The 24th edition of the World Athletics Half Marathon Championships took place on the re-arranged date in Gdynia, Northern Poland on Saturday. Races used a 5.5km loop starting in the City Centre with the finish area utilising a purpose built surface on the City’s Beach on Gdansk Bay on the Southern Coast of the Baltic Sea.

First up was the women’s race, with cool temperatures of around 8oc when the 105 starters hit the roads, perfect for the blistering starting pace.

Ethiopia’s Ababel Yeshaneh was among the favourites for the title following her 64:31 world record at Ras Al Kaimah in February.

Other favourites included previous World Champions Peres Jepchirchir (2016), defending Champion Netsanet Gudetta, former world record holder Joyceline Jepkosgei and the hugely talented Rosemary Wanjiru who is the fastest debutant in history with 65:34 but is yet to claim a global title.

Championships are often known for their cagey racing but with so many of the world’s best in the field, fast times were expected with former World Record Holder Jepchirchir hinting in the pre-race press conference that world records could be possible.

Big group on World Record pace

A group of 12 athletes passed the 5km mark in 15:20 with 2016 Champion Jepchirchir and former world record holder Jepkosgei at the very front. The 10km mark was passed in 30:47 with seven athletes remaining in the leading group.

With around half a lap left to run, Yeshanah and Jepkosgei fell forcing a decisive move from 2016 Champion Jepchirchir, Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw and Germany’s Melat Kejeta.

With a well timed sprint to the finish, it was a victory for Peres Jepchirchir in 65:16 to regain her title from Cardiff in 2016. After being on the front for most of the pack running, it was great to see the hard work put in by the Kenyan athlete throughout the race pay off in the final stages.

Kejeta claimed a Silver medal in 65:18 for with a European record for the German and with Ethiopian Yehualaw claiming Bronze in 65:19. All three podium finishers went under Jepchirchir’s women’s only World Record set in Prague in September.

Ethiopia claimed team victory in the women’s race with Kenya second and Germany finishing a surprise third.

Young British team gaining valuable champs experience.

Samantha Harrison was the leading Briton from start to finish, with the Charnwood AC athlete finishing in a time of 71:53 and in 47th place.

‘’I was really happy with that’’ said Harrison. ‘’The course was much tougher than I anticipated it being and it really took it out of your legs. I started off well but as the race wore on it all just started to take its toll’’.

‘’I’m happy with it for my senior debut, I gave it all that I could and I’m happy to be inside the top 50 on my first appearance in a British vest’’.

Becky Briggs was the second British finisher in 73:08 on her senior debut for Great Britain and Northern Ireland and as the youngest athlete in the race. ‘’I’m only 20 but what an amazing experience to be in the same race as some of these girls, especially when they’re breaking the world record like they have done today’’.

Clara Evans finished just behind in 65th place with 73:11.

Ann Marie-Mcglynn revised her own Northern Ireland record to 71:40, representing Ireland.

Jacob Kiplimo joins a long list of Federico Rosa represented athletes to win on the big stage Photo: World Athletics

Upset in the men’s event

Debutant Joshua Cheptegei began as the overwhelming favourite in the men’s race after setting World records on his last three outings with 26:11.00 for 10,000m in Valencia, 12:35.36 for 5,000m at the Meeting Hercules and 12:51 for 5km in Monaco back in February.

In the absence of defending Champion Geoffrey Kamworor who is recovering from being hit by a motorcyclist whilst training in Kenya, 19 year old Jacob Kiplimo was thought to be among the main challengers.

Kenya’s Kibiwott Kandie (P.B. 58:38) and Ethiopia’s Guye Idemo Adola (59:06) were amongst the other main protagonists.

It became apparent early on that chasing world records wasn’t a priority for the leading African athletes which included Ugandan Cheptegei in his longest race to date.

Early warm up for some of the leaders

European Record Holder Julien Wanders (59:13) of Switzerland took out the early frontrunning with Briton Jake Smith also right at the front of the field in the early kilometres.

5km was passed in 14:19 with much of the field still intact. That group thinned to around 20 athletes just under the 20 minute mark and still featuring leading Briton Smith. 10km then came in 28:23 with Smith still in attendance.

It was indeed Kiplimo that made a decisive move at just under the 50 minute mark to surge clear of second placed Kandie with further daylight back to Ethiopia’s Amedework Walelegn and Cheptegei.

Kiplimo relied on his track pace, proved with a 12:48 clocking over 5,000m this summer to pull away from Kandie and to stun the world with a first senior global title in a world u20 best of 58:49. This was also a Championships best and a Ugandan national record by over a minute.

