World half marathon record-holder Jacob Kiplimo will have his eye on another record – an Indian all-comers’ mark – when he takes to the start line of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, a World Athletics Elite Label road race, on October 16.
The 21-year-old Ugandan is the reigning world half marathon champion and last year ran his phenomenal world record time of 57:31 in Lisbon.
Kiplimo has already had an outstanding 2022, winning both the RAK Half Marathon in Ras Al Khaimah in February in a world-leading 57:56 and then the Great North Run half marathon last Sunday.
Between those two races, Kiplimo focused on the track and won a 10,000m bronze medal at the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 and then a memorable golden 5000m and 10,000m double at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Ethiopia’s Amedework Walelegn improved the Delhi course record to 58:53 in 2020, but Kiplimo believes he can run the fastest half marathon ever seen on Indian soil during his first visit to the country next month.
“I have been told that the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon course is a quick one and the record suggests that you can run fast times there. It is always dangerous to make predictions about what you are going to do, but what I can say is that with a month to go to the race I am in good shape, and I will focus on preparing specifically for the race over the next few weeks,” he said.
“I had a successful track season, although I would have liked to have done a little better at the World Championships. But I have not raced too much this year, so I am still fresh and I want to show the people of Delhi and India what I am capable of.”
Meanwhile, participants in the mass participation event at next year’s London Marathon will be able to register as non-binary, rather than male or female.
The change, which does not affect the elite races, will be a “significant step” in improving the race’s inclusion said director Hugh Brasher.
“Changes such as this demonstrate our commitment to making the London Marathon for everyone,” he added.
Boston Marathon announced a similar change earlier this week.
The elite races and their prizes will continue to be divided into male and female categories only.
The 2023 London Marathon will return to its traditional springtime slot for the first time in four years when it takes place on Sunday 23 April.
The ballot for the 2023 event will open on October 1, the day before 2022’s race is held.
More than 350,000 people applied to run in the 2022 event after an estimated 80,000 took part in the 2021 event, virtually or in person.
