Gladys Chepkurui the star to watch at Istanbul Half Marathon

A week after being beaten to second place at the New York City Half Marathon by the Former European 10,000m bronze medallist, Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal from Norway, Gladys Chepkurui will be seeking to redeem her name as she headlines the 10th edition of the Istanbul Half Marathon scheduled on 28th April in Istanbul, Turkey.

The 29 year-old comes to this race with the fastest time on paper of 1:05.46 that she got last year at the Edreams Mitja Zurich Marato Barcelona, where she finished in fourth place. Chepkurui who has won three titles in her last eight races, started the season off with a third and second place in In Barcelona and New York in respective time of 1:06.34 and 1:09.27.

Chepkurui will not have an easy time as she will have to get past Ethiopia’s Ftaw Zeray who comes to this race with the second fastest time on the entry list of 1:06.04 that she got last year at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, where she took the bronze medal.

The two will also have to fight the 2015 World U18 3000m bronze medallist, Sheila Chelangat who made her debut over the distance last week at the Lille half marathon, where she registered a personal best of 1:09.04.

Mediterranean Games half marathon champion, Giovana Epis of Italy, who has not yet run under the 70:00, will carry the hopes of the European Nations as she comes to the race with a personal best of 1:07.15.