Kibiwott Kandie was next to finish in 58:54 with Walelegn claiming the Bronze medal in 59:08. Despite the upset, it was still a great debut for Cheptegei who was fourth in 59:21.

Kenya regained the team title from Cardiff, overcoming defending Champions Ethiopia and with Uganda claiming their first team medals at the Championships since 2004 with Bronze.

The British mens team pose with recent 5000 & 10000m WR breaker Joshua Cheptegei. Photo: British Athletics

Smith jumps up UK rankings

Jake Smith came home as the second European athlete in 18th place with an eye watering 60:31 setting a new national record for Wales, re-moulding Steve Jones’ record of 61:14. His time also sends Smith to third on the UK all the lists behind Mo Farah and Callum Hawkins.

Smith commented saying; ‘’When I came down that final straight and saw what I was at the 20km mark, I couldn’t believe it. I got a 10km PB along the way and I was with the main group when I did that and it was so good. In that last lap, I caught one of the Turkish guys and just worked with him and I knew once we were at the top of the hill, it was downhill all the way’’.

‘’I put everything into the downhill and tried to hang on as much as I could. I started crying happy tears on the home straight because I just couldn’t believe it’’.

‘’I couldn’t ask for a better team, we all get on so well and we were warming up as a group and I couldn’t ask for anyone else to share this with’’.

Mohamud Aadan was the second British man in 50th with 62:41 just 10 seconds of his P.B. from the Commonwealth Half Marathon Championships in 2018.

Kristian Jones claimed a new best of 63:05 in 60th place with fellow Celt Adam Craig 62nd in a new best of 63:12. Ultra-distance man Tom Evans finished 64th in a P.B. of 63:14. There was also a new P.B. for Loughborough based Irishman Kevin Seaward in 62:58.

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The re-arranged event takes place in Gdynia, Northern Poland. The race originally set to host mass races will now take place exclusively for the International fields of just under 300 athletes. The course will use four laps of 5.5km, finishing on a purpose built surface on the City’s Beach in Gdansk Bay on the Southern Coast of the Baltic Sea.

This will be the first World Athletics Series Event to take place since the Covid-19 lockdowns. ‘’It is clear that the entire community – athletes, national federations, coaches, athlete representatives – have risen to the challenge,” said Jacob Larsen, World Athletics director of Competition and Events (via World Athletics). “It is evident that this is something everybody wants to happen – and indeed are making it happen’’.

Cheptegei coming in with decent form

Joshua Cheptegei will be the resounding favourite for the men’s race. The Ugandan Athlete has set World records for 5,000m (12:35.36) and 10,000m (26:11.00) in recent months and a 5km World Record (12:51) falling to him in Monaco back in February. In fact the 24 year old has lowered world records at every one of his races this year making a new world record on Saturday a definite possibility.

A battle with World Half Marathon Champion Geoffrey Kamworor was originally expected in March but never happened with the event being postponed due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

World Record holder Kamworor (WR: 58:00) is not named in the Kenyan Team so the greatest opposition will likely come from Compatriot Jacob Kiplimo who will also make his Half Marathon debut in Gdynia.

19 year old Kiplimo finished second to Cheptegei at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Aarhus on the day that Kamworor was de-throned as World Champion. Two years earlier he had claimed the global crown in the Junior Men’s race.

Instead the Kenyan Challenge will be led by Kibiwott Kandie who has a 58:38 best making him the fastest in the field and as the fifth fastest of all-time, should not be counted out. Abraham Cheroben of Bahrain is the second fastest with a best of 58:40.

Guye Idemo Adola will head the Ethiopian Team with a P.B. of 59:06 and a Bronze medal at the Championships in Copenhagen from 2014 to his name.

Kaan Kigen Ozbilen (P.B: 59:48) of Turkey is the fastest European entrant with his P.B. recorded at Ras Al Khaimah in 2019.

Jake Smith racing in Paris.

British team reduced by injuries

British hopes have been affected by a series of withdrawals, reducing the men’s team to five athletes.

Jake Smith will be the fastest Briton on Paper with a time of 62:00 recorded when finishing third at the Vitality Big Half in March behind Kenenisa Bekele and Chris Thompson. This was a third outing over the distance for the 22 year old who debuted with 64:03 in 2018, going on to run 62:03 at the Boulogne Billancourt Half marathon last November.

