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The name itself is a boast, but in its best years it comes pretty close the mark.
The World's Best 10-K, set for Sunday afternoon in San Juan, Puerto Rico, has managed to attract some of the sport's top road running stars, including the Netherlands' Lornah Kiplagat who will be trying for her sixth victory. She's won the race the last four years in a row.
Kiplagat's top challengers will come from Ethiopia, including Olympic silver medalist Ejegayehu Dibaba, Houston Marathon champion Dire Tune, and 2007 Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10-Mile champion Teyba Erkesso. Also, making a rare road racing appearance will be Turkey's Elvan Abeylegesse, fifth in the 5000m in last year's IAAF World Championships in Osaka. Other contenders for the podium include Romania's Adriana Pirtea and Luminita Talplos, Kenya's Emily Chebet and Irene Kwambai, and Russia's Ludmila Biktasheva.
On the men's side, Kenyan Gilbert Okari will be looking to defend his title against two-time champion, John Korir. Other strong Kenyans in the field include Linus Maiyo, Nicholas Kamakya and Silas Kipruto.
The out-and-back course is fast, but because the race is mostly held on a bridge, winds can slow things down a little. The course records are 27:44 by Kenyan Wilson Kebenei in 2006 and 30:21 (the world record) by Briton Paula Radcliffe in 2003. Organizers have a generous prize money purse on offer, including USD 20,000 for both the male and female winners.
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