Leonard Komon To Compete In Berlin 10K

He owns the world record at this distance.

(c) 2012 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Used with permission.

Organizers of the Berlin Runs Asics Grand 10 announced Thursday that 10K world record holder Leonard Patrick Komon will race in the German capital city on Sunday, October 14, aiming to win his third straight race title. Komon, 24, is the event record holder; he ran a German all-comers record of 27:12 in 2010.

Last year, Komon earned an easy victory by clocking a then world-leading time of 27:15. On Sunday, the Kenyan looks to be challenged by compatriots Alex Korio and David Kogei, both of whom own personal bests under 28 minutes. Also in the field is Olympic steeplechaser Steffen Uliczka of Germany.

Komon has raced only four times this year, most recently winning the Dam tot Dam 10 mile in the Netherlands. There he split 10K in 27:36, seven seconds shy of the current world leading time — Geoffrey Mutai’s 27:29 run at the B.A.A. 10K in Boston.

Anna Hahner (GER), Katarina Beresova (SLO), and Lucie Sekanova (CZE) lead the list of women’s entrants for Sunday’s race. Run on a loop course leading through the western part of Berlin’s center, the race takes participants through parts of the Berlin Zoo. Nearly 7,000 runners are expected to compete.