Sammy Kitwara Leads Bogota Half-Marathon Field This Saturday
By Victah Sailer - used with permission.   

This Sunday, July 29,  the Bogota Half Marathon will have the usual battle between Kenyan and Ethiopian runners foranother racing title, a battle that a few of them were hoping to have at the 2012 London Olympic Games, but instead will playout in the streets of the Colombian capital.

 
This is the strongest field assembled for the 13th edition of the IAAF Gold Label event, featuring the year's third fastestmarathoner and Rotterdam champion,Yemane Tsegay of Ethiopia and compatriot Feyisa Lilesa who is the  bronze medalistfrom 2011 World Championships Marathon in Daegu. They will go  against four Kenyans that have broken the magical onehour barrier for the Half marathon: Sammy Kitwara(58:48),Peter Kirui(59:39),Wilson Chebet (59:15), and VictorKipchirchir(59:31). Kirui should be the slight favourite after winning the NYC Half Marathon earlier this year and winning thePeachtree 10km only 3 weeks ago.

The 2012 African champion at 5000m and 10000m, Gladys Cherono of Kenya will battle countrywomen Helah Kiprop andGenoveva Jelagat and Ethiopians Amane Gobena and Abebech Aferwork for the title at 8,700 ft(2650m) of Altitude.

More than 45,000 runners from more than 30 countries have registered for the half marathon and the accompanying 10K. For those of you who wish to see high class athletics competition prior to the start of the Olympic Games on August 3, you canwatch here, http://www.caracoltv.com/senal-vivo live at 1010 EST on Sunday( note revised time to 1010 EST)

1. Sammy Kitwara Kenya

2. Yemane Tsegay Ethiopia

3. Alirio Carrasco Colombia

4. Isaac Macharia Kenya 

5. Ridouanne Harroufi Morocco

6. Diego Colorado Colombia

7. Feyisa Lilesa Ethiopia 

8. Peter Kirui Kenya

9  Ezekiel Jafari Tanzania

10. Mike Fokoroni Zimbabwe

13. Wilson Chebet Kenya

18. Victor Kipchirchir Kenya

71. Gladys Cherono Kenya

72. Amane Gobena Ethiopia

73. Jemena Misayauri Peru

74. Yolanda Fernandez Colombia

75. Helah Kiprop Kenya

76. Abebech Afework Ethiopia

77. Ludmila Petrova Russia

80. Genoveva Jelagat Kenya