Habari za Wiki - 29 Sept, 2020
This weekend has two of the biggest racing events since the start of the Pandemic: The Kip Keino Classic on Saturday then the London Marathon on Sunday. Here’s what’s going down:
Kip Keino Classic
Vincent Keter leading the men's 1500m race at the Athletics Kenya test run at Nyayo Stadium
The 2020 World Athletics Continental Tour gold will conclude in Nairobi during the Kip Keino Classic this Saturday.
Even though the final entry list is not out yet, several big names are expected in Nairobi like Ethiopian runners Edris Muktar, Seleman Barega, and Moroccan Soufiane El Bakkali.
20km walk will get the programme underway at 7:30am with a day full of action wrapping up at 17:45 with women’s steeplechase. Here’s the full schedule (It’s a PDF, sorry).
In Kenya, you can watch live on NTV and around the world it will be streamed on the World Athletics YouTube channel.
London Marathon
It is here, the 40th edition of the London Marathon. The athletes are safely in London after being picked by a private jet in Nairobi and Addis Ababa on Monday night. We are now counting down days to the biggest clash, with greats Kipchoge and Bekele facing off as well as lightning fast women’s field.
Who will prevail? Here are some top contenders to keep your eyes on, and their personal best times:
Men
Eliud Kipchoge - 2:01:39
Kenenisa Bekele - 2:01:41
Mosinet Geremew - 2:02:55
Marius Kipserem - 2:04:11
Full list
Women
Brigid Kosgei - 2:14:04
Ruth Chepngetich - 2:17:08
Vivian Cheruiyot - 2:18:31
Valary Jemeli - 2:19:10
Full list
This year’s marathon is different - athletes are being protected in a bio secure bubble due, the race will be elite only and will take place on a closed-loop circuit around St James’s Park in central London, prize money has been slashed, the course will be sealed off from the public.
The elite women will start at 09:15 EAT, the men will take off at 12:15 EAT and the elite wheelchair races will start at 15:10EAT. The marathon will air on NTV in Kenya, Super Sport across Sub Saharan Africa and on NBCSN & Olympic Channel in the US. If you’re waking up for it in the US, that’s 2:15 AM Eastern time.
1-2-3-4-5… And Diamond League is Over
The curtain has fallen on the 2020 Diamond League Season with Doha Diamond League. And what a sign off it was with the women’s 3000m concluding the season in style.
The 3000m women’s race was a deeply talented field of world and Olympic medalists. The Kenyan ladies delivered a spectacular performance with Hellen Obiri leading a Kenyan 1-5 finish.
In a single file with 550metres left, Beatrice Chepkoech tested the waters with a surge. Obiri responded with about 350 metres to go with her powerful kick to win in a world leading time 8:22.54. Agnes Tirop pipped Beatrice Chepkoech at the finish. The race produced 7 personal bests and season’s best’s as well as an Australian national record. And for the first time in history seven women finished inside 8:27. Here’s a video of most of the race.
Another stunner came in the women’s 800m. Competing in 800m for the first time in five years, Faith Kipyegon won in a world-leading PB of 1:57.68.
In men’s 800m Ferguson Rotich kept making a name for himself. He registered his fifth consecutive victory with a season’s best of 1:44.16.
Daniel Simiu wins Berlin Invitational
Daniel Ebenyo Simiu was the sole Kenyan participant at the Berlin 10km Invitational on Saturday. That wasn’t an issue at all. Daniel won it in 27.18, a course record and the fourth fastest time in the world this year. This was Daniel’s first race in six months. Daniel’s focus is now on the Kip Keino classic this Saturday at Nyayo stadium then shifts to Tokyo Olympic Games preparations. He is a 5000m specialist and last year, he was dropped from the Kenyan team for the world athletics championships for having not been tested enough even though he was not part of the testing pool.
This is all bittersweet news for us on the Enda team as Daniel used to be an Enda Elite Athlete, helping guide the design of the Lapatet. However, as he rose in prominence, he got a sponsorship offer we simply couldn’t compete with. We wish you all the best Daniel and will be cheering for you at the Kip Keino Classic!
Daniel on route to setting the 10km course record at the Amazing Maasai Marathon wearing his Itens.
Non-Kenyan news
On 25 September marked exactly 20 years since the closest finish in the men’s 10,000m - the duel between legendary Haile Gebrsellasie and Paul Tergat at Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. In a video for BBC, Haile relives his narrowest of victories, saying it’s the top race of his life.
From Us At Enda
New Lapatets are coming next month! Based on the feedback we’ve made two key updates. Ralph from the Enda team talks through them both in this video:
To summarize:
1) We were able to change the way we knit the uppers to make them 15% lighter. The result is the upper is softer, more breathable, and less restrictive to enable a better fit for more people.
2) We added an additional 2mm of cushioning under the insole to make them just a bit softer. All the better for your long runs!
We’re mostly sold out of the original Lapatets, but we’ve put the remaining pairs on sale as we clear them our and get ready to launch the new Lapatets next month.
From the Enda Community
Please welcome watsonjones3 and chelsea.e.m.collier to the Enda Community. They both got into their new Mara Gold Lapatets.
Watson says: "Was time to upgrade the running shoe. Decided to get the Kenyan made and owned running shoe by @endasportswear"
Chelsea says: "Yes there IS such a thing as ethically manufactured (plus cute) running shoes. Love my @endasportswear"