The Cardiff based athlete born in Bermuda then recorded a 28:00 time trial for 10,000m in July to test fitness coming out of the Covid-19 lockdown and followed up with a fourth place at the Muller British Championships over 5,000m in September.

Mohamud Aadan set his lifetime best of 62:30 on his way to seventh at the Commonwealth Half Marathon championships in Cardiff back in 2018.

Orienteers and ultra runners with some leg speed

Scottish based Welshman Kristian Jones has become a regular in British Teams of recent years and takes a 63:09 best in to the Championships, recorded at the Barcelona Half Marathon early in 2020. His most notable win to date was a victory at the British Athletics Stirling Cross Challenge in February.

Tom Evans P.B. of 63:15 came at the Antrim Coast Half Marathon in September. This was just the latest eye-catching performance for the Ultra distance Specialist. Evans has medalled at the IAU World Trail running Championships and the infamous Marathon Des Sables. Evans proved that he was an athlete comfortable over any distance with a 13:41 clocking at the Podium 5k and a Bronze medal at the CAU Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships back in February.

Adam Craig (63:24) has come in to the team as a replacement for fellow Scotsman Callum Hawkins. This will mean a debut for Great Britain & Northern Ireland on the roads for the Inverclyde AC Athlete in just his second outing over the distance.

26.03.16 – IAAF/Cardiff University World Half Marathon Championships 2016 – Elite womens runners on Roald Dahl Plas.

The women’s race is exciting

The women’s race will be more likely to see a competitive battle between former champions and some of the fastest athletes in history.

The Kenyan team will boast 2016 Champion Peres Jepchirchir (65:06) and former World record Holder Joyceline Jepkosgei (64.51). Rosemary Wanjiru (65.34) is the next fastest on an extremely strong Kenyan team with a 10km best of 29:50 set in Valencia.

Netsanet Gudetta (65:45) of Ethiopia is the defending Champion setting a women’s only world record of 66:11 in Valencia. That record fell to Jepchirchir with 65:34 in an elite only event in Prague last month.

Her compatriot Ababel Yeshaneh is faster yet with a 64:31 clocking to smash the world record held by Jepkosgei in a race where second placed Brigid Kosgei also dipped under the previous best mark.

Debuts for British women

Samantha Harrison is the fastest British challenger having clocked an impressive 71:01 to finish second at the Vitality Big Half in March after leading the race for some time.

Harrison, who describes running as ‘’her happy place’’ only began racing seriously in September 2018 and in late 2019 described a main goal for 2020 to be gaining selection for the World Athletics Half Marathon Championships.

Clara Evans is set to make her debut for the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Team, selected off the strength of a 72:21 lifetime best set at the Antrim Coast Half Marathon in September.

Becky Briggs will make her senior debut for Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Poland. The 20 year old set her best of 72:54 in Northern Ireland last month, taking her to seventh in the British U23 all-time lists and becoming the third fastest U23 in Europe this year.

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The Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso EDP is organising an Elite Edition marathon and half marathon to be held on 6 December 2020. Organisers can now confirm the names of the first male and female athletes who will seek to achieve the most ambitious sporting goal possible by trying to set new race records.

In the case of the marathon, the goal will be to beat the current times set in Valencia and get as close as possible to the current men’s and women’s world records.

The Ethiopians Birhanu Legese (2h02:48, third best time in marathon history) and Kinde Atanaw (2h:03:51), winner last year and current record holder for the Valencian course, are two of the athletes who will try to achieve this feat.

In addition, the winner of the Boston and Chicago marathons, Lawrence Cherono (2h04:06), the European record holder Kaan Kigen Özbilen (2h04:16) and the World Champion Lelisa Desisa (2h04:45), will be among the Platinum and Gold athletes who will meet in Valencia Ciudad del Running on 6 December.

The athletes will also include several world champions at the distance and winners of different majors in recent years, as well as other debutantes at 42,195 m with a great desire to achieve a good time, such as Jemal Yimer.

Four sub 2:20 females set to race

In terms of women athletes, after a 2019 in which four athletes finished in under 2h19 at the last marathon in Valencia, the list of female starters will include the Ethiopians Azmera Abreha (2h18:33), Ruti Aga (2h18:34), Birhane Dibaba (2h18:35), Zeineba Yimer (2h19:28), Tigist Girma (2h19:52) and Mare Dibaba (2h19:52), all with times under 2 hours 20 minutes.

