|
From David Monti
© 2006 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com
On the heels of the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon 12 days ago, elite distance running returns to the United Arab Emirates with the inaugural Ras Al Khaimah International Half-Marathon on Friday, Feb. 9. Organizers are touting the event as the "Race to Riches," given that the race is offering a USD 155,000 prize money purse, the largest of any half-marathon in the world. The winners will receive USD 20,000 each.
Top entrants include 2005 IAAF World Half-Marathon champion, Fabiano Joseph of Tanzania, and the man he pipped at the finish tape, Mubarak Hassan Shami of Qatar, the former Kenyan Richard Yatich. Also scheduled to compete are Kenyan Paul Kosgei, whose 59:07 personal best is considered the world record by the independent Association of Road Running Statisticians, and Qatari Hasan Mahboob (the former Kenyan Silas Kirui) who won the 2006 Asian Games gold medal over 10,000m.
Paul Tergat, the world record holder in the marathon, will be on hand, but only as an honored guest. The race has pledged $50,000 to his children's charity in Kenya.
"We are pleased and delighted to have Paul Tergat as the guest of honor," said Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saqr Al-Qasimi, president of the RAK International Half-Marathon Organizing Committee. "His presence will be a key factor in raising the profile of the race in the international sporting arena and will go a long way in promoting Ras Al Khaimah as an exciting sporting destination."
Comment on this story.
Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest
|
|
Know someone else who's interested in running and triathlon?
