Running News Daily

Chebet braces for Italica International Cross Country meeting on November 17

Double Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet is set to bring her fierce form to the 42nd Italica International Cross Country meeting on November 17, a highlight event on the World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold circuit.

Chebet stunned the world in Paris in August with her dual gold-winning performances in the 5,000m and 10,000m.

She secured the 10,000m gong in a time of 30:43.25 leading Italy’s Nadia Battocletti ( 30:43.35 ) and Olympic marathon champion Sifan Hassan of Netherlands ( 30:44.12 ).

Chebet went on to add the 5,000m title, finishing in 14:28.56 outpacing three-time Olympic 1,500m champion Faith Kipyegon ( 14:29.60 ) and Hassan ( 14:30.61 ).

Chebet is no stranger to cross-country success.

She captured the World U20 Cross Country title in Denmark in 2019 in 20:50.

In 2021, Chebet placed second at the Atapuerca 8km Cross Country event in 25:04 behind Eritrea’s Rahel Ghebreneyohannes ( 25:03 ).

That same year, she clocked 24:35 for a third-place finish at the Seville 7km cross-country meeting.

In 2022, she returned to Atapuerca, this time claiming the title in 25:39.

Last year, she claimed the World Cross Country Championships title in Bathurst, Australia clocking 33:48 with Ethiopia’s Tsigie Gebreselama ( 33:56 ) in second and Agnes Ngetich ( 34:00 ) completing the podium.

She defended her title this year in Belgrade, Serbia, finishing in 31:05 ahead of compatriots Lilian Kasait ( 31:08 ) and Margaret Chelimo ( 31:09 ).

Her illustrious track career boasts silver and bronze medals in the 5,000m during the 2022 (Eugene) and 2023 (Budapest) World Championships.

She boasts gold from the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games as well as the Saint Pierre African Games, both in the 5,000m.

Chebet is the 2018 World Junior 5,000m champion as well as the 2019 African 5,000m junior champion.

In Italy, Chebet will be in the company of 2024 World U20 3,000m steeplechase bronze medallist Diana Chepkemoi as well as the 2018 World 3,000m steeplechase champion Daisy Jepkemei.

The trio will face off against European 3,000m steeplechase record holder Alice Finot of France as well as the World U20 5,000m bronze medallist Charity Cherop of Uganda.

Sweden’s Sarah Lahti, Portugal’s Mariana Machado and Spain’s Carolina Robles will add depth to the field.

In the men’s field, Olympic 10,000m silver medallist Berihu Aregawi from Ethiopia will lead the charge.

His main rivals will be the 2024 Rome Half Marathon champion Yemaneberhan Crippa of Italy as well as Ugandan’s Dan Kibet, Hosea Kiplangat and Kenneth Kiprop.

Portugal’s Etson Barros, Uruguay’s Santiago Catrofe and Spain’s adel Mechaal add depth to the field. 

Sifan Hassan and Ruth Chepngetich headline nominations for Female Athlete of the Year

Who do you think deserves top honors—the Olympic champion or the new women's world record holder?

Two of the world’s most dominant marathoners, Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands and newly-minted world record holder Ruth Chepngetich, are among the nominees for the World Athletics Female Athlete of the Year (Out of Stadium) award.

Hassan’s distance running triple at the Paris Olympic Games made her a guaranteed candidate, where she won two bronze medals on the track (5,000m/10,000m) and capped off her historic run with a gold medal in the women’s marathon, setting a new Olympic record. Chepngetich made history of her own, becoming the first woman to break 2:10 in the marathon with her stunning 2:09:56 performance at the 2024 Chicago Marathon earlier this month.

The other nominees for the women’s out-of-stadium award include Kenyan distance star Agnes Jebet Ngetich, who set world records in the 5K and 10K on the roads, and who ran the second-fastest half-marathon in history at the Valencia Half Marathon on Sunday (63:04, a Kenyan national record); Ethiopian Sutume Kebede, the Tokyo Marathon champion, and second-place in Chicago; and Tigist Ketema of Ethiopia, who took wins at the 2024 Berlin Marathon and in Dubai.

Men’s nominees

On the men’s side, the nominees feature a similarly competitive field. Olympic champion Tamirat Tola, who set a new Games record on the tough Paris course, and his compatriot Yomif Kejelcha, who just broke the men’s world record in the half-marathon by one second at the 2024 Valencia Half. Other nominees for the award include Kenya’s Benson Kipruto, the Tokyo Marathon champion and Olympic bronze medalist; Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo, the world cross-country champion; and Ecuador’s Brian Daniel Pintado, who won Olympic gold in the men’s 20km race walk.

A World Athletics panel compiled the list of nominees. The two finalists for each award will be determined through a three-way voting process that runs until Nov. 3. The World Athletics Council vote accounts for 50 per cent of the decision, while the World Athletics Family (including athletes, coaches and officials) vote accounts for 25 per cent, and the remaining 25 per cent comes from a public vote on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. Fans can cast their votes by liking posts on Facebook and Instagram or by retweeting on X.

In 2023, the out-of-stadium award went to Kenyan marathoner Kelvin Kiptum on the men’s side, following his remarkable 2:00:35 performance at the 2023 Chicago Marathon. Ethiopian marathoner Tigist Assefa won the women’s award with her marathon record-breaking run in Berlin.