The American Jordan Hasay (2h20:57) and the debutante Fancy Chemutai are other big names, in addition to Joyciline Jepkosgei (2h22:38), who won in New York in her premiere at 42.195 kilometres, and she already knows what it is to win in Valencia, where she achieved the world record in a half marathon in 2017. Joan Chelimo (1h05:04 – Half Marathon) and Peres Jepchichir (current half marathon – only women – world record) will also be in the front line.

Rhonex Kiprituo and Jacob Kiplimo will make for an exciting race with a host of sub 60 minute runners. Photo: Run Czech

Assault on the half marathon with two top level debutantes

And the strong field in the Valencia Half Marathon Elite Edition, which will also be held on 6 December but without overlapping on the course with the marathon, will include a team of athletes who will seek, in the fast streets of Valencia Ciudad del Running, to approach the world record for both men (58:01) and women (1h04:21).

The Kenyan Rhonex Kipruto, who achieved the world record at 10K (26:24) in the Ibercaja Valencia 10K, is the big favourite to fight for a world-beating time at 21,097.5 metres, along with another runner who has not yet premiered in the half marathon, the Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo (26:41 at 10K).

And up to ten more runners with times below 60 minutes augur well for a very fast race.

Stephen Kiprop (58:42), Bedan Karoki (58:42), Bernard Ngeno (59:07), Alexander Mutiso (59:09), Julien Wanders (59:13 and European record), Philemon Kiplimo (59:28), Geoffrey Koech (59:36), Gabriel Geay (59:42), Alfred Barkach (59:46) and Kelvin Kiptum (59:53) will be running to beat their best times.

A new women’s world record possible?

And in the women’s race, distance debutante Ethiopian Letensenbet Gidey, with the world’s best time over 15K (44:20) along with Kenyan Sheila Chepkirui, winner of the 10K in Valencia and Prague, will fight for the best women’s time in history alongside the experience of 2019 winner Senbere Teferi (1h05:32).

British hopes in the half marathon will lie with Callum Hawkins (1:00:01), who might be looking to join the sub 60 minute gang, and Charlotte Purdue, who could have a chance of bettering her 68:23 personal best.

For Marc Roig, International Elite Coach for the Valencia Marathon and Half Marathon “we have worked hard in recent months to put together two lists that include the highest-level elite athletes, to break our own records and get as close as possible to the world records for the two distances. Along with these names, there are others to be confirmed that will, without a doubt, make Valencia the biggest race of 2020”.

Thanks to the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation and the sponsors for their support.

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The post Exciting names on Valencia start-list appeared first on Fast Running.

Hellen Obiri makes her debut over the 10km. The world 5,000m and world indoor 3,000m champion is expected to perform well over the longer distance after her World Cross Country Championship victory this year. Ruti Aga could be threat having won this year’s Tokyo Marathon and Edna Kiplagat will undoubtedly challenge with a best of 31:06.

In the men’s race Ugandan Kiplimo has run the fastest road 10km of all time with 26:41 but the downhill nature of the Madrid course means he is not the world record holder. Kiplimo comes into the race having finished second in the World Cross. A leading challenger could be former New York Marathon winner Stanley Biwott who is a bit of an unknown quantity with little high level racing over the last year.

Goolab in Flying Form

The race includes some excellent depth when it comes to British runners. Nick Goolab arrives in Manchester riding high after his 13:34 5km at Ipswich Twilight last weekend. The Belgrave man has a best of 28:22 also set this year when winning Brighton Marathon 10km.

European 10,000m silver medallist Andy Vernon is on the start list but suffered an injury in the build up to the Virgin London Marathon. Vernon, who has a track best of 27:42, posted a tweet on the 7th May saying he had been undergoing shockwave therapy and “hopefully I can be running completely pain free in the next couple of weeks.”

RELATED: Jack Gray has his sights on more than just tabloid headlines  

Jack Gray is another Brit arriving at the race in top form. The England 10km international ran 13:47 to finish 4th at the Ipswich Twilight 5km and recently ran a 10km PB in Brighton of 28:57. Under 23 Emile Cairess will be expecting to take a good chunk off his road PB having run 28:48 on the track in April.

The start list also features GB and England athletes such as Dan Studley, Dejene Gezimu and Alex Teuton. Sub four minute miler Ieuan Thomas will be looking to better his PB of 29:13 set at last years Telford 10km.

Twell to Challenge

Steph Twell is likely to be the leading British challenger and is coming into the race in great form having set a 10km PB of 31:57 to win Brighton Marathon 10km. Having recently been selected for the World 50km Championships Alyson Dixon races a month after finishing 16th at Boston Marathon.

