Distance running legend Kenenisa Bekele and superstar long distance runner Florence Jebet Kiplagat will compete in the Tata Steel Kolkata 25K on December17.
It will be the first ever race in India for Bekele, a three-time Olympic gold medallist and 18-time World champion. For the first time he will participate in a 25K race.
Bekele’s 25km best is 1:12:47, an intermediate time when he ran in the Berlin Marathon last year and won the race in 2:03:03.
The World record of 1:11:18 for 25K was set by Kenya’s Denis Kimetto in 2012.
Kenyan Kiplagat will head the women's field. She is also a World champion on multiple surfaces, having won at the 2009 IAAF World cross country championships and the 2010 IAAF World half-marathon championship.
She is also a former half-marathon World record holder. The World record in a women’s only race is 1:22:47 achieved by Great Britain’s Paula Radcliffe achieved it in 2005 en-route to her World marathon title in Helsinki.
Kiplagat has a personal best which is faster than the World record. She ran 1:22:17 in the Chicago Marathon, a mixed race, last month.
Bekele to run 25km in india on December 17. What is this imply for his next marathon?
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It depends if this is some glorified appearance fee or if it's him doing a legitimate race. If its the latter, then I'd think he'd be doing Dubai as it's been said he does best when he has races on the docket and not too much time between things.
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I found an article on it. It says Bekele is hoping for at least at the "very least" for course record.
T"he TSK25K seems to be the perfect opportunity: the route is historic, the weather expected to be cool and I am hoping to set a new course record, at the very least. I look forward to running in Kolkata and hope my presence motivates people to come and run,” said Bekele.
The course record is soft. It "stands at 1:17:16 from 2016 by the Indian international distance runner Govindan Lakshaman, which is also the Indian national record.... The Asian all-comers record is 1:12:46 while the Ethiopian national record and former 25km world record is 1:11:37, held by the equally legendary Haile Gebrselassie."
https://medium.com/alberto-stretti/kenenisa-bekele-and-florence-kiplagat-to-compete-in-tata-steel-kolkata-25k-38445585bf2a -
If Tata is sponsoring the event he will probably be getting a new Jaguar or Range Rover.
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Wow that will be a good way to end literally the year after all the disappointments he has in last 3 marathons. I was thinking he should do something like that because Kipchoge did similar with run Delhi last year to win. I think he needs it to sharper for next year marathons. A good really hard run maybe around world record time will make the first half of Dubai feel more easier. I'm really looking forward to his results in India. Also is it just me or do Ethiopians look like very Indians? Could be an advantage for him in India. I can't wait. Will he get a Jaguar? I'm sure he can buy the whole Jaguar company after he retires. I recommend an xj220 literally. You need to sharper up a long race with a shorter race to do well in the longer race I think. I hope Hermes has been couching him well since Berlin.
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rojo wrote:
It depends if this is some glorified appearance fee or if it's him doing a legitimate race. If its the latter, then I'd think he'd be doing Dubai as it's been said he does best when he has races on the docket and not too much time between things.
This is 100% appearance money related. The race is rich. its a no brainer for for him.
Im sure Jos is plotting his next marathon, he likes Paris and the pay well upfront. London is to loaded for him to win. -
Banana Bread wrote:
Wow that will be a good way to end literally the year
I think he should be satisfied if he ended the year figuratively. -
Money for fun wrote:
London is to loaded for him to win.
First, it is "too". Second, Bekele is the greatest distance runner of all time and has run 2:03:02. A good field is no obstacle for him winning, it comes down to his preparation and the kind of day he has. -
Bunna wrote:
Distance running legend Kenenisa Bekele and superstar long distance runner Florence Jebet Kiplagat will compete in the Tata Steel Kolkata 25K on December17.
It will be the first ever race in India for Bekele, a three-time Olympic gold medallist and 18-time World champion. For the first time he will participate in a 25K race.
Bekele’s 25km best is 1:12:47, an intermediate time when he ran in the Berlin Marathon last year and won the race in 2:03:03.
The World record of 1:11:18 for 25K was set by Kenya’s Denis Kimetto in 2012.
Kenyan Kiplagat will head the women's field. She is also a World champion on multiple surfaces, having won at the 2009 IAAF World cross country championships and the 2010 IAAF World half-marathon championship.
She is also a former half-marathon World record holder. The World record in a women’s only race is 1:22:47 achieved by Great Britain’s Paula Radcliffe achieved it in 2005 en-route to her World marathon title in Helsinki.
Kiplagat has a personal best which is faster than the World record. She ran 1:22:17 in the Chicago Marathon, a mixed race, last month.
It implies that he will run 25k and drop out, disappointing everyone yet again. -
Lung Cancer
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no YOURE hilarious wrote:
First, it is "too".
Second, the endquote comes after the period. -
learn before judging others wrote:
no YOURE hilarious wrote:
First, it is "too".
Second, the endquote comes after the period.
Why TF would the quote come after the period? -
Expect great things!
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No London will assemble the weakest marathon field, At least it will be as weak field as Chicago marathon , so slow Mo a 2:08 marathoner might win it