Whether it’s on the flat terrain of Copenhagen, around a horse-racing circuit in far-flung Guiyang, along the rain-drenched roads of Cardiff, in the altitude of Kampala, or on the windy streets of Valencia, for the past five years Geoffrey Kamworor has spent the last weekend of March winning world titles.

This Saturday (March 30) – as more than 150 athletes from 54 nations line up for the final race at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus, Denmark – the Kenyan will be looking to add to his cross country titles from 2015 and 2017, and his half marathon wins from 2014, 2016 and 2018, to become the first athlete to complete senior hat-tricks at both championships.

But despite his dominance in recent years, the 2017 New York Marathon winner might not even be favourite for cross country’s biggest prize this time around, having finished just fifth at the Kenyan trials five weeks ago.

Not that Kamworor will be worried about that. He didn’t win the Kenyan trials in the run-up to his 2017 World title. Nor did he win Kenyan gold in 2015! He didn’t even win the Kenyan junior trials in 2015, the year he took the under-20 crown.

Indeed, it could be argued that it’s against Amos Kirui, the Kenyan trials winner, that the odds are heavily stacked. Paul Tergat was the last senior man to win both the Kenyan Championships and the World title in the same year, way back in 1996!

Last time out

Joshua Cheptegei came close to becoming the hero of the hour in front of the home crowd in the Ugandan capital in 2017 after one of the most inspiring, if heart-breaking, performances in World Cross history.

Leading by 11 seconds heading out onto the last lap and still in full flow, Cheptegei looked certain to be about to land Uganda’s second title of the day; Kamworor looked destined for silver.

But then, heading into the final kilometre, everything changed. Cheptegei ran out of steam in dramatic fashion, and as Kamworor surged to the title, Cheptegei went backwards, in the end stumbling home in 30th place.

The Ugandan crowd, who just moments earlier had been in jubilant celebration, were abruptly silenced.

The young Ugandan quickly put the heartache behind him, and later in 2017 finished a sublime second in the 10,000m at the World Championships in London, and won both the 5000m and 10,000m Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast last year.

A world title in Aarhus would, however, be the ultimate redemption!

Another Ugandan in the mix

Cheptegei, like Kamworor, didn’t win his trial race, and has played second-fiddle this winter to his young compatriot Jacob Kiplimo, who won the under-20 race in Kampala two years ago to become Uganda’s first ever World Cross Country gold medallist.

Kiplimo has won IAAF Permit races in Burgos, Goria and Seville already this winter, and if his world junior title didn’t bring him widespread notoriety, his 26:41 at the San Silvestre Vallecana 10km in Madrid on New Year’s Eve certainly did.

While the time – the fastest ever achieved on the road – doesn’t count for record purposes due to the downhill nature of the course, it did knock 13 seconds off the course record set by Eluid Kipchoge in 2006.

Photo: San Silvestre Vallecana

Kiplimo will be looking to join Kamworor on the ever-growing list of athletes who have won World Cross titles in both age categories. If form over the past few months is anything to go by, he may start as favourite.

Beyond the big three

Kirui, the Kenyan Champion and trials winner, is the 2016 world under-20 steeplechase champion. Other Kenyans of note include Evans Keitany Kiptum, runner-up to Kirui at the trials, and World under 20 10,000m champion Rhonex Kipruto, who won the IAAF Permit meet in Elgoibar in January.

While the Kenyans and Ugandans are likely to be setting the pace and stringing out the field, as they’ve done in recent years, there are sure to be some Ethiopians among those lurking dangerously in the lead group.

While neither Abadi Hadis nor Muktar Edris, the 2017 and 2015 bronze medallists respectively, race – indeed, Bonsa Dida, 10th in Kampala, is the sole survivor of the 2017 gold medal winning team – the team is far from lacking in star quality.

Selemon Barega finished second to Kipruto in Elgoibar earlier this year. The 2016 World under-20 5000m champion and 2018 World Indoor 3000m silver medallist, was the fastest over 5000m last season, and is certainly one to watch. With a 12:43.02 personal best on the track, the other big names will want to have killed him off long before they make the final turn to the finish.

While the biggest track name on the team, Barega didn’t win the Ethiopian trials, finishing second on that occasion to the lesser known Mogos Tuemay. Third at the trials was Andamlak Belihu, 10th in the 10,000m at the 2017 World Championships and runner-up at the 2018 African Cross Country Championships.

Aron Kifle (Eritrea) joins Kamworor and Dida as the only top ten finishers from the 2017 senior race on the entry list, though Kenya’s Richard Yator, like Kiplimo made the 2017 Junior Men’s rostrum two years ago.

