Rwandan duo of Sylvain Rukundo and Dieudonne Disi will be flying the country’s flag at this year’s Puerto Rico half marathon slated this weekend. The pair has been undergoing intensive high altitude training in Ruhengeri.

Rukundo will be making his debut while Disi will want to better his fifth place finish last year.   

Disi told Times Sport before departure on Tuesday that he has trained for this event and hopes to makes a good impression this time around.

"I believe I will make amendments this year. I hope to perform better in this race as I prepare many other races,” Disi said.

His compatriot Rukundo said, "Am expecting the best from this race. it is my first time to take part in this race.”

Both Disi and Rukundo will face tough competition from last year’s winner and still the favorite Evans Cheruiyot (Kenya) as well as seasoned campaigners like Benson Barus, who won last year’s Ostia Half Marathon in Rome, Italy and William Chebon Chebor.

Long distance ace Disi will use this race to put him in shape ahead of the Lagos Glo-Lagos international half marathon title due on February 21.

Competition for the grand prize in the Glo-half marathon is getting more intense as top international athletes jostle to register for the event.World champion Haile Gebrselassie will lead 100 elite international runners to the Glo Lagos International Half Marathon with winners sharing $210,000 and two Kia Picanto cars.

Disi won the inaugural event two years ago clocking 1 hour, 3 minutes and 5 seconds and $50.000 in cash prize.

Ends