Press Release - Olomouc Half Marathon - 4/18/14

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

   Champions Kipsang and Kiplagat to Run The Mattoni Olomouc Half Marathon

IAAF President Lamine Diack was recently quoted in Distance Running 
magazine "Last year road running was in the spotlight more than ever, with 
Wilson Kipsang's Marathon world record of 2:03:23 - the only senior world 
record in outdoor athletics during 2013 - and Edna Kiplagat's commanding 
defense of her World Marathon title. We can now look forward to 2014 full 
of optimism and excitement…". We have already had a taste of that predicted 
excitement with the recent victories in the Virgin Money London Marathon by 
the very same Wilson Kipsang in a course record 2:04:29 and Edna Kiplagat 
in 2:20:21. 

And now, perhaps a drum roll or a trumpet fanfare would be appropriate 
because Wilson Kipsang and Edna Kiplagat have both committed to run in the 
Czech Republic at the Mattoni Olomouc Half Marathon (21 June), one of the 
RunCzech Running League races. A marathon world record holder, a multiple 
marathon world champion, two Virgin Money London Marathon champions, and a 
London course record holder will all run in the city of Olomouc on June 
21st at 7:00 P.M. All of these personas are encapsulated in Kipsang and 
Kiplagat. 

With their wins in the Virgin Money London Marathon both Wilson and Edna 
strengthen claims to being the top marathoners in the world. Wilson 
defeated an Olympic and world champion, a course record holder, a defending 
champion, and a man who ran the fastest marathon ever (in Boston on a 
course that is not record eligible). He ran his fifth sub 2:05 race with 
two of those including his world record being under 2:04. In 2013 Edna 
became the first woman to retain the marathon world title she first earned 
in 2011 when she earned the first gold medal on the opening day of the 
World Athletics Championships. With her victory in London over the world 
record holders of the 5000m, 10,000m, and the half marathon she cemented 
her claim to marathon supremacy. 

The Chairman of the IAAF Road running Commission, David Bedford who is also 
the former Race Director of the Virgin Money London Marathon and still 
involved in recruiting the elite athletes for the race stated "We are 
pleased that our champions will run in Olomouc. We know our friends on the 
RunCzech Team will treat them well and they will have a chance to run in a 
professionally organized, top quality half marathon with strong competition 
and the famous RunCzech hospitality and community support."  

Now these two great champions will attempt to put their stamp on the half 
marathon distance in Olomouc. Olomouc is a small city of just over 110,000 
residents in Moravia in the eastern part of the Czech Republic and its half 
marathon has become very popular locally and an important part of the 
successful international RunCzech series of seven races. The race is an 
IAAF Silver Label road race and it has grown steadily in size and prestige 
over the past four years. This fifth anniversary race is sure to increase 
the prestige to a world class level in a beautiful and historic city that 
has made the event a celebration of sport and community.

The full elite athlete start list will be announced at a later date when it 
is finalized, but it will feature athletes with the half marathon 
credentials to challenge the obvious favorites. Further information on 
Olomouc and all of the RunCzech races including the 20th Volkswagen 
PragueMarathon on May 11, 2014 can be found at www.RunCzech.com. 

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