Kifle won bronze at the 2018 World Half Marathon Championships, finished seventh in the 5000m at the World Championships in 2017 and was second to Kiplimo at the IAAF Permit meet in Burgos in November.

Bahrain’s Albert Rop, the Asian 5000m record holder, will be looking to improve on his 11th place from 2015. He finished third behind the Ugandan pair at the Seville IAAF Cross Country Permit race on 20th January.

Shadrack Kipchirchir leads the USA challenge. Brett Robinson won the Australian trials. Aras Kaya (Turkey) and Napoleon Solomon (Sweden) who finished third and fifth respectively at the European Cross Country Championships in December are among the top Europeans entered.

Photo: Andy Peat

Peru’s José Luis Rojas is the South American Champion. And South Africa’s Rantso Mokopane won silver at the 2018 World University Championships.

Team honours

Kamworor has yet to win an Olympic medal. But the title most surprisingly absent from his glistening collection is the World Cross Country senior team title. The Kenyans finished a single point behind Ethiopia last time out and lost out to their East African rivals only on countback in 2015.

If Kiplimo and Cheptegi make the podium, it might be Uganda, rather than Ethiopia, that stand between Kenya and their first team win since 2011.

The young Ugandan stars will be ably supported by Joel Ayeko, the 2018 World Mountain Running silver medallist and Thomas Ayeko, silver medallist from the under-20 race back in 2011.

The Ethiopians will, no doubt, run the most controlled race, and if the Kenya versus Uganda individual battle gets so hot it implodes, they will be ready to take their fourth consecutive team title.

The USA, with a team largely comprised of East African-born runners, will also be looking to upset the party, and would dearly love to spring a surprise of the magnitude they achieved when the competition was last held in Europe, in 2013. They placed four athletes in the top 20 on that occasion and took team silver, two points ahead of the Kenyans.

Bahrain too, will be in the mix.

British and Irish Hopes

The British team will be expecting to be the first European team home, though with just Denmark and Spain to beat for that honour, they’ll be looking for more.

There’s little to choose between the six athletes named in the team. Adam Hickey is the Inter-Counties champion and trials winner, while Mahamed Mahamed was an impressive winner at the English National Championships.

Patrick Dever, who finished fifth in the under-23 race at the European Cross Country Championships, came within millimetres of taking the BUCS title in February.

Photo: Andy Peat

Ross Millington was runner up at the trials and finished seventh against an international field at the Campaccio Cross Country in Italy at the start of the year.

Oliver Fox has shown impressive consistency finishing third at both BUCS and the Inter-Counties, while Luke Traynor will be looking to put his international experience to good effect.

Anything in the top 40 will be a good individual result – a performance last achieved by Jonathan Taylor and Steve Vernon back in 2013.

Without a team, Ireland’s Sean Tobin and Kevin Dooney will be looking to make a big individual impact.

Tobin finished 10th at the European Championships, and he’ll certainly be looking to return Ireland’s best finish in almost a generation.

Photo: Andy Peat

The last time Ireland entered athletes in the senior men’s race was 2009. Mark Kenneally finished 68th on that occasion.

The Irish duo competing on Saturday are unlikely to even remember the dizzy heights of 2001 when both Peter Matthews and Keith Kelly finished inside the top 30.

And so…

Get ready for a battle of truly epic portions. This could well be the most nail-biting world title battle in some years.

Kamoworor v Cheptegei v Kiplimo. Kenya v Uganda. Established star v young pretenders. World champ v world champ.

And then throw in Barega, the 12:43 man, for good measure.

These guys more than know how to put on a show!

AND there’ll be both British and Irish men to cheer.

Don’t. Go. Anywhere.

Keep an eye out for additional previews that will be published on Fast Running ahead of Saturday’s World Cross Country Championships.

RELATED: How to watch the World Cross Country Championships

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Shalane Flanagan and Geoffrey Kamworor can expect a tough test as they aim to successfully defend their titles at the New York City Marathon on Sunday (November 4).

Last year in New York, Flanagan became the first American woman to win in 40 years, storming to victory in a time of 2:26:53.

On Sunday, the 37 year-old will once again face three-time champion Mary Keitany who she dethroned from the top podium spot, along with London Marathon champion Vivian Cheruiyot and Boston Marathon champion Des Linden.

Flanagan has a personal best of 2:21:14, while Kenya’s Keitany clocked a women’s only world record of 2:17:01 to win the 2017 edition of the London Marathon.

