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Former half marathon world record holders Ababel Yeshaneh and Peres Jepchirchir will go head-to-head at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon.
The 2021 New York City Marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir will face a stern test at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon as she goes up against Ethiopia’s Ababel Yeshaneh.
Yeshaneh will be making a return to the event even hungrier after failing to finish the race at the 2022 edition.
The former Half Marathon world record holder, however, had a great 2023 season, winning two of her races, the 10km race at the Nationale Nederlanden San Silvestre Vallecana in Madrid and the half marathon at the 21K Buenos Aires Ñandú. She was also in action at the 2023 Boston Marathon where she finished fourth.
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08:30 - 16.01.2024
ATHLETICS Koech, Jepchirchir lead stellar lineup at Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon
Kenyan champions Benard Kibet Koech and Peres Jepchirchir return to Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, promising thrilling competition.
Follow the Pulse Sports Kenya WhatsApp Channel for more news.
However, Yeshaneh also has sweet memories of the course since it is the scene of one of her greatest victories. The 32-year-old has fond memories of Al Marjan Island having set the then Half Marathon World Record of 64:31 when she claimed the women’s title there in 2020.
That time remains her personal best at the distance, although in the full marathon, she also has two runner-up finishes to her name in Chicago (2019) and Boston (2022) as well as a third-place finish at the New York Marathon in 2021.
Meanwhile, Jepchirchir had a mixed 2023 season, finishing third at the London Marathon and failing to compete at the New York City Marathon due to an injury. She however managed to defend her title at the World Road Running Championships to add her name to the history books.
This year, Jepchirchir seeks to defend her Olympic marathon title and she will have to burn the midnight oil if she has to realise her dream.
Joining Bernard Kibet in the men’s race will be the Ethiopian duo of Tamirat Tola and Seifu Tura. Tola will make his debut in the Emirate just three months after winning the 2023 New York City Marathon.
The Ethiopian has a personal best of 59:13 and is no stranger to the flat, fast roads of the Middle East having won the Dubai Marathon in 2017.
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Tura returns to the race route on the iconic Al Marjan Island with a half marathon personal best of 58:36, which he set when finishing fourth at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon two years ago.
Now 26, Tura is an established distance runner with several impressive results on his CV most notably a superb victory in the 2021 Chicago Marathon. He also has four other top-six finishes in Major Marathons including a runners-up spot in Chicago in 2022 and two fifth-place finishes in London and Chicago last year.
As well as a wealth of elite distance runners, the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon will also offer races at 10km, 5km, and 2km runs for athletes of all ages and abilities.
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