NAIROBI, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- New York Marathon gold medalist Geoffrey Kamworor and former world record-holder Peres Jepchirchir lead the field to the Copenhagen half marathon on Sept. 15 in Denmark's capital.
Kamworor, who is a three-time world half marathon champion, has won the first of his consecutive global titles in the city in 2014 and is one of 11 athletes in the field to have run under the hour.
He will be seeking faster time to prove his fitness before heading to New York Marathon on Nov. 1. "I am hoping on a fast time in Copenhagen," said Kamworor on Monday. "I want to push harder and see how I rank."
The 26-year-old, has turned down the chance to compete at the World Championships in Doha, Qatar later this month to focus on the Copenhagen race and strengthening up for the New York Marathon (Nov. 1) where he intends to reclaim the title he last won in 2017.
"I need to gauge my preparations. It will be great to return to Denmark and win the Copenhagen half marathon," he said on Monday.
Kamworor was pre-race favorite at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships Aarhus 2019 in Denmark in March.
He had to settle for third at that occasion, but in May he once again clearly demonstrated his current strength when winning a ten-mile road race in Bern, Switzerland, clocking 44:57 to become the 11th fastest to ever cover the distance.
He will come up against Istanbul champion Bernard Ng'eno.
"I will feel great that I will be facing Kamworor in Copenhagen. I feel this is the right time to run against him. I know he is strong enough but that will not stop me from running my best because I will be running against time, not an individual," said Ng'eno.
Others in the lineup include Solomon Yego (58:44) who is quickest, while Simon Cheprot (59:20) and Edwin Kiptoo (59:26) could challenge.
Top non-Kenyans include Ethiopians Berehanu Wendemu Tsegu (59:41) and world cross-country champion Milkesa Mengesha. Former European record-holder Sondre Nordstad Moen from Norway will also run. Twelve entrants are having sub one hour bests.
"I believe that upon reaching a goal, one should look to the next objective right away. It's like climbing a tree where you always look to that higher branch and not look back too much to see where you were before. I believe this is a big factor in success," said Kamworor.
In the women race, Jepchirchir's 65:06 from 2017 is still the sixth-quickest in history and the 2016 world champion has her eye on regaining the world record. But she will have to beat Kenya's Dorcas Jepchirchir Tuitoek (66:33), while Ethiopia's Dibabe Kuma (66:45) is another of 16 sub-70 runners.
Ethiopia's Bekelech Gudeta (67:03), Hiwot Gebremaryam (67:36) and Birhane Dibaba Adugna (67:47) will also be threats. Abdi Ulad and Anna Holm are quickest among the domestic entrants aiming to win the national title.
