Charlotte Purdue ran a gutsy race to finish in 21st place, with Ethiopia’s Netsanet Gudeta storming to gold to break the women’s only world record.

The conditions were a mix of warm, windy and occasionally wet, and with a lead group of four women inseparable up to the 10km mark, Gudeta decided to make the decisive move at the halfway point.

Gudeta showed no signs of slowing and by the 20km mark had built up a 40-second gap on world record holder (with men) Joycilene Jepkosgei and her Kenyan teammate Pauline Kamulu.

In the closing stages, the lead was further extended with Gudeta crossing the line in 66:11 to set a new women’s only world record.

Despite clearly struggling Jepkosgei battled from behind to win silver crossing the line in 66:54, with teammate Kamulu taking bronze in 66:56.

Leading the British charge from start was team captain Purdue and by the 5km mark was in 29th place. The 26-year-old battled the wind and worked her way up to 22nd by the 10km spilt coming through in 33:32.

Purdue, who set a one-minute PB of 70:29 to win the Big Half earlier this month, moved up one place after halfway and held that position to cross the line in 71:21 for 21st.

“I was hoping for a personal best but it was very windy out there so I just wanted a solid run. It is not the best time but it was solid. I wanted to get out of trouble so the first mile was pretty fast but after that I slowed down a bit, said Purdue afterwards. “Two years ago, I was 33rd so to be 21st is an improvement, I guess I am happy.

“I could see Japanese runners ahead of me at the end and I was trying to catch them but I didn’t have anything left. I loved being the captain, I was running out there and I was thinking I’ve got to do well because I am captain and I have got to remember this race. It made me push that little bit harder.”

Third place at the Big Half, Charlotte Arter, ran a good race to finish in 31st clocking 71:52, 21 seconds outside her recent PB in London.

Running in her fourth half marathon of 2018 Tracy Barlow ran a fantastic PB of 72:35 to finish 43rd. The World Championships marathoner at London 2017, took over a minute of her season’s best and 13 seconds of her personal best.

Demonstrated racing has been key this year ahead of the London Marathon Barlow has shown consistent improvements in every race with 74:28, 74:25, 73:36 and 72:35.

Gemma Steel, who finished seventh in 2012, clocked 73:39 to finish 48th, with Faye Fullerton competing the team in 53rd with a great PB of 73:56 to break 74 minutes for the first time.

The GB women’s team finished in seventh place, with Ethiopia winning the women’s team gold, 2016 winners Kenya taking silver, and Bahrain earning bronze.

Kamworor wins three in a row and big PB for Aadan

Mo Aadan was the top performing British man running a personal best 62:34 to finish 36th, with the fantastic Geoffrey Kamworor winning a third straight World Half Marathon crown.

The men’s race started slowly and a group of 30 men were within seconds of one another at the halfway point. But with 15km to go Kamworor showed why he is undoubtedly one of the best of his generation, breaking away to run a devastating 5km split of 13:01.

Coming down the beautiful setting for the race finish the NYC marathon champion crossed the line in 60:02 for a 20-second win.

Bahrain’s Abraham Naibei Cheroben sealed silver in 60:22, with Eritrea’s Aron Kifle winning bronze in 60:31.

Ben Connor was the earlier leader in British men’s team in 42nd at 5km, with British senior debutants Aadan and Luke Traynor a second behind.

As the race progressed Traynor, who ran a fantastic PB in Barcelona in February along with Connor, fared better in the conditions and was in 31st place by 15km, with Aadan on his heels.

In the closing stages, it was Thames Valley’s Aadan who stepped up the pace to cross the line in a big personal best of 62:34 for 36th place. It took over 40 seconds off his previous best set last month in Granollers.

“It is really wonderful and really good. The first two, three, four miles there was a lot of pushing and shoving so it was tough, especially with the wind. It started raining as well but I gradually increased my pace, said Aadan. ” It was tough and painful but well worth it.

“The field was very, very good but very enjoyable. I have some things to learn from in terms of pace and who you are racing with. The experience has been great and I hope to get qualification for the European Championships in the 10,000m in the summer.”

Traynor was second home for Britain in 62:38 for 38th and Ben Connor third in 63:45 for 64th.

Dan Studley, the third member of the British team making their senior international debut, placed 103rd in 66:20 while Tsegai Tewelde did not finish.

