Jelena Prokopcuka Headlines Paris Half Marathon By David Monti
(c) 2008 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved February 27, 2008
Two-time ING New York City Marathon champion Jelena Prokopcuka of
Latvia is the leading entry for Sunday's Semi-Marathon de Paris in the
French capital.
Prokopcuka, 31, has a personal best of 1:08:11 for the half-marathon
--the fastest ever by a Latvian-- set at the BUPA Great North Run in
2005. She will be making her competitive debut for 2008 and, under
husband and coach Aleks Prokopcuk, is preparing for the Boston Marathon
on April 21.
Lining up against Prokopcuka in Paris, according to race organizer René
Auguin, will be veteran Linah Cheruiyot of Kenya (1:08:54 PB), and
Genet Getaneh of Ethiopia (1:10:30). Kenyans Joan Aiyabei and Beatrice
Omwanza will also be in the race.
Kenyans dominate the mens' field, and six men have broken the 61 minute
barrier. The leading contenders for victory are Wilson Chebet (1:00:13
PB), Shadrack Kiplagat (1:00:35), John Kales (1:00:47), David Langat
(1:00:47), and Jackson Kirwa (1:00:52).
The one-loop certified course, which begins and ends at the Esplanade
du Château de Vincennes, is fast, but not completely flat (lowest
elevation 32m, highest elevation 58m). The course records are 1:00:22
by Joseph Maregu of Kenya in 2007 and 1:09:37 by Alina Tecuta of
Romania in 1997. Prokopcuka has a very good chance of breaking the
women's record.
