Prague Half Marathon

Prague Half Marathon
Runners crossing Mánes Bridge in the centre of Prague in 2010
Date Late March/Early April
Location Prague, Czech Republic
Event type Road
Distance Half marathon
Established 1999
Official site Prague Half Marathon

The Prague Half Marathon is an annual half marathon road running event which takes place in Spring on the city streets of Prague, Czech Republic. Known as the Hervis Prague Half Marathon for sponsorship reasons, it holds IAAF Gold Label Road Race status, making it the foremost race of its type in the country. It is managed by the same organisation that holds the Prague Marathon in May.[1]

The Prague Half Marathon has a looped course format which has its race start and end point on Jan Palach Square near the Rudolfinum. The course follows the Vltava river southwards and then makes an east-to-west loop passing Folimanka park. It crosses to the west side of the Vltava, heading over Palacky Bridge, and after heading south along Strakonická road it doubles back to follow the river north, before crossing Legií Bridge to reach the halfway point. The course traces a large loop into the northern part of the city centre before returning to the Rudolfinum for the finish point.[2]

The competition has enjoyed an increasing level of participation, with around 6500 participants in 2009 and almost 8500 runners taking part in the 2010 event.[3][4] Since 2006, a corporate team half marathon relay event has also featured on the day's programme of events – each company being represented by four runners each covering equal legs of 5.27 km. Around 100 teams and 50 business and institutions were present for the first race.[5]

In the elite level half marathon races, Kenyan athletes have been dominant – all but four of the men's winners come from the East African country, which has also provided over half the female race winners. Daniel Wanjiru has topped the men's podium on two occasions, and both Jana Klimešová and Rose Kosgei have taken back-to-back wins in the women's event.

Atsedu Tsegay holds the men's course record of 58:47 minutes (set in 2012), while Joyciline Jepkosgei's mark of 64:52 minutes (set in 2017) is the best achieved by a woman in the Prague race and a current world record, as of 2017. Both of these times are the fastest ever run in the Czech Republic for the half marathon.[6][7]

Winner Zersenay Tadese and four other runners crossing the Čechův most bridge a few minutes before finishing the 2013 Prague Half Marathon
The Rudolfinum auditorium, where the race begins and ends.

Past winners

Kenya's Lydia Cheromei won the 2011 women's race in a course record time.

Key:   Course record

Year Men's winner Time (h:m:s) Women's winner Time (h:m:s)
2018  Benard Kimeli (KEN) 59:47  Joan Chelimo (KEN) 1:05:04
2017  Tamirat Tola (ETH) 59:36  Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN) 1:04:52
2016  Daniel Wanjiru (KEN) 59:20  Violah Jepchumba (KEN) 1:05:51
2015  Daniel Wanjiru (KEN) 59:51  Worknesh Degefa (ETH) 1:07:14
2014  Peter Kirui (KEN) 59:22  Joyce Chepkirui (KEN) 1:06:18
2013  Zersenay Tadese (ERI) 1:00:10  Gladys Cherono (KEN) 1:06:48
2012  Atsedu Tsegay (ETH) 58:47  Joyce Chepkirui (KEN) 1:07:03
2011  Philemon Limo (KEN) 59:30  Lydia Cheromei (KEN) 1:07:33
2010  Joel Kemboi (KEN) 1:00:09  Rose Kosgei (KEN) 1:09:57
2009  Nicholas Koech (KEN) 1:00:07  Rose Kosgei (KEN) 1:09:03
2008  Elijah Karanja (KEN) 1:02:08  Asha Gigi (ETH) 1:12:00
2007  Patrick Ivuti (KEN) 1:01:00  Liliya Shobukhova (RUS) 1:11:14
2006  Stephen Kibiwott (KEN) 1:01:15  Caroline Kwambai (KEN) 1:10:08
2005  Silas Kirui (KEN) 1:01:07  Susan Kirui (KEN) 1:12:49
2004  Joseph Kiprotich (KEN) 1:01:46  Catherine Kirui (KEN) 1:10:38
2003  Fred Kiprop (KEN) 1:02:47  Helena Javornik (SLO) 1:11:03
2002  Willy Kipkirui (KEN) 1:02:15  Gloria Marconi (ITA) 1:12:06
2001  Anthony Korir (KEN) 1:02:09  Florence Barsosio (KEN) 1:12:51
2000  Isaac Kiprono (KEN) 1:03:28  Jana Klimešová (CZE) 1:14:17
1999  Ali Mabrouk El Zaidi (LBA) 1:04:48  Jana Klimešová (CZE) 1:15:39

Winners by country

Country Total wins
 Kenya29
 Ethiopia4
 Czech Republic2
 Eritrea1
 Italy1
 Libya1
 Russia1
 Slovenia1

References

  1. ↑ Butcher, Pat (2011-04-02). Limo and Cheromei shatter course records at Prague Half Marathon. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-04-03.
  2. ↑ Mapa Hervis 1/2Maraton Praha. Prague International Marathon. Retrieved on 2011-04-03.
  3. ↑ Course records fall in Prague - Prague Half Marathon report. IAAF (2009-03-28). Retrieved on 2011-04-03.
  4. ↑ Hervis Prague Half Marathon 2011. Prague International Marathon. Retrieved on 2011-04-03.
  5. ↑ Riedlová, Daniela (3 April 2006). "Kenyan men sweep, new women's record at Prague Half Marthon (sic)". IAAF. Archived from the original on 6 April 2006. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
  6. ↑ Butcher, Pat (2012-03-31). Tsegay’s 58:47 shatters course record in ‘very windy’ Prague Archived 2012-07-05 at the Wayback Machine.. IAAF. Retrieved on 2012-04-01.
  7. ↑ Mulkeen, Jon (2017-04-01). Jepkosgei breaks four world records at Prague Half Marathon. IAAF. Retrieved on 2017-04-01.
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