Former 5000m World Champion Muktar Edris returns to lead star-studded international line-up at Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon 2024

by Kheltoday · October 14, 2024

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Muktar Edris (Ethiopia).

Commonwealth Games Champion Eilish McColgan is leading the Women’s field

EILISH MCCOLGAN (GBR & N.I (2).

Khel Today Bureau

New Delhi: The Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon 2024, a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race, is set to witness a world-class international roster headlined by Two-time Olympic gold medallist Joshua Cheptegei. He will be joined by the two-time 5000m World Champion Muktar Edris, which increases expectations for a course record in the men’s race. The women’s field includes the 2022 Commonwealth Games champion in the 10,000m, Eilish McColgan. This prestigious event will take place in the heart of India’s National Capital on Sunday, October 20, 2024.

Fresh from his victory in the 10,000m at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Uganda’s Cheptegei is poised to make his debut in the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon and has been a three-time World Champion in the 10,000m and boasts a personal best of 59:21 in the Half Marathon. His stellar career also includes a 5,000m gold and 10,000m silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Ahead of the race, Cheptegei expressed: “I’m incredibly excited to debut at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon. This race is known for its energetic atmosphere, fast course, and unmatched Hospitality. I can’t wait to soak it all in and push myself to deliver a memorable performance. With such a competitive line-up, it will be an exciting challenge, and I’m aiming for nothing less than the top spot.”

Cheptegei will face formidable opposition from Ethiopia’s Muktar Edris, who will be returning to the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon after 2022. A star of the sport at the junior level, Edris finished fourth on debut in the Delhi Half Marathon in 2020 with an impressive run of 59:04. Before that, he won two world championship titles in the 5,000m during 2017 and 2019.

*Eilish McColgan is leading the women’s line-up:*

Eilish won gold in the 10,000m at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, setting a new Games record, and settled for silver in the 5000m.

McColgan holds the European record for the 10 km road race and British records for multiple distances. She has also represented Great Britain in four Olympic Games (2012-2024) and Scotland in three Commonwealth Games (2014-2022). She holds Scottish records in multiple events and has claimed seven national championships, cementing her status as one of Scotland’s most accomplished runners. Last year, she won the Berlin half-marathon with a personal best 65:43.

Several top athletes, including Kenya’s Cynthia Limo (66:04), Ethiopia’s Yalemget Yaregal (66:27) and Tiruye Mesfin (66:31), and Tanzania’s Magdalena Shauri (66:37), are joining McColgan in the women’s race. With five women having clocked times under 67 minutes, the competition promises to be thrilling and fast-paced.

Ethiopians Amdework Walelegn (58:53) and Yalemzerf Yehualaw (64:46) have held the Course Records in the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon since 2020.

The Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, with a prize pool of USD 260,000, will begin at the iconic Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, where elite athletes will be joined by India’s top runners and passionate amateurs, united in the spirit of #AaRangDeDilli.

Promoted by Procam International, pioneers of distance running in India, and backed by title sponsor Vedanta, a globally diversified natural resources company, the race is supported by IDFC FIRST Bank. Together, these partners are committed to raising the bar for excellence and social impact through sport.

*Vivek Singh, Joint Managing Director of Procam International, highlighted the significance of the event:* “The Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon has truly put Delhi on the global running map, drawing the world’s elite athletes to its streets. What started as an ambitious vision has become one of the premier half-marathons worldwide. As we prepare for another thrilling edition, we are committed to raising the bar for excellence and fostering even deeper community connections. This event is more than just a race; it’s a celebration of Delhi’s resilient spirit and the limitless potential of human endurance.”

With international elite athletes, India’s best, and thousands of amateur runners coming together, the 2024 edition of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon promises an unforgettable celebration of sport, unity, and the city’s vibrant culture.

Elite ﬁelds for the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon 2024 (with personal bests):

MEN’S:

1. Joshua Cheptegei UGA/1996 59:21

2. Muktar Edris ETH/1994 58:40

3. Dinkalem Ayele ETH/2000 59:30

4. Alex Matata KEN/1997 59:37

5. Alphonce Simbu TAN/1992 60:03

6. Ismael Kiprono KEN/1995 60:46

7. Levy Kibet KEN/2003 61:37

8. Asmamawu Diro ETH/2000 61:42

9. Malede Bukayaw ISR/1997 62:45

10. Yitayew Abuhay ISR/1996 64:21