Rivals for Mo Farah, from EME News
LISBON (POR): The 25th Lisbon Half Marathon takes place on Sunday. Double World and Olympic champion Mo Farah (60:00, 2014) may be the star of the men’s field, but he is by no means the fastest. That title falls to the 9th fastest of all-time, Stephen Kibet of Kenya (58:54, 2012), the winner of the October Lisbon half marathon. The defending men’s champion Bedan Karoki will not be returning as he is on the Kenyan team for the World Cross Country, but last year’s runner-up Silas Kipruto (59:39, 2010) will toe the start line. Micah Kogo (59:07, 2012) will be another top Kenyan challenger, while World half marathon bronze medallist Guye Adola (59:06, 2013), who won the New Delhi half marathon in November may lead the Ethiopian charge. Belgium’s Bashir Abdi, who missed most of the cross country season due to an injury, will make his debut. In the women’s race, Priscah Jeptoo is the 5th fastest of all-time, with the 66:11 she ran to win the RAK half marathon in 2013. She has also run 65:45, but on the record ineligible Great North Run course. Her competition in Lisbon includes, Rose Chelimo (68:40, 2014), who is unbeaten this season, running a quick 68:53 in Adana. The home nation will be well represented by Sara Moreira (70:08, 2010) and Ana Dulce Felix (68:33, 2011). 2004 Olympic Champion Mizuki Noguchi of Japan is also in the field. The men’s course record is also the world record, 58:23 by Zersenay Tadese in 2010.
Author
Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."
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