Athletes chase world honours in Kavarna

When the gun sound goes off to signal the start of the men’s race at the 20th IAAF world half marathon championship today in the Bulgarian city of Kavarna, Rwandans will be focused on their representative quartet.The four-member team is comprised of Robert Kajuga, Cyriaque Ndayikengurukiye, Sylvain Rukundo and Jean Marie Vianney Uwajeneza.In 2010, Dieudonne Disi finished in sixth position in the 10,000m after clocking 1.03.03 to pocket $3000, while Rwanda men’s team walked away with the same amount for finishing sixth overall.This year’s team will face tough challenge from Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadese, the event’s World record holder who’ll be chasing a fifth global title at the event.In 2011, Tadesse clocked 58:30 in Lisbon, just seven seconds short of his World record and while he’s raced sparingly this year- he finished a notable sixth in the Olympic 10,000m in August, his most recent appearance.Other notable race favourite include Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge, who is no stranger to IAAF World Championships with 59:25. His compatriot, 22-year-old Pius Kirop, also has a 59:25 career best from Berlin earlier this year, but is already in his fourth season of international half marathon and could be ready for a breakout run.Faster still is Stephen Kibet Kosgei, who smashed through the one-hour barrier when he won the City Pier City Half Marathon at The Hague in March in 58:54. That performance, which elevated the 25-year-old into the No. 7 position all-time, is still the year’s second fastest.Kenya’s foursome will likely be rounded out by Philemon Limo who’s clocked 59:32 this year to win the Roma-Ostia Half Marathon, just two second off of his personal best. Limo, 27, also has Championship experience, having finished seventh at the 2011 World Cross Country Championships.Other prospects include Ethiopia’s Raji Assefa, Eritrea’s Samuel Tsegay, Uganda’s Nicholas Kiprono, who has a 1:00:25 career best and Stephen Mokoka of South Africa who has also run under 1:01:00 this season.A total prize money purse of $245,000 is on offer, paid to the first six finishers, with $30,000 going to the individual winners. Teams will be gunning for a $15,000 first place prize.Also on offer is a $50,000 World record bonus. That mark is 58:23 set by Tadese in Lisbon in March 2010.

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Athletes chase world honours in Kavarna