Komon, Masai and Kitwara set for San Juan 10K showdown - PREVIEW

25 February 2011 - San Juan, Puerto Rico - World record holder Leonard Komon, Sammy Kitwara and Moses Masai are set for a showdown at the 14th World’s Best 10K, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race, this Sunday (27) on the Teodoro Moscoso bridge.

The battle among the Kenyan trio at the most prestigious 10km race could produce a new course record and throated the 27-minute barrier. With the absence of two-time champion Vivian Cheruiyot, the Puerto Rican race will crown a new women’s champion.

Komon, 23, became the first man to dip under the 27-minute mark on the road when he ran 26:44 in Utrecht last September. Kitwara, the 2009 champion and 2010 runner-up, followed with 27:11 in the Dutch city, better than his winning 27:26 in San Juan two years ago. Masai, 24, arrives here as the defending champion after breaking Kitwara’s course record with 27:19.

When asked about the possibility of breaking the course record, Komon said “I will try, but no promises.”

“We are all excited. Very few have the honour of having the world record holder in their event. We expect a fast race on Sunday,” race director Rafael Acosta said.

Two other Kenyans will be gunning for victory, including reigning Worl Cross Country champion Joseph Ebuya (27:33 in 2008) and twice runner-up Silas Kipruto (27:28 in 2008), who lost the 2008 edition by taking a wrong turn a few metres from the finish line.

IAAF website