The race has been previously won by world-class runners like Haile Gebrselassie, Kenenisa Bekele and Lornah Kiplagat.
The opening was attended by the high commissioner of Canada to Kenya, David Collins, and Lornah Kiplagat.
Part of a highly successful family of runners, her relatives include Sylvia Kibet, Hilda Kibet and Susan Sirma.
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On 14 October 2007, Kiplagat set a new half marathon world record of 1:06:25 at the World Road Running Championships at Udine, Italy, while defending the title she first won in 2006.