American discus thrower Valarie Allman, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, has been announced as the international event ambassador for the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, set to take place on October 20th. Allman’s incredible achievements include a new American record and gold medal at the Paris Games this year, where she threw a remarkable 69.50 meters. She also secured gold at the Tokyo Games with a throw of 68.98 meters, ending a long wait for a US gold medal in discus throw since 2008. With a personal best of 71.46 meters, Allman has also claimed two World Championship medals: a silver in 2023 and a bronze in 2022.
Allman’s enthusiasm for the event is evident in her statement, “The start line is not just a race; it’s a celebration of camaraderie, determination, and resilience, and a showcase of our ability to push limits and achieve new personal milestones.” The Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon promises to be an exciting event, attracting a strong elite field.
Leading the men’s race is Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegai, the reigning world record holder in both the 5,000m and 10,000m events. He also boasts the world’s best time over the 15km distance. Cheptegai’s impressive resume includes three world championships in the 10,000m and a second-place finish at the TCS World 10K Bengaluru in 2014, marking his international debut in India.
Joining Cheptegai in the elite field is Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir, a former world record holder, who will lead the women’s race. The 19th annual Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon offers a prize purse of USD 260,000, attracting top athletes from around the world.
