Stacked fields and record numbers are expected for the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Valencia next week after the provisional entry list is published.
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.