10-10-2013, 02:19 PM
A world-class field will aim for very good times once more at the ASICS Grand 10 race in Berlin this Sunday. Only two weeks after the Berlin Marathon produced a world record the next major road race will be started in the German capital. The ASICS Grand 10 is Germanyââ¬â¢s fastest 10 k race. The sixth edition will see the return of world record holder Leonard Komon. Fellow Kenyan Joyce Chepkirui is the womenââ¬â¢s favourite. Her aim is to significantly improve the course record. Organisers from BERLIN RUNS expect more than 7,000 participants on Sunday.
10 k world record holder Leonard Komon (26:44) also holds the course record of the ASICS Grand 10. The Kenyan ran 27:12 in 2010. He then returned to the race in 2011 and 2012, winning on both occassions. Now he targets victory number four at what obviously is his favourite 10 k race. But the 25 year-old will face tough opposition on Sunday. Among Komonââ¬â¢s rivals there is the fastest 10 k runner of the year, Adugna Takele. The Ethiopian clocked 27:30 in Taroudant (Marocco) this March.
The seasonââ¬â¢s best will be a target on Sunday. And there are two more Kenyans, who feature personal bests of sub 28 minutes. Titus Mbishei has a PB of 27:32 while Richard Mengich achieved 27:56 so far. Another one to watch is the reigning European 10,000 m champion. Originally from Kenya Polat Kemboi Arikan competes for Turkey nowadays. He won the European gold in 2012 and later that year was ninth in the Olympic 10,000 m final. His 10 k best stands at 28:17, a time he could improve on Sunday.
Meanwhile Germanyââ¬â¢s André Pollmächer could be in for another good performance in Berlin. The former European 10,000 m Cup winner improved his marathon PB to 2:13:05 at the Berlin Marathon. After a series of injuries he hopes for another fine result in the capital. Pollmächerââ¬â¢s 10 k personal best stands at 28:46.
In contrast to the menââ¬â¢s time the womenââ¬â¢s course record of the ASICS Grand 10 has not yet reached world-class standard. Mara Yamauchi (Great Britain) holds this mark with 32:19 from 2011. But with Joyce Chepkirui on the starting line on Sunday it looks like the record could be significantly improved. The Kenyan is the sixth fastest 10 k runner ever. In 2011 she clocked 30:38 minutes in Tilburg (Netherlands). The 25 year-old has shown fine form recently, when she took the 10 k race in Utrecht with 31:20. May be Chepkirui will even be able to reach the German allcomers record. Irina Mikitenko established this mark with 30:57 in Karlsruhe in 2008.
Joyce Chepkiruiââ¬â¢s strongest rival at the ASICS Grand 10 should come from Ethiopia: Tadelech Bekele has a PB of 33:12. Italyââ¬â¢s reigning 10 k champion Veronica Inglese (33:14) will also compete on the fast Berlin course.
10 k world record holder Leonard Komon (26:44) also holds the course record of the ASICS Grand 10. The Kenyan ran 27:12 in 2010. He then returned to the race in 2011 and 2012, winning on both occassions. Now he targets victory number four at what obviously is his favourite 10 k race. But the 25 year-old will face tough opposition on Sunday. Among Komonââ¬â¢s rivals there is the fastest 10 k runner of the year, Adugna Takele. The Ethiopian clocked 27:30 in Taroudant (Marocco) this March.
The seasonââ¬â¢s best will be a target on Sunday. And there are two more Kenyans, who feature personal bests of sub 28 minutes. Titus Mbishei has a PB of 27:32 while Richard Mengich achieved 27:56 so far. Another one to watch is the reigning European 10,000 m champion. Originally from Kenya Polat Kemboi Arikan competes for Turkey nowadays. He won the European gold in 2012 and later that year was ninth in the Olympic 10,000 m final. His 10 k best stands at 28:17, a time he could improve on Sunday.
Meanwhile Germanyââ¬â¢s André Pollmächer could be in for another good performance in Berlin. The former European 10,000 m Cup winner improved his marathon PB to 2:13:05 at the Berlin Marathon. After a series of injuries he hopes for another fine result in the capital. Pollmächerââ¬â¢s 10 k personal best stands at 28:46.
In contrast to the menââ¬â¢s time the womenââ¬â¢s course record of the ASICS Grand 10 has not yet reached world-class standard. Mara Yamauchi (Great Britain) holds this mark with 32:19 from 2011. But with Joyce Chepkirui on the starting line on Sunday it looks like the record could be significantly improved. The Kenyan is the sixth fastest 10 k runner ever. In 2011 she clocked 30:38 minutes in Tilburg (Netherlands). The 25 year-old has shown fine form recently, when she took the 10 k race in Utrecht with 31:20. May be Chepkirui will even be able to reach the German allcomers record. Irina Mikitenko established this mark with 30:57 in Karlsruhe in 2008.
Joyce Chepkiruiââ¬â¢s strongest rival at the ASICS Grand 10 should come from Ethiopia: Tadelech Bekele has a PB of 33:12. Italyââ¬â¢s reigning 10 k champion Veronica Inglese (33:14) will also compete on the fast Berlin course.