Callum Hawkins set for NN Zevenheuvelenloop
Callum Hawkins says his experience of running in the Scottish hills will hopefully help him as he takes on the NN Zevenheuvelenloop in Netherlands on Sunday (November 19).
The Scottish marathoner – who placed fourth in the IAAF World Championships marathon this summer – finished second in the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run half-marathon last month and now tests himself over the 15km of the 'seven hills run' in Nijmegen, Netherlands.
"The seven hills race has got a good reputation," Hawkins said at the pre-event press conference. "My experience with the Scottish hills hopefully will help me."
If a hamstring niggle does not affect him too much, Hawkins told Losse Veter how he has an eye on the European 15km best, which is 42:03 set by Mo Farah during last year's World Half Marathon Championships.
https://vimeo.com/243320824
Joining Hawkins on the start line will be Uganda's defending champion and world 10,000m silver medallist Joshua Cheptegei, who targets the world 15km record, and the current holder of that record – Kenya's Leonard Komon.
Two-time Zevenheuvelenloop winner Komon clocked the world record of 41:13 at this event in 2010, while Cheptegei ran 42:39 to win in Nijmegen last year.
"I'm very happy to be back in Nijmegen," said Komon. To Cheptegei, he added: "My brother, if you want to break the record you have to focus on yourself!"
Ethiopia's Yenew Alamirew and Amdework Walelegn, plus Khalid Choukoud of Netherlands and Britain's Jonny Mellor and Andrew Davies are also among the entries.
The women's line-up is led by Bahrain's world marathon champion Rose Chelimo and she will be joined by Uganda's Mercyline Chelangat, Ethiopia's Sofia Assefa and Romania's Ancuta Bobocel.
"I am very happy to be invited to run in NN Zevenheuvelenloop," said Chelimo. "I think it is a tough course, but I think I run fast."
