World Champions Prepare To Race In Holland

The Kenyan squad is well represented in this Sunday’s 15K.

Some of the best runners the world has ever seen are assembling in the Netherlands to take on the JCL Montferland Run 15K race this Sunday. At the top of the pre-race favorites list on the men’s side is marathon ace Abel Kirui.

Kirui is a two-time world champion in the 26.2-mile distance, proving himself yet again in Daegu this past year. But Kirui’s race on Sunday will be anything but a cakewalk. He will face off against fellow Kenyans John Mwangang and Philip Langat. Mwangang won the Paris 20K earlier this year, while Langat took first in the Singelloop 10K in Utrecht this September.

Also in the mix is 19-year-old Gideon Kipketer, who came in just a few seconds behind Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele in this year’s 4 Miles of Groningen race.

On the women’s side, all eyes are on last year’s ING New York City Marathon champion and reigning world champion, Edna Kiplagat. A slight injury prevented her from returning to the Big Apple to defend her title this year and there is a lot of speculation as to how she will race in Holland on Sunday.

For More: IAAF