Kandie: “I still have a world record in my body; I hope I can beat it in Spain”

Kenyan athlete Kibiwott Kandie, who is the top favorite to win this Sunday at eDreams Half Marathon Barcelona by Brooks 2024who stated in statements to EFE that he still has the “world record for the half marathon in his body” and hopes to beat it in Spain.

“I still have the world record for the half marathon in my body, that’s how I feel, and I hope to beat it in Spain one day”assured this Friday the holder of the second best world record in the discipline (57:32, Valencia 2020) and three-time winner of the Valencia Half Marathon (2020, 2022 and 2023).

Asked if yesFeeling that he can surpass the half marathon world record that Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo took from him in 2021 in Lisbon with a time of 57:31 this Sunday in Barcelona, ​​Kandie replied: “Maybe, you never know.”

“When I arrived in Spain, I felt like I was in a second home because I always run well and on Sunday I hope to do the same,” commented the Kenyan athlete, who will compete for the first time in Barcelona.

The year opens in Barcelona

Kandie explains the reasons why she chose to inaugurate the course in Barcelona: “I want to test my training and see if I have prepared properly for the season, especially if I will run a marathon or if I will do another faster half marathon. This is just the beginning and a test of my training. “

The Kenyan athlete assured that the more than 28,000 participants who will fill the streets of Barcelona this Sunday, the highest number in a Spanish half marathon and second in Europe, is “a big motivation” for him.

“Sport is a social event that unites many people. It gives me great motivation to see so many people cheering and running. It calls the athletes to go, especially in Spain, where the races is fast and very efficient,” he remarked.