Kasait Shines in Prague Half Marathon Despite Missing Course Record Target

Nairobi, The Gulf Observer: Kenya’s Lilian Kasait delivered a commanding performance to win the Prague Half Marathon on Saturday, clocking 1:05:28 in a dominant showing that led a Kenyan 1-2 finish alongside Veronica Lole (1:06:39). Ethiopia’s Sintayehu Lewetegn rounded out the podium in third place with 1:08:42.

Despite the impressive victory, Kasait admitted some disappointment, as her main target was to break the course record of 1:04:52 set by fellow Kenyan Joyciline Jepkosgei in 2017. “It feels amazing to have won here today, but I was targeting the course record,” said Kasait. “There was a lot of wind so it became a big struggle for me, but all in all I am pleased with the win.”

The win in Prague adds to Kasait’s strong momentum from a successful 2024 season, which included a third-place finish at the Valencia 10K (29:32), silver at the World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade (31:08), and victory in the Bengaluru 10K (30:56). She also made her second Olympic appearance in Paris, finishing fifth in the women’s 10,000m (30:45.04).

Kasait ended her 2024 season with a series of podium finishes, including a fast 1:03:32 at the Valencia Half Marathon, and wins in the Hong Kong 10K (31:12) and Al Sharqiyah 5K (14:50), positioning her as one to watch heading into 2025.

In the men’s race in Prague, Burundi’s Rodrigue Kwizera edged a thrilling finish to take the title in 58:54, narrowly ahead of Kenya’s Isaiah Kipchoech (58:56) and Ezra Kipketer (59:20).

Elsewhere across Europe, Kenyan athletes continued to make their mark. In Milan, Leonard Kipkoech led a Kenyan clean sweep in the men’s marathon with a winning time of 2:08:39, followed closely by Isaac Kipkemboi (2:08:46) and Timothy Kosgei (2:09:12). In the women’s race, Joan Jepkosgei took second place in 2:25:33 behind Ethiopia’s Shure Ware (2:23:32).

At the Berlin Half Marathon, Kenya’s Richard Etir clocked 59:29 to secure second place behind Ethiopia’s Gemechu Diriba (58:43).

Kenyan women dominated in Vienna, with Betty Chepkemoi winning the marathon in 2:24:14. Rebecca Tanui (2:25:18) and Catherine Cherotich (2:25:45) completed a full Kenyan podium. In the men’s race, Mica Kiplagat took second place in 2:10:23, finishing behind Ethiopia’s Haftamu Abadi (2:08:28) and ahead of Mogos Tuemay (2:10:33).