Obiri targeting course record in Istanbul

Hellen Obiri, will on Sunday 27 March be back in Istanbul where strong elite field assemble for the N Kolay Istanbul Half Marathon.

Six women on the start list have personal bests of sub 67:00 and the reigning World Cross Country Champion and 5,000 m World Champion, Obiri, is the fastest of them.

She improved her half marathon PB to 64:22 earlier this year and is looking to lower her time, following in the footsteps of fellow Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich who produced a world record a year ago, winning the race in 64:02. 

“We have worked for a long time to improve our 16 year-old course and to make it one of the most historic and enjoyable courses in the world, as well as one of the fastest. We succeeded in developing the N Kolay Istanbul Half Marathon further and even had a world record here a year ago,“ said Renay Onur, the Race Director of the event. 

Obiri is ready for another fast race as she targets a new PB, weather and pacemaking permitting. 

"Whenever I come to such a race it is my goal to run well and improve my time," said the 32 year-old who improved to 64:22 when she was second in the Ras Al Khaimah half marathon in the United Arab Emirates in February. 

“I am in much better form now than I was before RAK. The course record will be a tough challenge, but we have a very strong field, so we will definitely give it a try."  

Obiri will face strong competition in Istanbul with top of the list being fellow-Kenyan Vicoty Chepngeno who has an outstanding half marathon record. 

Obiri ready for Istanbul return

She has ran 14 half marathons since 2018 and won eleven of them. The 28 year-old is undefeated in her past six races at the distance and improved to a world-class time of 65:03 when she took the Houston half marathon in January.

Ethiopian trio Tsehay Gemechu (PB: 65:08), Nigsti Haftu (66:17), Bekelech Gudeta (66:54) and Turkey’s multiple European long distance champion Yasemin Can (66:20) are the other women who have already run below 67:00.

Gemechu has a very strong half marathon record as well. She has won four of her five races and is the reigning champion of the Copenhagen half marathon where she clocked her PB last year.

Elite list

Hellen Obiri KEN 64:22

Vicoty Chepngeno KEN 65:03

Tsehay Gemechu ETH 65:08

Nigsti Haftu ETH 66:17

Yasemin Can TUR 66:20

Bekelech Gudeta ETH 66:54

Pauline Esikon KEN 67:15

Stella Rutto ROU 67:45

Ayinadis Teshome ETH 68:18

Daisy Kimeli KEN 68:34

Medhin Gebreslassie ETH 68:38

Ludwina Chepngetich KEN 70:34

Moira Stewartova CZE 71:08

Fatma Karasu TUR 71:30

Kristina Hendel CRO 71:34