RELATED: Shalane Flanagan and Geoffrey Kamworor win New York City Marathon

Leading the Ethiopian challenge is reigning World Half Marathon champion Netsanet Gudeta and Mamitu Daska, who have bests of 2:29:15 and 2:21:59 respectively.

Along with Flanagan and Linden, the top American entries include 2016 New York third-place finisher Molly Huddle, Boston Marathon runner-up Sarah Sellers and 2017 TCS New York fifth-place finisher Allie Kieffer.

Last year in the men’s race, Kenya’s Kamworor claimed his first major marathon victory running a 4:31 penultimate mile to cross the line in 2:10:53.

Photo: NYRR

This weekend, the three-time World Half Marathon champion lines up against USA’s Bernard Lagat, who makes his exciting marathon debut, two time Boston Marathon champion Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia, 2017 London Marathon champion Daniel Wanjiru and the fastest in the field with a 2:04:06 best Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola.

Multiple track world medalist Lagat became an American citizen in 2004 and holds national records over 1500m, 3000m and 5000m.

The 43 year-old will be joined on the start line by fellow American athletes Abdi Abdirahman, Rio 2016 Olympian Jared Ward, 2018 Boston Marathon third-place finisher Shadrack Biwott.

British eyes will be firmly fixed on the performances of Chris Thompson, Jonny Mellor and Andrew Davies on Sunday. Thompson makes his return to marathon racing after recent wins at the Great Scottish Run and Great South Run, following the European Championships in Berlin.

The 37 year-old, who has a PB of 2:11:19 from 2014, is no stranger to New York and claimed a podium spot at the United Airlines NYC Half in March.

In a recent interview with Fast Running, Thompson said: “New York is not a race for fast times, but instead it’s one of the best for real racing – no pacesetters, no world records, just hard running.

“It’s been on my bucket list for ages. It’s at the right time of year for me at this point in my career, and I’m excited about all the unknowns going into the race.”

Mellor memorably clocked a 2:12:57 best at the Berlin Marathon last September and will take on his second marathon of the year after a 2:17:55 performance at a hot London Marathon in April.

Welshman Davies finished 11th in the marathon at the Commonwealth Games and steps back on the roads following a successful summer on the mountains, which included winning gold at the World Masters Mountain Running Championships.

In the wheelchair races, Switzerland’s Marcel Hug and Manuela Schär return to defend their 2018 crowns, while David Weir, Johnboy Smith, Simon Lawson lead the British hopes in New York.

How to watch

The New York City Marathon will be broadcast live on Eurosport 2 in the UK from 2:15pm on Sunday.

RELATED: Chris Thompson ready for a marathon size bite out of the Big Apple

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American Shalane Flanagan and Geoffrey Kamworor of Kenya will aim to successfully retain their titles at the New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 4.

At last year’s race, Flanagan became the first American woman to win the women’s race in New York since Miki Gorman did so in 1977, while Kamworor claimed his first major marathon victory in the men’s race.

Manuela Schär and Marcel Hug of Switzerland will also return to defend their titles. Last year, Hug and Schär both won their fourth major marathon victories of the year with a Swiss sweep of the wheelchair division.

“When I think about returning to race in New York City, I’m flooded with magical memories,” said Flanagan, who ended a 40-year drought for American women after claiming the crown from Kenya’s Mary Keitany with a time of 2:26:53.

“My heart skips a beat, I get butterflies in my stomach, and my palms get sweaty. New York City is incredibly special to me. It’s where I ran my first marathon in 2010, placing second, and of course, my dream moment in 2017 when I won the TCS New York City Marathon.

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity, support, passion, and health to defend my title in 2018. I hope everyone preparing enjoys their journey to the start line and I look forward to celebrating with all the runners at the finish line on November 4th.”

With her first victory in just her second appearance at the New York City Marathon – she was runner-up in her marathon debut in 2010 – Flanagan became the sixth U.S. women’s champion in the event and recorded the second-fastest time by a U.S. woman at the event.

The 16-time national champion and Olympic silver medalist will be racing again this year as an NYRR Team for Kids Ambassador. In the women’s open division, Flanagan will join previously announced Des Linden, the 2018 Boston Marathon champion, and Allie Kieffer, the fifth-place finisher at last year’s New York City Marathon.

RELATED: Des Linden to run New York City Marathon

Kamworor claimed his first major marathon victory last year when he held off compatriot Wilson Kipsang down the final turns in Central Park.

The 2015 TCS New York City Marathon runner-up separated himself from the field with a 4:31 penultimate mile to finish in 2:10:53.

“Racing once more in the TCS New York City Marathon means so much to me,” said the 25 year-old. “It is my favourite race, and although thousands of miles separate my training base in Kaptagat, Kenya to New York, the event feels like home.

