Posted: April 2, 2005

Athletics: Kirui Destroys Record, Praises New Prague Half-Marathon Course

Kenya’s Silas Kirui literally destroyed the opposition and the men’s course record when he won the 7th edition of the Hervis Prague ½ Marathon today.

The Kenyan came in on 1.01:07 to beat his compatriot Stanley Salil in second place by a huge margin of 38 seconds. Salil finished on 1.01.45 while defending champion Joseph Ngeny was third in 1.01:56.

Three other Kenyans, Daniel Rono, Kiprop Simion Tuitoek and Muia Boniface Usisivu filled up the top six positions. Robert Stefko of the Czech Republic was the first non-Kenyan and the first European in 7th place.

“I kept with the pace up until the 15th km, then I realize that I can go for it” said Kirui for his success in Prague. “I heard yesterday that the [new Hervis Prague ½ Marathon] course could prove either a blessing or a curse. I’m happy that it actually proved the former. [The course] helped me a lot into this.”

The Kirui surname was heard twice on the awards podium this year in Prague. Kirui’s namesake Susan, did not break any records but she was just as happy in winning the women’s race in 1.12:49. She beat yet another Kenyan, 23-year-old Jennifer Lunkgakwiang, who was second almost in 1.13.36. Local favorite, Jana Klimesova, came in a distant third in 1.15:31, but she was equally pleased with the result as she only recently returned to running after she had a baby.

Hervis 1/2Marathon had already wrote itself in the event’s record books, long before both Kirui came in to claim their titles on Saturday. The number of participants for this year’s event, which traditionally starts on Charles Bridge, one of Europe’s oldest monuments that dates back to the 13th century, closed at 3,450, a massive 1000 up on last year’s entries.

Race website: www.pim.cz.