Course records under threat in Karlovy Vary Half Marathon

Ethiopians Mulu Seboka and Tsehay Desalegn look set to challenge the course record at the Karlovy Vary Half Marathon on 24 May.

Marathon specialist Mulu Seboka is the leading name in the field for the Mattoni Karlovy Vary Half Marathon, an IAAF Silver Label Road Race, which takes place on 24 May.

Seboka’s half marathon lifetime best stands at a modest 73:20 but the Ethiopian is one of the most consistent marathon-runners on the global stage. Last year, Seboka won big-city marathons in Dubai (2:25:01), Daegu (2:25:23) and Toronto (2:23:15) and just a few months ago, the 31-year-old lowered her lifetime best to 2:21:56 to finish sixth in Dubai.

Seboka will be joined by her team-mate Tsehay Desalegn and between them, they could challenge Christelle Daunay’s course record of 69:17.

In total, five women with sub-71 minute lifetime bests and seven men with sub-61 minute lifetime bests will be lining up in the Czech town later this month.

“The elite start pack is of a high calibre, and on top of this, for the first time ever the race will be streamed live on Seznam.cz.

“These are two key steps towards achieving Gold IAAF Quality Label status which we’d love to make happen for Karlovy Vary,” said president of the organising committee Carlo Capalbo.

In the men’s race, Nicholas Kipkemboi and Edwin Kiptoo share the exact same personal best of 60:11 and are expected to feature strongly. The course record of 61:21 could also fall within their compass as well.

Source: WorldRunning.com