“I say that because of the friendly nature of the event, the terrific organization and also because of the warmth I feel from the many thousands of supporters lining the route.”

The Kenyan has won the last three consecutive IAAF World Half-Marathon Championships and placed 11th in the 10,000 meters at the Rio 2016 Olympics. He recorded three consecutive sub-2:07 performances at the BMW Berlin Marathon from 2012-2014, with his 2012 race of 2:06:12 remaining his personal best.

Peter Ciaccia, president of events for NYRR and race director of the TCS New York City Marathon said: “Last year was one for the ages, with Shalane making history, Geoffrey having a breakthrough race, and Manuela and Marcel becoming the first winning pair from the same country to sweep the wheelchair division.

“We are excited to have all four of our TCS New York City Marathon champions – Shalane, Geoffrey, Manuela, and Marcel – returning to defend their titles at the world’s largest marathon.

“Together, this group of all-time greats will headline our professional athlete races and lead the 50,000-plus runners behind them as they thrill the more than 1 million spectators that line the course. We can fully expect another electrifying race this year.”

RELATED: Shalane Flanagan and Geoffrey Kamworor win New York City Marathon

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The 23rd edition of the World Half Marathon Championships will be held in Valencia, Spain later today (March 24). The event, originally held annually in early October, moved to its new spring home in 2014, where it now alternates biannually with the World Cross Country Championships. That move was hoped to help increase interest in both events, and restore World Cross popularity.

The success of the move depends on your perspective. Ireland, who didn’t send a single athlete to the past two world cross country events – breaking a participation streak that had stretched back to the first event way back in 1973 – have full teams entered in today’s event, as have Great Britain, who infamously left their senior men at home for last year World Cross in Kampala, Uganda.

On the surface, it would appear that international road running has simply replaced cross country in this part of the world.

But look a little deeper, and the trend is different to what we see elsewhere. Portugal doesn’t have a single entrant for the Valencia event. Anja Scherl will be Germany’s only representative. Italy won’t have a full scoring team in either race.

And it’s still debatable whether World Half Marathon titles are as prestigious as World Cross Country titles.

But is it fair to compare the two? Is it a question of one or the other?

Geoffrey Kamworor

It definitely doesn’t seem to be one or other for a certain Kenyan. After four successive world titles (World Half Marathon Championships in 2014 and 2016 and World Cross Country winner in 2015 and 2017), Geoffrey Kamworor will be among the favourites in Valencia.

While a half marathon three-peat wouldn’t be unprecedented – indeed, Zersenay Tadese (Eritrea) won four consecutive titles between 2006 and 2009 – it would be particularly noteworthy given it’s now reduced frequency.

Others to win both world cross country and world half marathon titles include the aforementioned Tadese, Kenyan Paul Tergat, Paula Radcliffe, and Kenyan-born Dutch athlete Lornah Kiplagat, herself a three-time World Half Marathon winner.

But with four titles and counting, it could be argued that Kamworor is the most consistent long-distance runner of this generation. And to highlight his versatility, he won the 2018 Kenyan Cross Country title in preparation for this event.

While Kamworor, who won the New York City Marathon in autumn, will be racing for the title on Sunday, many of his 26.2 mile compatriots will be missing. And that’s not necessarily surprising.

The world half marathon championships can be the perfect preparation for a spring marathon, but for those with big appearance fees, time bonuses and prize money at stake, not to mention a shot at a world record, the risk of pushing the limits so late in preparation might not be worth it.

Such a compromise would never be made by the top cross country runners.

While the World Half Marathon heralds the start of the spring road racing season, the World Cross Country Championships is a definite end to the international cross country calendar. It is the ultimate battle for king, or queen, of the world.

The World Half Marathon title, on the other hand, is something nice to win on the way to other goals.

Women’s half marathon boom

There’s probably never been a more transformational time in history for the women’s half marathon. The top six times ever have been achieved in the last 13 months, a period during which Joyciline Jepkosgei twice broke the world record.

Two athletes have broken 65 minutes already this year. The time which Lornah Kiplagat set to win the 2007 title and break the then world record, is now only the 27 fastest time in history. Things are happening in women’s half marathon!

In the absence of Fancy Chemutai (who got to within a single second of the world record earlier this year); Mary Keitany (who ran a women’s only best for the marathon in London last April) and Peres Jepchirchir and Caroline Chepkoech Kipkirui (number 4 and 5 respectively on that all-time list), Jepkosgei will start this evening’s race as the overwhelming favourite.

