The record woman in half marathon confirms her participation at the eDreams Mitja Marató de Barcelona 2015. One year after achieving the feminine world record in the last edition of the half marathon in Barcelona, the Kenyan athlete will return to Barcelona.
Born in 1987 in the Kenyan locality of Iten, Kiplagat is double world champion thanks to the victories achieved at the IAAF World Cross Country 2009 championship and the IAAF Half Marathon World Championship in 2010. Florence is nowadays the world record woman in half marathon, record achieved in the last edition of the eDreams Mitja Marató de Barcelona, with a time of 1:05:12. That same day, she beat the world record in 20km, establishing the new record in 1:01:56.
On track and representing her country, she achieved a silver medal in 5.000 meters in the Junior World Athletics Championship in 2006. She holds the record in Kenya in 10.000 meters, achieved in the World Athletics Championship in 2009 with a record of 30:11:53.
In her debut in half marathon in 2010 she achieved a victory, to succeed two years later to lower the record of 1 hour and 7 minutes in this distance. Last February at the eDreams Mitja Marató de Barcelona, she accomplished to lower in 38 seconds the old record established by her compatriot Maria Keitany. Kiplagat debuted in the marathon distance in 2011, at the Berlin Marathon, race that she won with a time of 2:19:44. Just a few days ago, the Kenyan athlete was awarded by AIMS (International Association of Marathons and Long Distance Races) along with the athlete Dennis Kimetto as the best marathoners of the year.
Florence Kiplagat will arrive to Barcelona more motivated than ever, in her own words from this week “My dream is to run under 65 minutes in Barcelona”.
Maite Fandos, Deputy Mayor for Life, Equality and Sports has very much appreciated the participation of the Kenyan runner, “the participation of the Kenyan athlete Florence Jebet Kiplagat highlights the ability of the city to rally not only popular runners but also elite runners, and the capability of the Catalan city to promote feminine sports”.
The news has been very well received in the athletic community in the country:
Marc Roig, pacemaker at the half marathon of Barcelona recalled how he experienced first-hand the world record achieved by Florence in Barcelona. “The eDreams Mitja Marató de Barcelona has a before and after with the world record achieved by Florence. Today everyone knows that the date and the city are ideal to run really fast. There are not too many people as professional as her and personally, I’m very proud that she relied completely on me to help her beat the world record. Being a pacemaker is a huge responsibility and I’m very proud of my role. It is one of the best memories in my sporting life. Moreover, being able to exchange some words in Suajili with Flroence during the race (such as cheering her on in this language) was one of the funniest situations I have ever experienced.”
Paula Villalobos: “I’m really proud that test such as the eDreams Mitja Marató de Barcelona become part of the agenda of top athletes. It is incredible that an athlete of her level comes back to participate in Barcelona, whether she beats the record or not”.
Carles Castillejos: “It is always important that the best athletes come to Barcelona to compete, and Kiplagat comes back to the city where she achieved the world record, it is a fact that reveals that things are being done correctly. To see a woman run at the speed she did and being able to experience that moment on spot it is something to thank the organization for the effort they have made”.
Nacho Cáceres: “The fact that the record woman in half marathon comes back to Barcelona gives prestige to the city and the race. Enhances the test and places it as a referent among the runners and demystifies the fact that you can’t run fast in Barcelona. With the record achieved last month of February, it is confirmed that the course of the eDreams Mitja Marató de Barcelona is a very fast circuit, where you can run at the pace of a world record.”
María Basco: “As an ex-professional athlete and sole Olympic medalist for the country, I highly appreciate 3 aspects: 1. That the organization opted for a feminine athlete and the efforts done to have a world record at home. 2. To opt for a woman, shows the importance in this sector, women are one of the values experiencing the most growth in the Running sector and we are far from other countries. And finally, that the organization opted for her one more time is a double prize, for her as recognition and for the city it is a beautiful anecdote. It will be a pleasure to share km and an event with Florence.”
Jaume Leiva: “To be able to see a WR in Barcelona means being able to run next to a star sportswoman. We have to assess this very positively and congratulate the organization for the efforts they have done so that thousands of people can run next to the fastest runner in half marathon. Not all of us have been able to play basketball next to Michael Jordan.”
Pedro Nimo del Oro: "The presence of a referent of our sport such as Florence Kiplagat is a great positive fact and not only in the sports sector, but also as an organization, since top figures of her level give great importance to the human touch, attention and organization of the tests. If she opts for this test it means that things are getting done properly and that the eDreams Mitja Marató de Barcelona is a “safe bet” to achieve our best records. Let’s get ready to share the track with a world star".