Great Britain finished 11th in the men’s team competition with Ethiopia taking the team gold, Keyna silver and Bahrain bronze.

GB women’s results

Charlotte Purdue: 21st / 71:21
Charlotte Arter: 31st / 71:52
Tracy Barlow: 43rd / 72:35
Gemma Steel: 48th / 73:39
Faye Fullerton: 53rd / 73:56

GB men’s results

Mo Aadan: 36th / 62:34
Luke Traynor: 38th / 62:38
Ben Connor: 64th / 63:45
Daniel Studley: 103rd / 66:20
Tsegai Tewelde: DNF

The post Charlotte Purdue and Mo Aadan lead British team in Valencia appeared first on Fast Running.

Lizzie Lee ran her second personal best in two months in the women’s race, with Ethiopia’s Netsanet Gudeta winning gold in a women’s only world record performance.

Gudeta broke away from the race favourite Joycilene Jepkosgei and her Kenyan teammate Pauline Kamulu midway into the race and by the 20km mark had built up a 40-second lead.

The lead was extended in the closing stages with the superb Gudeta crossing the line to set a new women’s only world record in 66:11.

Despite clearly struggling world record holder (with men) Jepkosgei battled from behind to win silver crossing the line in 66:54, with teammate Kamulu taking bronze in 66:56.

Irish Olympian Lee crossed the line in 46th place in a time of 73:19 to take five seconds off her 73:24 PB ran in Barcelona last month, and at the age of 37 is definitely in the form of her life.

Leevale clubmate Claire McCarthy was next in 57th also running a personal best of 74:20, followed by Irish marathon champion Laura Graham in 78th place in a time of 76:27.

Laura Shaughnessy was right on the heels of Graham, one second and one place behind, in 76.28 for 79th. Fionnuala Ross, from Armagh AC and based in Scotland finished 82nd clocking 76:53.

Ethiopia won the women’s team gold, with 2016 winners Kenya settling for silver, with Bahrain taking bronze. It’s the first time in the last nine editions of the competition that the bronze hasn’t been awarded to Japan. The Irish women’s team finished in 14th place.

Kamworor wins three in a row

Pollock, was the leading Irish man finishing in 77th position in a time of 64:29, with the fantastic Geoffrey Kamworor winning a third straight men’s World Half Marathon crown.

The front of the men’s race started sluggishly and a group of 30 men were within seconds of one another at the halfway point. But with 15km to go Kamworor showed why he is undoubtedly one of the best of his generation, breaking away to run a devastating 5km split of 13:01.

Coming down the beautiful setting for the race finish the NYC marathon champion crossed the line in 60:02 for a 20 second win.

Bahrain’s Abraham Naibei Cheroben sealed silver in 60:22, with Eritrea’s Aron Kifle winning bronze in 60:31.

Commonwealth Games bound Paul Pollock and Kevin Seaward were the first Irish finishers in 77th and 85th place running 64:29 and 64:56 respectively.

The Olympic marathoners were followed by the fastest Irish man this year Stephen Scullion in 92nd place who crossed the line in 65.19, while Sergiu Ciobanu finished in 101st place running 66.19.

Kevin Dooney, who features in the class of 2018, completed the Irish men’s team in 135th and will be disappointed with 72.14.

Ireland finished 21st in the men’s team competition with Ethiopia taking the team gold, Keyna silver and Bahrain bronze.

Ireland’s women’s results

Lizzie Lee: 46th / 73:19
Claire McCarthy: 57th / 74:20
Laura Graham: 78th / 76:27
Laura Shaughnessy: 79th / 76:28
Fionnuala Ross: 82nd / 76:53

Ireland men’s results

Paul Pollock: 77th / 64:29
Kevin Seaward: 85th / 64:56
Stephen Scullion: 92nd / 65.19
Sergiu Ciobanu: 101st / 66.19
Kevin Dooney: 135th / 72.14

The post Lizzie Lee and Paul Pollock top Irish in Valencia appeared first on Fast Running.

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.

Joining Pollock in the men’s team for the 23rd edition of the championships is Stephen Scullion, Kevin Dooney, Kevin Seaward and Sergiu Ciobanu. While Lee is joined in the women’s team by Laura Graham, Fionnuala Ross, Claire McCarthy and Laura Shaughnessy.