But given that Valencia was the venue for the current world record, she’s unlikely to just settle for an ‘easy’ world title. Expect a blistering pace!

Whether or not today’s event catches the attention of the athletics world at large remains to be seen. Full Irish and British participation will, no doubt, inspire future generations of endurance runners on these islands, and provide a potential target for athletes on the cusp of international selection.

History could well be made, and cracking races are almost guaranteed. Indeed, it looks like the fields in both races will be bigger than ever before.

But it’s got some way to go before it becomes the premier spring-time endurance championships. Which is probably just as well. Road running isn’t for everyone!

Some stats to leave you with

Did you know Kenya, Ethiopia and Japan have shared the team medals in the women’s events for the last eight editions?

Japan, who were promoted to third in 2009 after the disqualification of Russian athlete Inga Abitova for a doping offence, will be going for their ninth successive bronze medal. While Kenya will be red hot favourites for another team title this year, with only three athletes due to start, there is no margin for error.

Ireland have never won a medal at this event and have only finished teams on five occasions. Sonia O’Sullivan came closest to bringing home silverware with a fourth-place finish in 2004.

A full women’s team has not been entered since 1993, when they finished 12th, three places higher than at the inaugural event the previous year. Barring disaster, the 2018 team is capable of much better than that.

Britain, by contrast, have won individual medals courtesy of Liz McColgan, Carl Thackery, Paula Radcliffe and Mo Farah, and made it onto the rostrum in the team event in 1992 (silver for both men and women) and 1993 (bronze for the men).

But team glory isn’t out of the question this time around, and in the unlikely event that the Japanese, or even the Kenyans, flounder, the British girls will be ready to capitalise. They’ll certainly improve on their 11th place from 2016.

A record 97 athletes finished the women’s race in 1998. That number is set to be exceeded this time around. The most to finish the men’s race was 143 in 1997. A whopping 32 men’s teams finished in both 1995 and 1997 – compared with just 14 last time out!

A preview and tv guide for the World Half Marathon Championships with a focus on the British team can be found here, and the Irish team preview can be found here.

The post World Half Marathon Championships under the spotlight appeared first on Fast Running.

Charlotte Purdue, who clocked 70:29 to lower her personal best by a minute at the Big Half earlier this month, will go into the Valencia showdown full of confidence ranked tenth this year over the distance.

As the only member of the five men and five women team to have competed at the last championships in Cardiff, the Aldershot runner has been awarded the role of team captain.

“It is always very special for me to run for Great Britain & NI and to lead the team this weekend in Valencia will make it even more special, said the 13th place finisher the marathon at the 2017 World Championships. “Being a team event, on both the men’s and women’s side, we have a great group of athletes who I know will join me in giving 110 percent against the rest of the world on Saturday.”

Joining Purdue in the women’s team is the experienced Gemma Steel, who is Britain’s faster over the distance from 2014. Steel who ran 72:37 in Doha at the beginning of the year picked up the British Athletics Cross Challenge title in her most recent competition to conclude a consistent and impressive cross country season. The 32-year-old was a seventh-place finisher at the 2012 event in Kavarna, Bulgaria.

Purdue was not alone in delivering PB performances at the Big Half in London, with Charlotte After running 71:31 to finish third in the race that also incorporated the British Championships, as well as Faye Fullerton who ran a two-second PB in 74:04.

Competing the GB women’s team is World Championships marathoner Tracy Barlow who ran 73:36 in London and gets ready to run her fourth half marathon of 2018 on Saturday.

The women’s field is stacked and is spearheaded by Kenya’s 64:51 world record holder Joyciline Jepkosgei and Bahrain’s Eunice Chumba.

Kenya’s Fancy Chemutai, who missed Jepkosgei’s world record by one second at the RAK half marathon in February, was set to compete but is a late withdrawal, as is compatriot Mary Wacera. As such the Kenyan team is completed by Ruth Chepngetich and Pauline Kamulu.

USA’s Jordan Hasay is also a late withdrawal from the championships due to a tight plantar. With her eyes firmly on the Boston Marathon next month this is more of a precautionary measure.

Equally the men’s race is set to light up the streets of the Spanish city, with defending champion Geoffrey Kamworor out to win a third straight World Half title.

Leading the British charge is Ben Connor who is the eighth fastest this year after running a fantastic 61:12 PB in Barcelona back in February. Connor has also enjoyed a fine cross country season that included a fifth place finish at the Great Edinburgh XC.

One place behind Connor that day was Luke Traynor who also ran a big 61:57 best in only second race over the distance.

