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Kimeli and Cheptai won last year's races to set new course records.
Commonwealth Games 5000m silver medallist Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli and former World Cross-country champion Irene Cheptai will return to defend their men’s and women’s crowns respectively at the World 10k race in Bengaluru on Sunday, May 21 after setting course records last year.
Kimeli scorched the course in a time of 27:38 and Cheptai stormed to victory in 30:35. Kimeli is optimistic about his title defense since his training so far has been top notch.
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12:59 - 06.05.2023
ATHLETICS Kipchoge pays glowing tribute to the man who helped him run historic sub-two-hour marathon
The world marathon record holder celebrated the British billionaire and his firm for helping him make history in Vienna four years ago
“I’m excited to be defending my title. I’ve prepared well and am feeling confident,” Kimeli said.
The top 12 runners in the men’s field, hold personal bests under the course record and the top three have timed below 27minutes which makes the current line-up one of the closest and most competitive.
Sabastian Sawe, who finished seventh in this year’s World Cross Country Championships in Australia will also be in the mix. Sawe went ahead to win the Berlin Half Marathon and his recent event has been the 10km race at the Adizero Road to Records.
In the men’s fray, Ethiopians Gemechu Dida and Birhanu Legese and Ugandan Stephen Kissa are part of the start list.
Legese is a two-time winner of the Tokyo Marathon and a Berlin Marathon silver medallist. He is also a former champion of the Delhi Half Marathon and the Tata Steel Kolkata 25K.
The top spot has eluded him at the TCS World 10K Bengaluru but he has finished on the podium a few times.
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11:59 - 06.05.2023
ATHLETICS ‘Umewaramba’! Olunga leads praise for Kipyegon after her blistering win in Doha
The Harambee Stars skipper expressed his delight at seeing his compatriot obliterate the field in the Qatari capital
“I’m feeling very positive but I hope that things fall my way,” said Legese.
On his part, Dida is in good form after winning the 10K in Lille, France in March and a fourth place at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in February.
Kissa, a Tokyo Olympian over the 10,000m, brings years of track speed to the road and clocked an impressive 2:04.48 on his debut Haspa Marathon in Hamburg in 2022. He was also a third-place finisher at the 2020 Delhi Half Marathon in 58:56.
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08:59 - 06.05.2023
ATHLETICS Cheruiyot reveals season’s plans after impressive fifth place finish at Doha Diamond League
The 27-year-old was delighted with his performance in the 3,000m against the race’s specialists
Meanwhile, in the women’s section, the top four runners have personal bests under the course record. Cheptai is bound to face strong opposition from the Ethiopian duo of Dera Dida and Tsehay Gemechu.
However, Cheptai is not shaken by the strong field as she seeks to defend her title. She noted that all that will depend on her health during the race day.
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08:40 - 06.05.2023
ATHLETICS Faith Kipyegon sets ambitious goal after successfully opening her season in Doha
The double world champion destroyed a strong field to win the women's 1,500m in 3:58.57.
“I’m thrilled to be back in Bengaluru and I have fond memories of India. I’ve trained well, but a lot depends on how you feel on race day,” said Cheptai.
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