Bengaluru: Two-time champion and the only athlete to defend the TCS World 10K crown last year, Mosinet Geremew will look for an unprecedented hat-trick when he hits the streets on Sunday morning.
Having produced a calculated performance to defend his title in the previous edition, the Ethiopian will have to come up with an effervescent show this time around if he is to continue his golden run in Bengaluru.
“(The) roads are better now than before, so that will be helpful,” said Geremew.
While it’s unlikely that there will be a challenge on the event record with the late start time for men, the sprinklers set up on the road and the smooth surface might just offset some of the difficulties with the heat.
With his best performance of 27:36s in 10K coming in Hyderabad which is a flat course, the defending champion might just need to revisit that strategy around considering the competition here.
Challenging Geremew for the title will be world record holder Leonard Komon, New Zealand’s Zane Robertson and compatriot Birhanu Legese, all of whom have better personal bests than the defending champion.
Following his world record effort of 26:44 seconds in 2010, Komon, the world record holder in 15K as well, is on a comeback trail from an injury. While it remains to be seen if he can reach the heights he achieved in the past, he will prove to be a formidable challenger.
“This is my first time in India. I’ve been training for the last three weeks and I’m ready. Weather is not such a big concern for me, so I’ll try my best,” he remarked.
Robertson, the fourth non-African to dip under an hour in half marathon, looks the most formidable athlete among the lot. With a personal best of 27:28s en route to his Berlin 10k triumph last year, the Kiwi’s preparations have been top-drawer.
“The late start of 8:50 am is scaring me,” said Robertson with a laugh. “I trained in the desert for the course record here so I’m prepared.”
Cheptai runaway favourite
Meanwhile among the elite women, Irene Cheptai looks the clear favourite. With gold medals in the Kenyan Cross country Championships and World Cross country championship this year, Cheptai will be the one to beat on Sunday.
“The world championship win has given me a lot of morale and I’ll give it my all on Sunday,” said the Kenyan.
The challengers looking to usurp Cheptai include Wude Ayalew, Gladys Chesir and the Bengaluru 10K veteran Helah Kiprop; the latter two being no strangers to the course.
“I hope to have a good race. Last year the humidity was high but I’ve prepared well so I’m not worried,” said Kiprop.
In contrast to the men’s race, which will begin much later than the previous year, the women’s race will in fact start 10 minutes earlier than before. With a field capable of creating upsets, the ladies’ race has all the ingredients to be the show stealer.