RELATED: Luke Traynor’s ready to take on the world

With Connor heading into the race among this year’s top 10 and Traynor 12th, the pair are more than ready to test their ability against the world’s best.

Completing the team is British Olympic marathoner Tsegai Tewelde, Mohamud Aadan and Dan Studley.

Tewelde ran 65:11 most recently at the Big Half, but did clock his 63:14 personal best just last year at the Great North Run. Aadan and Studley will both represent GB for the first time having clocked personal bests 63:15 and 64:23 in Granollers and Barcelona just this year.

At the front of the men’s race aiming to deny Kamworor a third straight crown will be Ethiopia’s Jemal Yimer and Kenyan Jorum Okombo. The pair are the fastest this year with 59:00 and 59:36 performances respectively.

Swiss runner Julien Wanders, who broke his nations half marathon record in Barcelona in February, is the third fastest this year with 60:09. While the impressive Ethiopian Leule Gebresilase also lines up after running the second-fastest ever marathon debut in Dubai earlier this year.

Meanwhile, USA’s Leonard Korir, who posted a 59:52 PB at the Delhi Half Marathon in November, will hope to lead his team into medal contention.

Timetable

Women’s race: 4:05pm
Men’s race: 4:30pm

How to watch

Action from Valencia’s will be available to watch on the BBC red button and online and well as live stream in one of two ways: via the IAAF’s YouTube channel or Facebook page.

More information can be found here.

Check out the Valencia course below.

The post Strong GB team ready to face the world in Valencia appeared first on Fast Running.

With one week to go until the 2018 edition of the biannual championships, the final entry figures have been revealed and more than 300 international athletes are expected to be in action in the Spanish city. This includes 176 men and 139 women who have been confirmed as entered by the 87 IAAF Member Federations.

Ranked by season’s bests Ethiopia’s Jemal Yimer and Kenya’s Jorum Okombo are the fastest this year, while Swiss runner Julien Wanders, who broke his nations half marathon record in Barcelona in February, is the third fastest this year with 60:09.

Britain’s Ben Connor is the eighth fastest on season’s bests after running a big PB 61:12 that was also in Barcelona, while Luke Traynor is the 12th fastest man on paper in 2018.

Big names who haven’t raced over 13.1 miles this year include defending champion Kenya’s Geoffrey Kamworor and Ethiopia’s Leule Gebresilase. After wins in Copenhagen in 2014 and Cardiff in 2016, New York City Marathon champion Kamworor, goes for a third straight World Half title.

Meanwhile, Gebresilase, ran the second-fastest ever marathon debut when he finished second among seven men going under 2:05 in Dubai earlier this year.

Peres Jechirchir, the 2016 women’s champion, does not take part this year, but that shouldn’t stop Kenya in their pursuit of the team title once again with the three fastest this year spearheading their team.

Fancy Chemutai clocked 64:52 at the RAK half marathon to just miss out on compatriot Joyciline Jepkosgei’s world record. Jepkosgei clocked 66:46 in the same race, while Mary Wacera Ngugi finished third at the Houston half marathon in 66:50.

Elsewhere, USA’s Jordan Hasay in the sixth fastest this season and GB’s Charlotte Purdue 10th after her taking a minute off her personal best at the Big Half earlier this month.

Official start lists will become available after the technical meeting, which takes place on Friday 23 March at 5pm local time.

Even with the expected slight drop in numbers ahead of the publication of the official start lists, the number of athletes competing in Valencia will likely top the record of 254 achieved at the 1993 edition in Brussels, when there was a junior race in addition to the senior races.

Top 10 men on season’s best

Name / nation / Personal best / Season’s best
1) Jemal Yimer (ETH) 59:00 / 59:00
2) Jorum Lumbasi Okombo (KEN) 58:48 / 59:36
3) Julien Wanders (SUI) 60:09/ 60:09
4) Moses Martin Kurong (UGA) 59:50 / 60:10
5) Samuel Kiprono Chelanga (USA) 60:37 / 60:37
6) Alex Oloitiptip Korio (KEN) 58:51 / 60:49
7) Aron Kifle (ERI) 61:08 / 61:08
8) Ben Connor (GBR) 61:12 / 61:12
9) Kenta Murayama (JPN) 60:50 / 61:42
10) Diego Estrada (USA) 60:51 / 61:46

Top 10 women on season’s best

Name / nation / Personal best / Season’s best
1) Fancy Chemutai (KEN) 64:52 / 64:52
2) Joyciline Jepkosgei (kEN) 64:51 / 66:46
3) Mary Wacera Ngugi (KEN) 66:29 / 66:50
4) Eunice Chebichii Chumba (BRN) 66:11 / 67:18
5) Tejitu Daba (BRN) 68:21 / 68:36
6) Jordan Hasay (USA) 67:55 / 68:38
7) Shitaye Eshete (BRN) 68:38 / 68:38
8) Pauline Kaveke Kamulu (KEN) 68:04 / 69:40
9) Kaori Morita (JPN) 70:10 / 70:10
10) Charlotte Purdue (GBR) 70:29 / 70:29

Great Britain have entered a 10-strong team that you find here, as have Ireland, and you find their team here. The complete provisional entry list can be found here.