Pollock is the fastest among the men with a 62:09 personal best at the 2014 World Half Champs in Copenhagen, and ran a 10k best of 29:12 on New Year’s Eve in Madrid.

“I’ve been looking to do well here. I feel in good shape,” said Pollock. “I’ve had lots of quality miles in. I’m healthy and ready to race. And it looks like the kind of flat, rapid course where I can challenge my personal best.”

However, fellow Northern Irish runner Scullion has been the most impressive this year over 13.1 miles with a 63:16 PB in Houston at the start of the year.

RELATED: Stephen Scullion hopes to “show that Irish athletes can run fast times”

Elsewhere, Commonwealth Games bound and Irish Olympian, Seaward, will line up after setting a personal best of 29:36 at the Telford 10k in January.

Class of 2018‘s Dooney will be full of confidence after his PB in Barcelona last month, while Ciobanu completes the men’s team after running a 2:16:05 marathon last November in Seville.

At the front of the men’s race, Kenya’s Geoffrey Kamworor aims for a third straight crown, while Ethiopia’s Jemal Yimer and Kenyan Jorum Okombo 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.

Rio 2016 marathoner, Lee, heads the Irish women’s team after a fantastic 73:24 personal best in Barcelona last month. The 37-year-old Cork native is joined in the team Irish marathon champion Graham, who ran a personal best 75:15 to finish 12th at the Big Half in London.

World Championships marathoner McCarthy, along with Ross and Shaughnessy will all aim to be one of the three counting members of the team.

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, with the defending Kenyan winning team completed by Ruth Chepngetich and Pauline Kamulu.

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.

Here’s a complete list of those territories and more information can be found here.

The post Irish team set for World Half Marathon Championships 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.

The 23rd edition of the championships take place in Valencia and joining Connor in the men’s selection are Luke Traynor, Tsegai Tewelde, Mohamud Aadan and Dan Studley.

While Purdue is joined in the women’s team by Gemma Steel, Charlotte Arter, Tracy Barlow and Faye Fullerton.

On Sunday at the inaugural Big Half, 26-year-old Purdue clocked 70:29 to lower her personal best by exactly a minute on the way to victory in the race that also incorporated the British Half Marathon Championships.

Also in London competing in only her second half marathon was Arter who ran a big personal best 71:31 to finish third. While Steel, who is Britain’s fastest 13.1 miler that is still competing, also makes the team having raced at the Doha Half Marathon in January.

Havering’s Fullerton also enjoyed a 74.04 PB at the Big Half on Sunday and makes the team alongside World Championships marathoner Tracy Barlow.

Meanwhile, Connor heads the men’s selection, having enjoyed a fine cross country season before running a big personal best 61:11 to finish eighth at the Barcelona Half Marathon last month.

Another runner also in PB form that day was Luke Traynor who crossed the line in 61:55 one place behind Connor in only his second race over the distance.

Completing the team is British Olympic marathoner Tewelde, while Aadan and Studley will wear the GB vest for the first time in Valencia.

“We have chosen a full squad of ten for the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Valencia as we seek to achieve the highest possible placing in both the men’s and women’s team standings,” said Team Leader Charlotte Fisher. “The team is a mixture of some very experienced road runners and those who we believe have the potential to go on to enjoy successful careers.

“There is great competition among the team, as proven throughout the qualifying period and at the British Championships at the weekend. We enjoyed a great Championships two years ago in Cardiff and Valencia will act as a great test for all those selected.”

Kenyan duo Geoffrey Kamworor and Peres Jechirchir were the 2016 winners at the Cardiff hosted event, with Mo Farah taking bronze. Kenya also won the two team titles.

The African nation has already announced its team which is spearheaded by defending champion Kamworor and women’s half marathon world record holder Joyciline Jepkosgei.

The IAAF competition started in 1992 and took place every year until 2010 when it then became a biannual event.

The British Athletics qualifying standard had to be achieved between 1st January 2017 and 4th March 2018 and the times were as follows.

Men: 10,000m – 29:30,half marathon – 65:00, marathon – 2:16:00
Women: 10,000m – 33:10, half marathon – 75:00, marathon – 2:36:00

Elsewhere, the USA men’s team includes American cross-country champion Leonard Korir and two-time world champion Bernard Lagat, while the strong women’s team features Jordan Hasay and Sara Hall.

The post GB announce team for World Half Marathon Championships appeared first on Fast Running.