Fancy Chemutai and Geoffrey Koech Lead Fields for Prague Grand Prix 10K

By Adam Kopet

Fancy Chemutai of Kenya has twice finished runner-up at the Prague Grand Prix 10K, but she will be hoping the third time is the charm as she headlines Saturday's race, according to the IAAF.

Until last week, Chemutai stood second on the all-time list for the road 10K with her 2017 time of 30:06. She ran that time in Prague, finishing second to Joyciline Jepkosgei, who ran a world record 29.43. However, Israel's Lonah Chemtai Salpeter ran 30:05 last week in Tilberg, The Netherlands, vaulting her to second all-time.

Chemutai still stands second on the all-time list in the half marathon. She ran 1:04:52 to win the 2018 RAK Half Marathon, just one second off Jepkosgei's world record.

More recently, Chemutai has won the B.A.A. Boston 10K, running 30:36, and finished third at the Peachtree Road Race 10K.

Other women who could be factors in the race are Gloria Kite and Norah Jeruto, both of Kenya. Kite ran 30:26 in January in Valencia, Spain. Jeruto is better known as a steeplechaser, beating Beatrice Chepkoech in June at the Oslo Diamond League meeting.

Geoffrey Koech of Kenya is an early favorite in the men's race. He ran 27:18 for second in last year's Prague Grand Prix. That time ranks him 13th on the all-time performer list.

However, Koech will be challenged by Ethiopia's Jemal Yimer, as well as Vincent Kiprotich Kibet, Benard Kimeli and Vedic Kipkoech, all of Kenya. Yimer ran an Ethiopian record 58:33 for the half marathon in Valencia last year. He also finished fifth in the Ethiopian Trials 10,000 meters earlier this year, running a personal best 26:54.39. Kibet and Kipkoech have proved themselves on the roads as well, running 27:21 and 27:25, respectively. Kimeli won the Prague Half Marathon in April.