Peres Jepchirchir, Senbere Teferi and Stephen Kiprop are among the entries for the elite-only RunCzech event

Elite racing returns to the roads of Prague on Saturday (September 5) with fast times the target, as athletes take to a loop course in Letna Park for ‘Prague 21.1km – Ready for the Restart’.

Organised by RunCzech for the day that their traditional Grand Prix event should have taken place, the half-marathon features Kenya’s former world record-holder Peres Jepchirchir and Stephen Kiprop, who has clocked 58:42, in the fields.

They will be joined by athletes including Ethiopia’s Senbere Teferi and Kenya’s Kibiwott Kandie, Benard Kimeli, Edith Chelimo and Sheila Chepkirui, who makes her debut over the distance.

“I am in better shape than for the 2020 Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon and I feel ready to race,” said Kandie, who won that event in February in 58:58.

“Travel was not as enjoyable as before, due to masks and restrictions, but that is understandable.

“Mind is now set for the recovery from the travel and then all focus will be to try to break 58:30, with hope pacemakers take us at the proper pace.”

Joan Chelimo and Netsanet Gudeta had been on the original entry list but have withdrawn through injury.

Athletes will compete on an oval course around the park and will need to complete around 16.5 laps.

“The flat course and the intense competition are designed to be an all-out assault on current world records and best times,” said organisers. “For the men that means shattering the 58:30 mark, which was done only two times in history. And for the women, the current world record in a women’s only race stands at 66:11.”

There will be separate men’s and women’s races, with the men’s starting at 06:20 and the women’s at 08:00 local time, weather permitting. Live coverage is expected on the RunCzech YouTube channel as well as on Czech television.

“The pandemic has deprived these great athletes of the chance to participate in races all across the world,” said RunCzech president, Carlo Capalbo. “It has deprived us from witnessing some of the great performances that we’re accustomed to seeing. We wanted to find a way of doing something spectacular for everyone.

“While this race is coming at what would normally be the end of the season, we hope in a way that it will be the start, a spark that gets race organisers all over the world thinking creatively about how to keep the sport alive.”

RunCzech partner and sponsor adidas will also be introducing their new shoe, the adizero adios Pro, at the event.