Gladys Chepkurui hoping to put travel hitch behind her for Istanbul Half success
Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 27.04.24. | 11:36
Three years ago Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich broke the global mark in Istanbul with 64:02 which stands as the course record, one likely not to be challenged
Kenya’s Gladys Chepkurui head a strong field of elite women runners at the Türkiye Is Bankasi Istanbul Half Marathon set for Sunday 28 April.
With a personal best (PB) of 65:46, Chepkurui, who arrived in Istanbul late after missing her connecting flight, faces a challenging race with six other women on the list carrying sub 68:00 PBs and an additional three have run under 70:00.
The Kenyan clocked her 65:46 PB in Barcelona a year ago and has run sub 70:00 eleven times.
Ethiopians Betelihem Afenigus and Aberash Shilima are the third and fourth fastest on the entry list with PBs of 66:46 and 67:26 respectively.
However, a debutant could also be in the mix for a place on the podium. Just 21 years old Miriam Chebet showed great form and consistency this year with three sub 31:00 times at 10k. When she won the race in Ibiza, Spain, in January she clocked a fine PB of 30:40.
Three years ago Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich broke the global mark in Istanbul with 64:02. While the world record has been improved since, the course record still stands and will likely remain in place on Sunday.
However there could still be another very fast time from the women’s winner on Sunday. With a personal best of 66:04 Ftaw Zeray is the second fastest on the start list behind Chepkurui.
Three weeks ago the 26-year-old ran her first race of the year and finished runner-up in the Berlin Half Marathon. In very difficult conditions with temperatures well over 20 Celsius she still ran 67:22.
“I have well recovered from the race in Berlin. I feel I can run a personal best on Sunday," said Zeray, who was sixth in the World Half Marathon Championships last year.
With regard to the weather forecast high temperatures will not be a problem for Zeray on Sunday in Istanbul. But with six other women who have already run sub 68:00 the challenge is likely to be tougher than in the German capital.
Another promising debutant is Sweden’s Meraf Bahta. The European 5,000 m champion from 2014 is a late entry to the Türkiye Is Bankasi Istanbul Half Marathon.
The 34 year-old is the Swedish 10k record holder with a 31:22 PB from 2022. The former Eritrean could qualify for the European Championships if she runs 70:30 or faster in her debut. Due to an injury Italy’s Giovanna Epis had to withdraw from the race in Istanbul.
