[October 1]

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Challenge Louroupe-Meyer & Kenya-Rumania
Kenya, who suffered a surprise defeat in Palma de Mallorca last year at the hands of Italy, are booked as favourites in the 6^th IAAF/VSZ World Half Marathon Championships (21.097 km) which will take place in Kosice in the Slovak Republic on Saturday 4 October. Moses Tanui, who holds the world best mark in the event with his 59:47 in Milan in 1993, will lead a Kenyan team which includes athletes like Shem Kororia - who has personal bests of 13:04.51 in the 5000m and 60:23 in the half marathon - Kenneth Cheruiyot (60:45 over 21.097 km), Joshua Chelanga (27:36.62 in the 10,000m and 61:02 in the half marathon) and Laban Chege (62:10). The standard is high and we can be sure of a hard battle up to the finish, where the winner will receive a prize of $40,000, second $20,000; third $15,000 and so on down to sixth place with $5,000.
But the path to success could be a thorny one, even for the Kenyans. Spain, a country with strong traditions in distance running, will be fielding as team leader Alejandro Gomez, who this year has run 2:07.57 in the marathon, 61:20 in the half marathon and 27:39.38 in the 10,000m. Gomez will be backed up by Antonio Pena, Bartolome Serrano and Carlos De La Torre.
Another team capable of challenging the Kenyans will be that of South Africa, with Hendrick Ramaala (60:25), Adam Motlagale (61:11) and Gert Thys (61:39): a strong trio of runners with strong powers of pure resistance and resistance at speed.
Italy does not look as strong this year, despite the presence of the defending world champion Stefano Baldini. However, Baldini will still be among the favourites for the individual title in what promises to be a particularly close race and where athletes like Nema Tuluway (TAN), Joaquim Pinheiro (POR), Brazilians Eduardo Do Nascimento and Sergio Da Silva, the American David Morris and Germany’s Stephane Franke will all be in the running.
The women’s race will be particularly exciting. The race starts at 10:15 - 15 minutes after the men - with Tegla Louroupe (KEN) likely to set the pace. This magnificent, light runner, who always looks as though she is caressing the asphalt rather than putting her weight down, is a model of resistance. Her victory in the New York Marathon and her success in Rotterdam with 2:22:07, put her among the all time greats. She will be facing a worthy adversary in the shape of Elana Meyer of South Africa, who could cause her some problems over the half marathon distance. There will also be a strong group of Rumanian specialists, including Aurica Buia, Cristina Pomacu and Alina Tecuta.
Indeed, the team battle between Kenya and Rumania will be closer than ever with Delilah Asiago, Helen Kimaiyo, Lucia Subano and Joyce Chepchumba following Louroupe’s lead. There has never before been a Kenyan women’s team: the fact that there is one in Kosice is also a sign of the growth and strength of women’s athletics in Africa.