The post World Half Marathon Championships provisional entries revealed appeared first on Fast Running.

Flanagan, racing in her second New York City Marathon, broke the tape in 2:26:53 leaving defending champion Mary Keitany more than one minute behind.

The 2008 Olympic medalist ends a four-decade drought by becoming the first American winner since Miki Gorman in 1977.

“I’ve dreamed of a moment like this since I was a little girl,” Flanagan said after running thesecond-fastest time by a U.S. woman in New York. “So this means a lot to me, to my family and hopefully inspires the next generation of American women to just be patient. These are the moments that we dream of as athletes, and this is going to feel good for a really long time.”

Flanagan, who made her marathon debut seven years ago in New York, is the second American marathon major champion in four weeks following Galen Rupp’s victory in Chicago.

Keitany, who was seeking a fourth consecutive win the Big Apple, was inseparable from Flanagan and Ethiopia’s Mamitu Daska up until the 22-mile mark before Flanagan kicked. From that point on the gap grew with every mile and neither athlete could answer the 36-year-old’s strength in closing stages.

Flanagan crossed the line in 2:26:53, with Keitany second in 2:27:54 and Daska completed the podium with 2:28:08.

Earlier this year Flanagan, who finished third at the Beijing 2008 Olympic 10,000m, had her bronze medal upgraded to a silver after Elvan Abeylegesse of Turkey’s medal was stripped as a result of a doping violation.

Geoffrey Kamworor wins his first marathon

Geoffrey Kamworor’s late surge in a tactical men’s race was enough to win his first marathon majors title.

The two-time World Cross Country Champion and two-time World Half Marathon Champion crossed the line in 2:10:53, finishing three seconds ahead of 2014 champion Wilson Kipsang.

Lelisa Desisa completed the podium with 2:11:32.

The men’s race was a tight tactical affair right to the closing stages with any of eight athletes in contention for the title.

However, Kamworor made a break with two miles to go and only Ethiopia’s Desisa and Kipsang managed to follow. Heading into Central Park for the final stretch, Kipsang was just a few strides behind, but the 24-year-old remained in control and held on to win his first marathon in eight attempts.

“2015 was my first time running the TCS New York City Marathon, and I found the course very exciting and very nice,” Kamworor said. “There are many people to cheer on, so it keeps a lot of motivation. So for me today, I knew that it’s really a nice course, and I knew that there’s enough support.

“For me, I knew that I had made a decisive move, and I was focusing on the finish line. But when I look at the camera, I saw someone was coming, which was Wilson, and I had to believe in myself because I was holding out for the finish. So I had to do my best to make sure that I won.”

Meb Keflezighi says farewell

American great Meb Keflezighi was racing in his 26th and final career marathon and finished in a very respectable 2:15:29 for 11th place. Keflezighi, a winner in 2009 has now competed in New York eleven times and quite fitting he finishes 11th today.

“It was a beautiful victory lap, you could say, to be up at the front and mix it up with all the great runners that New York runners provide here and set the stage for us,” Kelfezighi said. “I gave it all that I had today. New York came out to support me, all the runners, 50,000 deep. I was honored to be here and to get this special medal, number 26.”

Switzerland’ Marcel Hug won his third title in the men’s wheelchair race, clocking 1:37:17, with Britain’s John Charles Smith finishing second in 1:39:40.

Manuela Schär made it a double for Switzerland by claiming the women’s title ahead of USA’s five-time winner Tatyana McFadden.

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Keitany aims to become only the second athlete to win four consecutive New York City Marathon titles and her form in 2017 indicates its unlikely anyone will topple her off the podium. If the Kenyan achieves the honour she joins Norwegian great Grete Waitz with the honour in the Big Apple.

The 35-year-old set a fantastic personal best earlier this year to win the London Marathon in 2:17:01, and more recently in September, she won a third title at the Great North Run clocking 1:05:59. Keitany’s dominant victory in the half marathon showed her preparations have not faltered and will look to carry that momentum into Sunday’ race.

