Kenya's Mutai, Kabuu stake claim to lucrative Ras half marathon

 　　NAIROBI, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Berlin marathon champions Geoffrey Mutai and Dubai marathon silver medalist Lucy Kabuu will headline the elite¹ field at this year's RAK Half-Marathon in the United Arab Emirates.

　　The event, seventh edition, which will be run on Feb.15, will be the only event Mutai will contest ahead of his planned run at the London Marathon in April.

　　"I have to return to Ras and see if I can defend the title. I have not been in good shape since running in Berlin last September. I want to see how my body will react, especially against such a strong field," said Mutai, Friuday in Nairobi.

　　Headlining the list of entrants are ten men who have run under 60 minutes for the distance, including Mutai, the reigning² World Marathon Majors champion, and Stephen Kibet, the seventh fastest half marathoner of all time. On the women's side will be Kabuu, Olympic Marathon silver medalist Priscah Jeptoo and Boston Marathon winner Sharon Cherop.

　　The still-standing women's World record of 65:50 was set here in 2011 by Mary Keitany, while the men's course record is 58:52 by Patrick Makau in 2009.

　　Included on the start list are sub-60 minute half-marathoners Ezekiel Chebii, Feyisa Lelisa, Pius Maiyo Kirop, Geoffrey Kipsang, Joel Kimurer, Stanley Biwott, Daniel Chebii, and Getu Feleke. Track specialist Micah Kogo, who earned an Olympic bronze medal at the 10,000m in Beijing, will also, be competing.

　　Though course and world record holder³ Mary Keitany will not be racing⁴ or defending her title - she is pregnant⁵ with her second child - a number of notable⁶ women will be on the start line.

　　With a 66:38 personal best, the fastest woman on paper for this year's race is 2009 World cross champion and 2010 World half-marathon champion Florence Kiplagat.

　　The 25-year-old boasts great 10,000m speed (Kenyan record-holder with 30:11.53) as well as a Marathon runner's strength - she won Berlin in 2011 in 2:19:44.

　　The total prize and bonus monies offered of more than $250,000 don't do any harm of course, but the RAK Half has never been easy and worthy⁷ champions are two of the few certainties⁸.

1 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。

2 reigning   

adj.统治的，起支配作用的

参考例句：

• The sky was dark, stars were twinkling high above, night was reigning, and everything was sunk in silken silence. 天很黑，星很繁，夜阑人静。
• Led by Huang Chao, they brought down the reigning house after 300 years' rule. 在黄巢的带领下，他们推翻了统治了三百年的王朝。

3 holder   

n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物

参考例句：

• The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
• That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。

4 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

5 pregnant   

adj.怀孕的，怀胎的

参考例句：

• She is a pregnant woman.她是一名孕妇。
• She is pregnant with her first child.她怀了第一胎。

6 notable   

adj.值得注意的，著名的；n.名人，要人

参考例句：

• His achievement is very notable.他的成就是非常显著的。
• He wrote and published the essay under notable's name.他假托名人写文章发表。

7 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

8 certainties   

n.必然的事( certainty的名词复数 )；确定的事；确实；确信

参考例句：

• If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts. 如果一个人以种种肯定的立论开始，他必将以各种怀疑而终止。 来自辞典例句
• Are no probabilities to be accepted merely because they are not certainties? 难道仅仅由于事情不具备必然性，我们就不承认它们也有或然性？ 来自辞典例句