Kochi: Defending champions Bernard Kipyego and Helah Kiprop of Kenya will return to defend their titles in the Cochin International half marathon to be flagged off from Marine Drive here on December 7.
Kipyego, a silver medallist at the World half marathon championships and a full marathon silver medallist at the Beijing Olympics, won last year’s event with a timing of 62.54 minutes. Since then, Kipyego has won the Amsterdam Marathon 2014 and is in wonderful shape, according to elite athlete coordinator Edgar de Veer.
Kipyego will be looking forward to clock a time close to his personal best of 59.10.
Kipyego will face a tough challenge from 2013 Mumbai Marathon winner Jackson Kiprop of Uganda and Kenyan Eliud Tarus, who placed third last year in Cochin.Also in the men’s field are Ethiopia’s Solomon Deksisa, Sahlesilassie Nigussie and Adugna Takele Bikila. (pti)