By Cody Barton

All eyes with be on the historic town of Olomouc in the Czech Republic for the Mattoni Half Marathon Saturday in an IAAF Gold Label road race that features Kenyan Olympic marathon selection Stanley Biwott and a supporting cast that includes 10 total runners with personal bests under 62 minutes.

Biwott, whose credentials include a 2:03:51 2nd place finish at this year’s London Marathon and a 58:56 personal best at the half marathon distance, headlines a field brimming with talent including Geoffrey Ronoh, who holds the course record in 60:17, and last year’s surprise champion, the 21- year-old Josphat Kiptis.

Even more impressive than the field assembled is their indifference to the race weather forecast, which calls for high temperatures and humidity out on the course.

Says Biwott, “I believe I have prepared very well. I have raced in the cold, I have raced in the heat, so I think I am ready. My body can sustain.”

With the pacing schedule set up for the field to break 60 minutes for the first time, Ronoh is also confident that he is prepared to break his own course record.

“It is my pleasure to say I am back (after not running in 2015). The faster they (the pace men) are, I will try to go with them.”

Josphat Kiptis, a member of the RunCzech Racing team, has quickly become a rising star within the realm of Kenyan distance running. He just missed the course record last year by defeating 2012 gold medal winner Stephen Kiprotich and former World Record holder Wilson Kipsang in 60:21.

“I am ready to defend the course. The weather is the same (as Baringo Half Marathon, which Josphat won in 2014 by a margin of over 40 seconds). The course is up and down. I am capable, in training I do mostly hills so I can build muscle.”

The depth of the field extends to Kenyan Olympic reserve Cybrian Kotut (59:12), Richard Mengich (59:35), and Robert Chemosin (59:19). Of these athletes, it is Mengich, who has won both the Berlin Half and  the Göteborg Half in times under 60 minutes this year, with the most momentum going forward. It shows in his confidence heading into Saturday’s affair.

“Even though the temperature is high, I will run my personal best.”

With so many talented runners in the field, the city of Olomouc will indeed be treated to world-class racing. The Mattoni Half Marathon is the 5th in a series of seven races hosted by RunCzech, all of which have the prestige of wearing the IAAF Road Race Gold Label. If the conditions are favorable and the pacing is true to form, this could be the fastest edition of the race yet.