The Generali Prague Half Marathon was won by Rodrigue Kwizera in 58:54 as 16,000 runners took to the streets of the city.
In one of the most measured performances in the history of the race, he beat the main favourite, Kenyan Isaia Kipkoech Lasoi, by two seconds with a last minute surge past the long time leader for the win. As expected, his compatriot Lilian Kasait Rengeruk won the women’s race after slowing from an early world record pace, to finish in a still fast 1:05:27.
Very early from the start on Bubenske nabrezi (embankement) in Prague Holesovice, the four men’s favourites broke away, supported by two pace makers. In windy conditions, especially along the stretches beside the Vltava River, the split times in the middle of the course suggested that the bold plans to break the race record would not work out. However the final times of the leading athletes were still impressive.
Kwizera, the seventh man in the 2023 World Championships 10,000m, briefly lost ground to a trio of leading men midway through the course, but soon rejoined the front group. He saved his bid for the lead until the home straight in front of the Holešovice Market Hall and triumphed with a time of 58:54.
“I am happy for this victory and also for the national record I ran, I think the conditions for an endurance race were quite good today,” said Kwizera, first competitor from Burundi to win the race.
Lilian Kasait Rengeruk, the pre race favourite, showed excellent form in the women’s event. The Kenyan runner, together with her pacemaker, soon broke away from all her rivals and won by leading from gun to tape. The World Championships and Olympic Games finalist clocked 1:05:27, leaving her compatriot Veronica Loleo, the runner-up, more than a minute behind.
The domestic athletes also fought a thrilling battle until the very end. The local title was defended by Patrik Vebr, who with a time of 1:05:40 secured the position of first Czech finisher for the third time in a row ahead of Tomas Krivda.
At her debut in Prague, and her debut at the half marathon distance, Michaela Čepová claimed the first place for Czech women, and 6th overall, beating second Eva Filipiová with a time of 1:15:38 and her coach Eva Vrabcova Nývltová, the now retired Czech Olympian who finished in third place.
