New Delhi: Defending champion Edwin Kipyego of Kenya reckons that Sunday's 2013 Airtel Delhi Half Marathon would be the "toughest" ever field he has competed in his career but said he was confident of winning the event by clocking his personal best.
"The field is very strong. It is the toughest that I have competed ever. But I have trained hard and I will look to better my personal best here," Kipyego told reporters here today.
The Delhi Half Marathon will witness the best-ever elite field, which will include four men and women currently in top 10 of 2013 rankings.
"I don't think about the competition, there is no fear, I want to improve and I want to clock sub 60 on Sunday. I am just four seconds shy of the mark," said Kipyego, who has a personal best of 60.04 which he recorded at 2013 Philadelphia Half Marathon.
"I have good memories of last year. It was hot and humid but still I won. I am thankful to the organisers for pushing it to December. It favours us, it feels cool but not really cold, so it is better for competition," he added.
His compatriot Kenya's Geoffrey Kipsang, who has the fastest time of the year to his credit, is also in the field. Ranked number one in IAAF top lists after turning in his personal best of 58:54 in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Half Marathon this year, Kipsang is rearing to go on Sunday.
"I was here in 2011, I was second. But I am here again and I want to do well this time. I have been preparing hard and hope good things happen on Sunday," said the former world junior cross country champion, who is also the star of a movie called "The Unknown Runner".
Another Kenyan women athlete, Lucy Kabuu, who won the RAK Half Marathon in February, said she wants to win the race for her three-year-old daughter.
"In 2011, I won the Delhi Half Marathon with my personal best of 67:04 and I thank God for giving me another chance to compete here again. This year I did not do well in Moscow and two weeks ago I was down with Malaria but my daughter wants me to win on Sunday and I will run for her," said Lucy, who has a personal best timing of 66:09 during RAK Half Marathon.
The event was also attended by Meseret Hailu, World Champion 2012, and elite athlete coordinator Jos Hermens.
There are many other names to look forward in the men's field, including Sammy Kitwara, who has two sub-59 and sub-60 timings, Dennis Kimetto, the 25 km world record holder, Wilson Kiprop, winner of the Lisbon and Roma Half Marathons in 2013, Leonard Langat, Daniel Chebii, Ethiopian Ghirmay Gebresealassie and Qatar's Nicholas Kemboi, winner of the Rabat Half Marathon 2013.
In women's competition, defending champion Wude Ayalew, Gladys Cherrono, winner of the Pragu Half Marathon 2013, Florence Kiplagat, winner of the Berlin Marathon 2013 are the top names.
