Olympic Champion Valarie Allman Named Delhi Half Marathon Ambassador
American discus thrower Valarie Allman, gold medalist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics, has been appointed the international event ambassador for the Delhi Half Marathon, scheduled for October 20.
Allman set a new American record with a throw of 69.50 meters in Paris, solidifying her position among the world’s elite discus throwers. She won gold in Tokyo with a remarkable first throw of 68.98 meters.
“The beauty of a running event lies in its ability to unite us as a community for a greater purpose. The start line is not just a race; it’s a celebration of camaraderie, resilience, and the pursuit of personal milestones. I’m thrilled to visit India for the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon and to participate in an event that showcases the vibrant spirit of India, #AaRangDeDilli,” Allman said in a statement from the organizers.
In addition to her Olympic triumphs, Allman is a two-time World Championship medalist, earning silver in 2023 and bronze in 2022. Her personal best of 71.46 meters, achieved in April 2022, ranks as the 15th longest throw in history and the longest in nearly three decades.
The Delhi Half Marathon, recognized as a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race, features a prize purse of USD 260,000 and will commence from Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on October 20.
The elite race will be led by Ugandan star Joshua Cheptegei and former Half-Marathon World record holder Peres Jepchirchir from Kenya. Cheptegei is the world record holder for both the 5000 meters and 10,000 meters and recently won the Olympic gold in the 10,000 meters with a record time of 26:43.14.
Jepchirchir, leading the women’s field, won the 2024 London Marathon with a time of 2:16:16, breaking the women’s-only marathon world record. She has also claimed victories at the 2021 New York City and 2022 Boston Marathons.
Defending champions Abhishek Pal and Kavita Yadav will spearhead the Indian contingent.
