Eliud Kiptanui Favored To Win Langueux 10K

He’s struggled with injury this year, but his agent says he’s ready to race.

Prague Marathon champion Eliud Kiptanui is at the top of the starting list in this weekend’s Langeux 10K in Breton, France. Despite his stunning win in Prague last year where he clocked 2:05:39–good for eight-fastest in the world in 2010–Kiptanui has been struggling as of late.

He had to stop three times in this year’s Rotterdam Marathon and ran a relatively pedestrian 2:09:08.  And then last week, he finished in second at the Olomouc Half Marathon in the Czech Republic. Apparently, back problems had plagued him in that race.

His agent, Volker Wagner, says he is healthy to race this weekend.

Kiptanui, 22 years old, trains in Kenya, but lives in Germany during the European racing season.

In the women’s race, Yelena Zadorozhnaya of Russia is the clear favorite. She is primarily a 3000m and 5000m runner. Ethiopia’s Atsede Bayesa, a marathon specialist, will be giving her a run for the money.

For More: IAAF