While Keitany is the strong favourite the leading challenge will come from compatriot Edna Kiplagat, who won the Boston Marathon this year in 2:21:52.

This summer the 38-year-old, who has a personal best of 2:19:50, won marathon silver at the World Championships in London clocking 2:27:18.

Keitany has also outlined that well as a fourth win, the course record on the rolling route which stands at 2:22:31, is a target.

Other leading entries in the women’s race include USA’s Shalane Flanagan, Betsy Saina of Kenya, Ethiopian Mamitu Daska and Jessica Augusto of Portugal.

Eritrean Ghebreslassie became the youngest men’s champion in the history of the New York City Marathon when he broke the tape at in 2:07:51 at 20 years and 358 days last year.

It was the third-fastest winning time in the history of the race, and a similar or better performance will be needed on Sunday if he is to retain his crown.

The 21-year-old, who won the world title in 2015 and finished fourth at Rio Olympics in 2016, hasn’t been in stellar form this year, clocking a best 2:09:57 at the London Marathon to finish sixth.

In New York, he faces 2014 champion Wilson Kipsang, who has a personal best of 2:03:13 set in Berlin last year.

At this year’s edition of the Berlin Marathon – billed as the showdown with Kenenisa Bekele and Eliud Kipchoge, the 35-year-old dropped out at 30km, but he feeling confident ahead of New York saying: “My training was excellent before Berlin, but I had a bad day there. Now, I am very happy and thankful I was given a chance to use my training effort in New York City and will try to win there as I did three years ago.”

Also aiming for honours are Ethiopian duo Lemi Berhanu and Lelisa Desisa, with bests of 2:04:33 and 2:04:45 respectively, and Kenya’s Geoffrey Kamworor, a two time World Half Marathon and World Cross Country champion. The 24-year-old has a 2:06:12 personal best over 26.2 miles.

Another worthy mention is American marathon great Meb Keflezighi will make his last career appearance over 26.2 miles.

The New York champion in 2009 and Boston champion in 2014 will be racing his 26th career marathon and 10th New York City Marathon. When the 42-year-old crosses the line on Sunday he will also set a new record for the most appearance in the elite division of the race.

In the elite wheelchair race, Marcel Hug of Switzerland and USA’s Tatyana McFadden aim to defend their titles. British interest comes with Jade Jones the women’s race and Simon Lawson and John Smith in the men’s. Richard Whitehead, the 200m Paralympic and world champion, also makes a return to the marathon for the first time in three years.

The weekend’s action get’s underway on Saturday with the Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K which incorporates the USA Track & Field 5K Championships, and following the terrorist attack on Tuesday that killed eight in New York, race organisers released a statement to say they were “monitoring the situation closely with our city, state and federal agency partners”, to ensure the safety and security of runners and spectators, staff and volunteers, but the marathon and weekend of events will go ahead.

Leading entries in the Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K/USA Track & Field 5K Championships include Molly Huddle and Abbey D’Agostino in the women’s field and Paul Chelimo and Ben True in the men’s.

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The victory though was not simple for Kamworor, as he had to fend off a strong challenge from Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda.

Half way into the race the host nation athlete raced to the front and built up a sizable lead on Kamworor and the rest of the chasing pack over the next 3K. The cheering Kampala crowd and everyone watching around the world believed Cheptegei had the race won.

However going into the final 2K, Cheptegei paid the heavy price for his quickening of the pace earlier in the race, and began to slow at an alarming rate. Kamworor’s experience paid dividends, as he pounced on his competitors weakness, and overtook him to claim his second consecutive title, crossing the line in a time of 28:24.

Congratulations to #Kenya‘s Kamworor for defending title! Another #Gold ? for @athletics_kenya. Photos by; @JoshWama #iaafkampala2017 pic.twitter.com/ugRWVHJIIs

— iaafkampala2017 (@iaafkampala2017) March 26, 2017

Although his earlier challenge was brave and exciting for the home crowd, Cheptegei will have learnt a hard lesson as he struggled to the finish line, eventually finishing in over 90 seconds behind Kamworor in 30th place.

Second place went to Kenya’s Leonard Kiplimo Barsoton and Abadi Hadis of Ethiopia finished third.

Ethiopia won the team race by one point, with Kenya finishing second, and Uganda claiming third, thanks to Cheptegei battling it to the finish line.

The USA team finished in fifth place, thanks to strong performances from Sam Chelanga (11th place), Leonard Korir (20th), Shadrack Kipchirchir (21st) and Stanley Kebenei (26th).

Regarding Great Britian, a senior men’s team was not sent to World Cross Country Championship in Kampala, Uganda.

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