Birhanu Legese Aims for Sub-59 Finish at Delhi Half Marathon
Elite international and Indian runners are gearing up for the Delhi Half Marathon this Sunday, with many targeting personal bests and sub-60 minute finishes. Among the top contenders is Ethiopia's Birhanu Legese, a two-time winner of the event, who is aiming for a remarkable sub-59-minute finish. After facing injury challenges last season, Legese feels he is in better physical condition this year. "This year, I have prepared well with good training and am in good shape. I am ready to compete on Sunday. The Delhi Half Marathon is a very good race for me, and I always like running here," he stated. He expressed optimism about the weather and pacing, suggesting that if conditions are right, he could finish around 58 minutes.
Legese also acknowledged the men's half-marathon world record held by fellow Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha, indicating that while he might consider attempting to break it in the future, his current focus is on marathon running.
Kenya's Charles Mbatha Matata, who finished as the runner-up at the Delhi Half Marathon in 2023, is also confident about breaking the one-hour barrier this year. He believes favorable conditions could help him challenge the course record. "I am confident in myself and believe I can run under 60 minutes. If the weather is good on Sunday, I trust myself to break my personal best and the course record too," Matata said, reflecting on how the race has positively impacted his life and family.
In the Indian men's elite field, Kartik Karkera is targeting a sub-1:05 finish after clocking 01:05:16 last year. He noted that his preparations were affected by his participation in the Asian Games marathon, leaving him with about 10 days of focused training for the half marathon. "I feel the super-compensation effect after the Asian Games marathon will help me run a very good race. I will definitely try to achieve a personal best and end my season on a high note," Karkera remarked. He believes the half marathon will be mentally easier than the full marathon and expects a closely contested race.
Rising Aspirations Among Indian Contenders
Kiran Matre is also in the mix, targeting a time of one hour and three minutes to improve on his previous performance. He mentioned that injuries delayed his season start until June but allowed him more time to prepare for the Delhi race. "My preparations are better than last time, and I am hoping to improve my timing. I have also been training at high altitude, so I should be able to break 1:03," Matre said.
Beyond the Finish
In the women's field, Kenya's Irine Cheptai, the 2022 Delhi Half Marathon winner, is aiming for a sub-68 minute finish despite not being at her peak following the recently concluded Sydney Marathon, where she finished second. "I am happy to come to New Delhi again. I hope to run well. I am not in my top shape right now because I have just come from the Sydney Marathon, but I hope to do my best," Cheptai said.
India's Lili Das is also looking to run faster than 1:16, despite limited preparation for the race. She expressed confidence in her ability to deliver a strong performance, stating, "I will try to run faster than 1:16 this time. I am not focusing too much on the podium, but I am confident that if I clock my best time, I can finish on the podium."
