NAIROBI, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan athletes have not ruled out going for the world record when they line up in Saturday's World Half Marathon championships in Valencia, Spain.
Both the men's and women's records will be up for grabs alongside winning the individual gold medals and Kenya's team of eight athletes led by defending champion Geoffrey Kamworor and Joyciline Jepkosgei feel winning alone will not be enough.
The IAAF has put a bonus incentive worth 50,000 U.S. dollars for any man who will run faster than the current ratified world records of Eritrean Zersenay Tadese 58:23 and Dutchwoman Lornah Kiplagat 66:25, which is attained in women's only race.
One of the athletes in the Kenya team who has thrown down the gauntlet is World Cross Country silver medalist Leonard Barsoton.
Though he is the least experienced in the Kenyan delegation, the 25-year old believes the caliber of competition in Valencia is so high that anyone to win must do it in a world record time.
"These athletes have very fast time. They have experience on how to run fast time and maybe world records. I believe to have the strength to go for it (gold), but should the world record fall in place, why not pick it?" said Barsoton on Friday.
Over 15,000 runners from 87 countries will compete in Valencia on Saturday with a record entry of 300 athletes contesting the elite race.
"We will use teamwork for us to deliver results because a championship event is tricky and anything can happen if we don't plan the race well," he said.
Alongside the bonus for breaking the world record, the IAAF is also offering a total prize purse of 245,000 dollars with winners taking home 30,000 dollars, silver will get 15,000 dollars while third finisher will have to pocket 10,000 dollars.
The prizes go down to the sixth finisher at 3,000 dollars. The best teams will also get rewarded with the top team receiving 15,000 dollars and the sixth 3,000 dollars.
Jepkosgei also hinted at going for the world record.
"I have to be clear, it is a team work effort, but I want to push it and run my own race. I want to record the best time in the championships," said Jepkosgei.
"I have not represented Kenya in a championships but I will do my best to make sure I be on the podium," said the athlete.
In the women's race, Kenya has three runners, Jepkosgei, Ruth Chepg'etich and Pauline Kaveke after 2016 bronze medalist Mary Wacera and Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon champion Fancy Chemutai pulled out with injuries on Thursday, too late for Kenya to secure replacements.
"It is a disappointment to me because all was prepared for me to go to Valencia but during my last training, I pushed hard and twisted my ankle in Nyahururu," said Wacera.
