Deriba Merga

New Delhi, Nov 10: Deriba Merga of Ethiopia who has been two times defending champion will lead the field of World class runners in the Airtel Delhi half-marathon, which has a winning prize of $10,000 that is scheduled on Nov 21 here. Merga, whose best record is of 59.15 which was achieved in 2008 edition, is the fastest runner on track which contains all the other great challengers? There is total of 60 runners which include more than 10 players from sub-continent participating in it, which will make the event electrifying. Merga will have to face tough battle with his Ethiopian mate Eshetu Wendimu, whose personal best is 59.56 and also not forgetting his training mate Lelisa Desisa.

The extremely impressive Kenyan field will be headed by Geoffrey Mutai, whose personal best is 59.30, which was set when he had a title winning performance in RAK Half-Marathon conducted this year itself. Co-incidentally at that same race Merga was surprisingly defeated by Mutai. Mutai will be supported by his team mate and training partner Erick Ndiema, who has also run under hour mark this season. The other strong runners from Kenya in the list are Sammy Kosgei, Silas Kipruto, Kiplimo Kimutai and Leonard Lagat. Kosgei was the one who set the world record in the big 25 Km run where he finished the line in 1:11:50, while the other three which includes Kipruto, Kimutai and Lagat, have their personal best of 59.39, 59.36 and 59.56 respectively.

The other big contenders in the field include Moroccan Khalid El Boumlili and Moldovan Laroslav Muschinski. Aselefech Mergia will make a comeback after winning the 2008 edition. Aselefech, who recorded her personal best of 67.22 at RAK half-marathon this year, will be joined by her Ethiopian colleague Mare Dibaba, who recorded 67.13 at the same race, and the silver medallist in 2009 half-marathon Aberu Kebede. Sharon Cherop, the winner of the 2010 Toronto Marathon, will lead the Kenyan challenge.

Tags: Airtel, Athletics, Delhi Half Marathon, Deriba Merga, Eshetu Wendimu, Ethiopia, Geoffrey Mutai, Kenya, Kiplimo Kimutai, Leonard Lagat, Runners, Sammy Kosgei, Silas Kipruto