ABN AMRO Utrechtse Singelloop celebrates its 61st edition – IAAF Bronze Label Road Race
The ABN AMRO Utrechtse Singelloop race, which is regarded as the oldest road race event in Netherlands, is going to witness its 61st edition this year on Sunday, September 25.
The course of the race, which has been spread over 10km through Utrecht, a city situated in the centre of Netherlands, had observed a world record last year when long distance runner from Kenya, Leonard Patrick Komon, who is the current world record holder
over the distances of 10km and 15km in road racing, overcame the required distance in a mere 26 minutes and 44 seconds.
Not only in 10km, the silver medal winner of the 2008 IAAF World Cross Country Championship also bagged his 15km world record in Netherlands when, while running in Zevenheuvelenloop he did not take longer than 41 minutes and 13 seconds to cross the finishing
line. Komon’s success story in Netherlands does not end here, as he also prevailed in last week’s Dam tot Dam ten mile race where for clocking 44 minutes and 27 seconds, he emerged as the second fastest runner ever over the distance.
The Singelloop Utrecht race has been organised since 1925, when a total of 37 runners ran for emerging over the distance. Since then, the race had to face some gaps, however, amid the enthusiasm of local people for the run, the difficult circumstances could
not put an end to the event for good. The race resumed several years ago and since then, it has not only earned popularity among spectators, but also among runners. In last year’s event, there were over 8,000 participants who lined-up for the event title.
This year too, the field for the run is rather strong, however, the world record made by Komon seems out of danger. Prominent runners who are expected to turn up for the show down are Nicholas Kemboi, the Qatari runner with a personal best of 26 minutes
and 30.03 seconds over the distance, Kenneth Kipkemboi, the Kenyan runner with a personal best of 27 minutes and 48 seconds, Philip Langat and Kennedy Kimutai.
Among local athletes, expectations of spectators will revolve around the performances by Khalid Choukoud and Jesper van der Wielen. Among woman performers, the crowd will look forward to see Esther Chemutai from Kenya, Hungary’s Aniko Kalovics, Elizabeth
Cherono from Kenya, Morocco’s Josephine Kimuyu and Rkia el Moukhim.
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