PRESS RELEASE 1 March 2017 World Record Holders and Olympic Medalists at the Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon Today the RunCzech Organisation announced a World-Class field including two World Record Holders; Peres Jepchirchir and 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 Half Marathon. The women’s list features the reigning World Champion, Peres Jepchirchir fresh from her Half marathon World Record performance (1:05:06 in RAK) in February. She will be challenged 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 young star, Joyciline Jepkosgei (1:06:08 in RAK this year). The race will include two other women with PRs under 1:07; Worknesh Degefa of Ethiopia, the former event record holder and Kenyan Gladys Chesir. Of interest also are two American challengers Jordan Hasay who debuted in Houston this year with a 1:08:40 and Maegan Krifchin (1:09:51) along with the fastest Czech woman, Eva Vrabcova. The men’s field is also blessed with a World Record Holder in the person of Leonard Patrick Komon who claims road records at 10K and 15K which he set in 2010. Komon 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 Usti nad Labem 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 Dubai Marathon in January. His winning time of 2:04:11 made him the ninth fastest performer of all-time. The Rio Olympic Marathon Bronze and 10.000 OG London Silver medalist Rupp who is pointing for a fast performance at the Boston Marathon this year is always competitive and could challenge the American record. 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 BETT Benard Kiplangat KEN 1:00:36 RUPP Galen USA 1:01:20 MEUCCI Daniele ITA 1:01:06 TOP 10 WOMEN JEPCHUMBA Violah KEN 1:05:51 JEPCHIRCHIR Peres KEN 1:05:06 JEPKOSGEI Joyciline KEN 1:06:08 DEGEFA Worknesh ETH 1:06:14 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 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 .