
James Mwangi Wangari: Winner 2016 ©Copenhagen Half Marathon
Strong quartet in quest for the world record – The elite field is ready and the goal is clear. Copenhagen Half Marathon on September 17th, 2017
The World Championships in Athletics is over and with less than one month to the Copenhagen Half Marathon, the elite field is now in place. The male and female elite field is stronger than ever. The goal is to get a new world record on the male side and a close and fast race on the female side.
The quest for the world record
A strong quartet consisting of last year's winner James Mwangi Wangari, last year's second place taker Stephen Kosgei, Yigrem Demelash Endale, who has run 59.19 minutes on Half Marathon this year, and Leonard Barsoton, who finish second at the World Cross Country Championship, will chase the current world record of 58.23 minutes.
"It is difficult to pick the biggest favourite. We have never has so many in our elite field that have been under the magical 60 minutes. A total of 9 runners have done this but offhand these four stand out and if they will be able to push eachother once the pacers drop out so the chance of getting a world record is definitely there," says Henrik Paulsen Sports Director in Sparta Athletics and Running and responsible for the elite field at the Copenhagen Half Marathon.
Historic strong female field
On the female side, the elite field is bigger than previous years but there is a strong trio, who looks a bit stronger than the rest. They look so strong that the chance of a new race record is within reach. The current record of 68.00 minutes was set last year by Hiwot Gebrekidan Gebremaryam, who, with Mary Wacera Ngugi and Birgid Jepchirchir Kosgei, makes up the trio in quest for the race record.
"We have the strongest female elite field ever this year and they will, on top of that, also have male pacers so the possibility of really fast time is definitely there. We are not counting on a new female world record but the setting and elite field is good enough to break the race record." Says Henrik Paulsen
Facts about the male favourites
James Mwangi Wangari: 23-years-old and from Kenya. He won the Copenhagen Half Marathon in 2016 and set the race record of 59.07 minutes, during which he also set the fastest 10 km road race time that year. He has organised his season so that he can run fast at the Copenhagen Half Marathon.
Stephen Kosgei Kibet: 30-years-old and from Kenya. Within the elite field this year, he has the fastest personal best (58.54 min) on a Half Marathon, a time he achieved in 2012. That year he became number 5 at the World Half Marathon Championships. In 2016, he finished second at the Copenhagen Half Marathon in 59.28 minutes.
Yigrem Demelash Endale: 23-years-old and from Ethiopia. He has had an excellent 2017, where he, among other things, has done a Half Marathon in 59.19 minutes. Furthermore, he did an impressive 26.51.11 on the 10.000meters last year and he is currently the only runner in the elite field who has done a 10.000 meter under 27 minutes.
Leonard Barsoton: 22-years-old and from Kenya. He is a blank sheet when it comes to the Half Marathon distance but earlier this year he came second at the World Cross Country Championship, one of the most difficult races to win.
Facts about the female favourites
Hiwot Gebrekidan Gebremaryam: 22-years-old and from Ethiopia. She won the Copenhagen Half Marathon in 2016 and set the race record of 68 minutes, which is also her personal best. This year she has improved her personal best on the Marathon distance, which now stands at 2.25.45 hours.
Mary Wacera Ngugi: 28-years-old and from Kenya. She has the fastest personal best on a Half Marathon in this year's elite field, with an astonishing 66.29 minutes, which she set last year. Furthermore, she has done an impressive 31.33 on a 10 km road race this year.
Birgid Jepchirchir Kosgei: 23-years-old and from Kenya. She has only registered 3 official race times, but they are quick. From this year she has done a Half Marathon in 67.35 minutes and a 10 km in 32.02. Last year she finished a Marathon in 2.24.45 hours.
Meet the favourites at the press conference
The press conference in connection to the Copenhagen Half marathon takes place on the Island Hotel September 16th at 10'o'clock a.m. The before mentioned favourites will all be present. Further information about the press conference will follow in an official invitation as we get closer to the race.
Facts about the Copenhagen Half Marathon
The Copenhagen Half Marathon takes place for the third time on September 17th, 2017.
The Copenhagen Half Marathon is the only Half Marathon in Northern Europa with the IAAF Road Race Gold Label.
The Copenhagen Half Marathon is a race for both the absolute elite and recreational runners,who gets the opportunity to start right behind the elite field.
21.928 runners participated last year.
The Danish Athletics Federation and Sparta Athletics and Running are responsible for the Copenhagen Half Marathon.
The race records were set last year when James Mwangi Wangari from Kenya won the race in 59.07 and Hiwot Gebrekidan from Ethiopia won it in 68 minutes.
Martin van Dijk
Sparta Athletics and Running
Gunner Nu Hansens Plads 11
2100 Copenhagen Ø
Telefon: + 45 35 26 69 00
E-mail: sparta@sparta.dk
Internet: https://sparta.dk