Mateiko, Kwemoi clash in Istanbul with course record on the line

Two Kenyans are set to be the centre of attraction as the men's race at the N Kolay Istanbul Half Marathon gets underway on Sunday 27 March. 

Daniel Mateiko and Rodgers Kwemoi head the men’s elite start list with personal bests of 58:26 and 58:30 respectively. 

As such, it will be interesting to see who carries the day as organisers look to having the course record broken. 

Two other runners in the field have already broken the one-hour barrier; Kenyans Josphat Tanui and Edmond Kipngetich who have personal bests of 59:22 and 59:41 respectively.

“Our elite field is of high quality. With two men having recently achieved sub-59 times, we have a chance that our course record will fall," offered Renay Onur, the Race Director of the event. 

The three fastest men on the field lead the attack on the course record, which was established last year by Kenya’s Kibiwott Kandie with 59:35. The three have PB's faster than the record and weather conditions permitting, a new record will be set. 

“We will both be going for the course record and a personal best,“ Mateiko and Kwemoi, who are training partners and belong to the group of Eliud Kipchoge based at Kaptagat offered.

Mateiko improved by almost a full minute to 58:26 when he was third in Valencia in 2021 while Kwemoi was runner-up in Ras Al Khaimah in February with a strong PB of 58:30. “I am now in better form than I was in Ras Al Khaimah,"  said Rodgers Kwemoi.

Elite list 

Daniel Mateiko KEN 58:26

Rodgers Kwemoi KEN 58:30

Josphat Tanui KEN 59:22

Edmond Kipngetich KEN 59:41

Hillary Kipchumba KEN 60:01

Vestus Chemjor KEN 60:47

Moses Too KEN 60:56

Philimon Kiptoo KEN 61:47

Daniel Kiprotich KEN 62:09

Gerald Vincent KEN 62:27

Ramazan Özdemir TUR 63:10