KEN 1:09:27 AIYABEI Valary KEN 1:09:33 KRIFCHIN Maegan USA 1:09:51 VRABCOVÁ Eva CZE 1:11:06 FLOREA Monica Madalina ROM 1:11:56

If you are interested in further information or print quality photos, please get in touch with:

Prague International Marathon, spol. s. r.o. / Tempo Team Prague s.r.o. Tadeáš Mahel

PR & Media mob: +420 725 974 749, tel: 233 015 021 Františka Křížka 461/11, 170 00 Praha 7 e-mail: [email protected]

Note: The attached photos may only be used in conjunction with this press release and indicating RunCzech as the source.

Notes for editors: http://www.runczech.com/en/for-the-media/notes-for-editors/index.shtml