Mhairi MacLennan will be a strong challenger having finished second to Twell in Brighton with a new PB of 32:59. The Helen Clitheroe coached athlete finished 32nd at the World Cross in March and arrives in fine form. Third on the UK all time list Gemma Steel races as does Inter -Counties XC Champion Jenny Nesbitt. Having spent time away training in the US Nesbitt recently ran a strong 32:46 at the Payton Jordan Invitational.

Strong Club Times Expected

This is a mass participation race on 10km course but also half marathon and quick times are expected over both with conditions looking ideal. Over 30,000 runners are expected to start on Sunday in what is one of the most popular running events in the UK.

RELATED: Loughborough International Preview

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Teenager Jacob Kiplimo brought in the New Year by running the fastest ever 10k at the 54th San Silvestre Vallecana in Madrid on Monday (December 31).

The 18 year-old, who won silver over 10,000m at the 2018 U20 World Championships, clocked 26:41 to take the win in Spain and break Eliud Kipchoge’s course record by 13 seconds.

However, Kiplimo’s performance is not eligible as a world record due to the downhill nature of the point to point course, leaving Leonard Patrick Komon’s 10k world record of 26:44 intact for now.

Kiplimo, whose previous 10k best was 28:17, was among the eight athletes who covered the first two kilometres in a blistering 5:24.

Kiplimo averaged 2:35 over the next three kilometres to clock 13:12 at halfway. The record breaking pace continued with Kiplimo storming to the win ahead of Ethiopia’s Abadi Hadis, who finished second in 26:54, while Uganda’s Mande Bushendich completed the podium in 27:24.

Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei won the women’s race also breaking the course record in 29:54, five seconds ahead of fellow Kenyan Hellen Obiri in 29:59.

PODIO FEMENINO
1. Brigid Kosgei (Kenia): 29:54
2. Hellen Obiri (Kenia): 29:59
3. Tirunesh Dibaba (Etiopía): 30:40

¡Récord de la prueba y segunda mejor marca mundial de todos los tiempos!

Trihas Gebre, primera española, en cuarto puesto.#VallecanaSoloHayUna pic.twitter.com/Y8c64LQr90

— San Silvestre Vallecana (@ssvallecana) December 31, 2018

Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba finished third recording her second quickest ever 10k in 30:40.

GB’s Lilly Partridge finished 10th in a time of 33:35, with Sonia Samuels crossing the line in 14th in 34.04.

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The Keynan team ran most of the race tightly together, before Cheptai broke to the front in final 1K to claim the gold, crossing the line in 31:57. Teammates Alice Aprot followed to claim silver in 32:01, and Lilian Kasait Rengeruk claimed the bronze in a time of 32:11.
Cheptai crossed the line in 31:57 four seconds clear of Aprot, and 52 second before the first woman not wearing a Kenyan team kit.

USA athletes
Three USA athletes finished in the top 30, helping the US claim 5th place in the team standings.

The first to cross the line, was Aliphine Tuliamuk, in 15th place, followed by Stephanie Bruce in 21st, and Natosha Rogers finished close behind in 22nd.

The remaining women of Sarah Pagano finished in 29th place, Elaina Balouris followed in 47th, and Emily Pritt finished 74th.

Great Britian Athletes
GB’s Louise Small worked hard to move from 81st after the first 2K to finish in a very respectable 38th. Next to finish for the Great Britian team was Rebecca Murray in 42nd place. Unfortunately Emily Hosker Thornhill and team captain Claire Duck failed to finish the race.

U20 Round up

The men’s U20 race produced a bit of history, with Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo putting in a stunning performance to win gold. The young athlete covered the 8km course in 22:40, and his victory was Uganda’s first ever gold medal at a World Cross Country Championships.

Silver place went to Ethiopia’s Amdework Walelegn, and Kenya’s Richard Yator Kimunyan claimed bronze.

In the women’s U20 race Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey claimed gold for a second consecutive year. The 19-year-old becomes only the fourth female, in World Cross Country Championship history to win back-to-back U20 titles; joining fellow Ethiopian Genzebe Dibaba, and Kenyan’s Viola Kibiwot and Faith Kipyego, on the list.

With no great success on the track to date, the 5000m runner Gidey, will now hope this victory will help launch a successful track senior career.

Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa claimed the silver medal, and bronze went to Celliphine Chepteek Chespol of Kenya.

The post Irene Chepet Cheptai, leads Kenya to unprecedented top six sweep in World Cross Championships appeared first on Fast Running.