Kasait, Lasoi to lead Kenyan charge at Prague 21km race

The 2019 African 5,000m champion Lilian Kasait and two-time Zwolle Half Marathon champion Isaia Lasoi will spearhead Kenya’s charge at the Prague Half Marathon set for April 5.

Race organisers are expecting fast times with the Kenyan duo leading the charge in the men’s and women’s events.

“The Prague Half Marathon course is known for its speed and ideal conditions for fast times. We are excited to welcome such talented athletes and look forward to an exciting race,” said Carlo Capalbo, the chairman of the RunCzech Organizing Committee.

The current course record for the Prague Half Marathon is 58:24 set by Sebastian Sawe during his triumph last year while the women’s mark stands at 1:04:52 set by Joyciline Jepkosgei in 2017.

Kasait is gradually transitioning to the Half Marathon and will be making her second appearance over the 21km distance after debuting at the Valencia Half Marathon last October.

In Valencia, she clocked 1:03:32, finishing behind World 10K record holder Agnes Ngetich (1:03:04) and Ethiopia’s Fotyen Tesfay (1:03:21).

The 27-year-old, however, holds extensive credentials on the track and 10K road races. Last year, she clocked 30:56 to claim victory at the Bengaluru 10k, leading Ethiopians Lemlem Hailu (31:23) and Abersh Minsewo (31:23).

She holds a third-place fi nish from the 2024 Valencia 10K, where she posted a personal best of 29:32 in a race where Ngetich set the 10K world record of 28:46.

Kasait further claimed another third-place finish from the Hong Kong 10k last year, crossing the finish line in 31:12 behind compatriots Loice Chemnung (30:25) and Janeth Chepngetich (30:56).

In the 5K, she holds victory from Al Khobar 2023 (14:33), runners up at the 2023 World Road Running Championships in Riga (14:39) and third place finishes in Barcelona 2023 (14:26) and Al Khobar 2024 (14:50) On the track, she narrowly missed an Olympic podium in Paris 2024, finishing fifth in the 10,000m (30:45.04).

Her track pedigree includes silver at the 2014 World Junior Championships clocking 9:00.53 in the 3,000m behind USA’s Mary Cain (8:58.48).

In 2013, she won gold in the same event at the World Youth Championships in Ukraine clocking 8:58.74. Meanwhile, Lasoi, a 21km specialist, will be aiming to extend his impressive form in the half-marathon.

Lasoi is a regular over the 21km distance, claiming back-to-back titles in Zwolle.