Nobert Kipkoech leads Kenyan athletes set to feature in Bangsaen21 Half Marathon

Several Kenyan athletes led by Nobert Kipkoech Kigen will battle with Ethiopia’s Seifu Tura in the Bangsaen21 Half Marathon, a distinguished World Athletics Platinum Label road race hosted in the Thai city of Chonburi this Sunday

Tura takes the lead in the men’s field. The 2021 Chicago Marathon champion at the age of 26, has an impressive personal best (PB) of 58:36 in the half marathon and excels over the full distance with a marathon PB of 2:04:29.

Nobert Kipkoech Kigen stats

Recently he secured a fifth-place finish at the Chicago Marathon in 2:05:29 two months ago and he is poised for another strong performance.

Joining Tura in the lineup is Kipkoech Kigen with sub-60-minute performer with a notable time of 59:42 recorded in 2016.

Despite setting a marathon PB of 2:05:13 a year later, Kigen hasn’t raced since the 2022 Amsterdam Marathon, where he finished seventh in 2:05:32.

Another Kenyan, Amos Kipruto, renowned for his accomplishments in the full marathon distance is set to participate. He earned a bronze at the 2019 World Championships.

With a marathon PB of 2:03:13 in Tokyo last year, Kipruto’s half marathon PB of 1:00:24 is poised for significant improvement.

Nobert Kipkoech Kigen compatriots

Adding to the Kenyan prominence in the field is Enock Onchari, a marathon specialist who brings his prowess to the start line.

Onchari, having not contested a standalone half marathon previously, clocked a PB of 2:05:47 earlier this year in Seville.

The existing course record of 1:01:56, set by Josphat Kemei last year, appears to be in jeopardy with the notable presence of this Kenyan trio.