Rwanda’s upcoming long distance runner Sylvain Rukundo will make his debut at the third edition of the Rak half marathon due this Friday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Rukundo departed for the Abu Dhabi yesterday afternoon aboard Kenya Airways and was expected to make final preparations today (Wednesday) and Thursday before leading Rwanda’s quest for gold at the event on Friday.

Early this month, Rukundo finished 14th in his international half marathon debut clocking 1:06:07 in the San Blas half marathon in Puerto Rico.

The 20-year-old will be the second Rwandan athlete to take part in this Iaaf Silver Label status race. Dieudonne Disi finished 8th last year in the Rak Half marathon.

Meanwhile, a total of 13 men in the field have broken the still much respected one hour barrier ensuring that for the third consecutive year, that mark at least should go.

Just two years ago, at the inaugural staging of the event, Kenya’s now Olympic Marathon Champion Samuel Wanjiru raced to a 58:53 clocking, then a world best and still the second fastest time in history.

After winning in 59:35 with a dip for the line in the 2008 event, 23 year-old Kenyan Patrick Makau is back to defend his title and possibly go faster still.

Since winning the Rotterdam half marathon in 59:29 last September, Makau gained a second consecutive silver medal in the Iaaf World Half Marathon Championships in Rio de Janeiro last October; the credentials of the young Kenyan are undoubted.

Makau, who has now broken the 60 minute barrier six times, will find retaining his Rak title very hard however.

He is up against Ethiopian Deriba Merga, the Olympic Marathon fourth placer, who recently won the Delhi Half Marathon in 59:15, equal fastest of the year.

Another Kenyan Wilson Kipsang with 59:16 for second in Delhi, and Abel Kirui (2:06:51 for 2nd in Berlin Marathon 2007) will present a huge challenge in what promises to be the greatest in-depth half marathon in history.

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