Running News Daily

Kandie now eyes a slot in Team Kenya for the Paris Olympic Games

Newly crowned Valencia Half Marathon champion  Kibiwott Kandie has said he intends to vie for a spot on the Kenyan marathon team for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Kandie made the remarks after obliterating a rich field of competitors on his way to a successful title defence on Sunday.

The seasoned course sensation revealed plans to gauge his potential for a new challenge at the Olympics in the upcoming Valencia Marathon later in the year.

"I have now decided to graduate to the marathon and I hope to seal a slot in the Kenyan team that will be participating in next year's Olympics in Paris," Kandie said.

"I intend to run one more race this year at the Valencia Marathon where I will be aiming to post a good time that might assure me a slot in the Kenyan marathon team," he added.

Kandie said he felt thrilled after storming a back-to-back title on Sunday. This was his third title, having previously blazed to victory in 2020 and 2022.

"My pre-race target was to run a 57 and I'm glad I managed a 57:40 which was close to the mark," Kandie said.

He dismissed being under the pump despite the rich field of competitors who dared him to a thrilling duel.

"I didn't feel any sort of pressure because I wasn't competing with anyone in mind. I just decided to run my race," Kandie said.

Kandie said he would take adequate time away from training to recover before embarking on fresh preparations.

"I'll be returning home on Tuesday, take a few days to recover before I resume training," Kandie remarked.

Sunday's race recorded the fastest half marathon of 2023, with three runners locked in a photo finish.

Kandie breezed to triumph in an impressive 57:40, ahead of Yomif Kejelcha who wrapped up second in a time of 57:41, followed closely by Hagost Gebrhiwet, also at 57:41.

Kandie's time not only made it the fastest of 2023 but also ranked as the fourth-fastest in the history of the event.

Nevertheless, Kandie's performance was nowhere near the masterclass act he exhibited at the 2020 Elite Edition of the Valencia Half Marathon where he set a new world record time of 57:32.

In 2021, he set a course record at the Istanbul Half Marathon and won The Giants Geneva 10k.In the women's race, Margaret Chelimo led a Kenyan podium sweep on her way to glory.

Chelimo breasted the tape in an impressive time of 1:04:46 to tuck away the top spot.  Compatriot Cheptai Irine emerged second in 1:04:53, ahead of another Kenyan Chepng'etich Janet who wrapped up the top three in  1:05:15.