Bahrain Royal Night Half-Marathon set

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s Tokyo Olympics silver-medallist and World Record holder in the women’s 10K road race, Kalkidan Gezahegne, is all set to spearhead a stellar field of elite international athletes tomorrow in this year’s Bahrain Royal Night Half-Marathon.

The event will take place along a 21.1-kilometre course in Zallaq and it is the biggest half-marathon in the world, according to the 2019 World Athletics ranking competition. Kalkidan is one of 10 Bahraini athletes in what is a revised line-up from the one that was previously planned by the host nation.

Kalkidan will be joined in the women’s race by compatriots Tigest Gashaw and Bonto Edao, while there will be seven men for Bahrain in the fray including Birhanu Balew, Dawit Fikadu, Abraham Cheroben, Zelalem Bacha, Jushua Nakeri, Abdinasir Elmi and Aweke Ayalew. Among the top elite athletes set to compete, Philemon Kiplimo of Kenya holds the fastest personal best of 58 minutes 34 seconds.

His countryman Mathew Kimeli follows, and they will be joined by the likes of fellow-Kenyan Geoffrey Koech and Ethiopians Amedework Walelegn, Jemel Yimer, Mosinet Gerenew, Gizealew Abjeje and Haftu Teklu, to name a few.

On the distaff, Kenyans Ruth Gepngetich and Sheila Chipkirui are expected to be amongst the top contenders, along with Ethiopians Hawi Feysa and Netsanet Gudeta. This year’s Bahrain Royal Night Half-Marathon is a World Athletics Label Road Race that is part of the 2021 international calendar of the sport’s governing body.

It is being organised by the Bahrain Athletics Association (BAA) and it is sanctioned by World Athletics, the Association of international Marathons and Distance Races, and the BAA, with the support of the Asian Athletics Association and the Bahrain Olympic Committee.

A staggering first prize of U.S.$30,000 each will be won by the winners in both the men’s and women’s races. Each runner-up will get U.S.$20,000, while the third-placers will take home U.S.$15,000 apiece. Prize money will also be claimed by those placed fourth through 10th.

Aside from the men’s and women’s half-marathons, there will also be a five-kilometre run for fun. Prize money will also be awarded to the fun run winners, with BD500 going to first place overall, BD400 to second, BD300 to third, BD200 to fourth and BD100 to fifth overall.

The half-marathon is scheduled for an 8pm start, while the fun run will begin at 5.45pm. The start and finish will both be at the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Village in Zallaq.

This year’s event is being sponsored by Tamkeen, the Bahrain Economic Development Board, Ahli United Bank, Bapco, Al Salam Bank, Aluminium Bahrain and Mohammed Jalal and Sons.