World Athletics revamped the awards system for 2024, introducing overall World Athlete of the Year titles for both women and men, alongside three specialized awards for track events, field events, and out-of-stadium events. This new approach allows for a more recognition of the diverse athletic accomplishments throughout the year.

New men’s world record set in the Valencia Half Marathon

The Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha set a new men’s world record today in the Valencia Half Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich after clocking 57:30 after an epic race in the rain in which he dominated from the start.

The Valencia Half Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich now occupies the top of the podium as the fastest 21,097 metres for both men and women. It already had the women’s world record set by Letesenbet oGidey in 2021 (1:02:52) and it now regains the men’s title it last held in 2020. Lisbon took the record from Valencia in 2021 by just one second (Jacob Kiplimo, 57:31), but that time has now been bettered by one second.

After Kejelcha, in second place was Daniel Mateiko, with a time of 58:17, and in third position,  Isaia Kipkoech, in  58:21. 

In the women’s race, the winner was Agnes Ngetich, who crossed the finish line with an excellent time of 1:03:04, which turned it into the second best time in history and the best of the year. Second place went to Fotyen Tesfay, in 1:03:21 and third place to Lilian Kasait, in 1:03:32.

Spanish women’s record

There has also been greatest joys for the Spaniards today, Kaoutar Boulaid has broken the Spanish women’s record with a time of 1:08:47, almost a minute below the previous record achieved in Valencia Half Marathon by Laura Luengo (1:09: 41) a year ago. Luengo was the second Spaniard to cross the finish line with 1:08:50, also improving her previous time. In third place has arrived the debutant Irene Sánchez-Escribano with 1:09:10.

In the men’s field, Thierry Ndikumwenayo was the first national with a time of 59:42, followed by Ibrahim Chakir, with 1:01:40, second, and Jorge Blanco, with 1:01:45.

Kenyan duo of Daniel Mateiko and Agnes Ngetich lead Kenyan charge at the Valencia half marathon

Daniel Mateiko leads the men's field, while Agnes Jebet Ngetich makes her half marathon debut, promising an exciting race in one of the world’s fastest half marathons.

Kenya’s elite athletes are set to make waves at the highly anticipated Valencia Half Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich on October 27, 2024.

Among them, Daniel Mateiko leads the men's field, while Agnes Jebet Ngetich makes her half marathon debut, promising an exciting race in one of the world’s fastest half marathons.

Mateiko, who has clocked an impressive personal best of 58:26, is aiming for a record-breaking time in Valencia.

However, he faces fierce competition from Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha and Selemon Barega, two of the fastest athletes over the half-marathon distance, with personal bests of 57:41 and 57:50 respectively.

The showdown among these top-tier runners is expected to push the pace and could see new records set.

Joining Mateiko are his compatriots Isaia Kipkoech (58:55), Edward Cheserek (59:11), Bravin Kiprop (59:21), and Weldon Langat (59:22), strengthening Kenya’s presence in the men’s race and adding depth to the country’s bid for top finishes.

In the women’s field, all eyes are on Agnes Jebet Ngetich, who is making her half-marathon debut with high expectations.

Ngetich has already captured the world’s attention this year by breaking the 10K world record in Valencia with a time of 28:46.

This achievement not only demonstrated her speed and resilience but also established her as a formidable contender for her first half marathon.

She will be up against Ethiopia’s Tsigie Gebreselama and fellow Kenyan Lilian Kasait Rengeruk, both of whom bring strength and experience to the competition.

With Valencia's history of producing fast times and world records, the race promises a thrilling spectacle.

The presence of top athletes from Kenya and Ethiopia underscores the high caliber of competition, and the event has the potential to be a milestone in the global running calendar.

The Valencia Half Marathon, as star-studded as always

Once upon a time there was an athlete who didn’t know what it was like to take over an hour to run a half marathon, his legs were simply faster than that; he has tried five times, but his worst time, if that’s what you can call it, is 59:25. Three of those occasions have been in Valencia, where he won in 2019 and where he took second place in both 2022 and last year, when he clocked a personal best of 57:41, just 10 seconds off the world record and the third fastest time in history. Yomif Kejelcha arrives in Valencia hungry for glory, after an Olympic year in which he has performed at the highest level, with spectacular times and personal bests over 5000m (12:38.95) and 10,000m (26:31.01), but without the cherry on the cake of Olympic glory, having to settle for sixth place in the 25 laps of the track in Paris, an impressive achievement for 99% of athletes, a disappointment for him, who has hardly amassed any major medals.

It is doubtful that the Ethiopian team will be unable to secure victory considering that Selemon Barega, Olympic 10,000m champion in Tokyo, will also be in action, as he has had a similar season to Kejelcha in 2024, coming in just after him in Paris. Less experienced than his compatriot, Barega faces his third adventure over 21,097 m with the confidence of having run 57:50 here just a year ago in last year’s race, a performance that puts him sixth fastest of all time. It will surely depend on the collaboration between these two Ethiopian stars, once the pacers finish their work, as to how close to Kiplimo’s 57:31 they can fly through the crowded Valencian streets. The athletes in charge of pushing the tempo from the start will be the young Ethiopian Kekeba Bejiga, who will have to set a pace of 2:44/km and the Kenyan Mathew Kiplimo Langat, who will try to stay with the pace until the tenth kilometre to reach it ideally between 27:15 and 27:20. From then on, the stars will vie with each other for victory and the big question is whether they will form an alliance to beat the clock or whether each will keep an eye on the other in pursuit of victory.

The Kenyan squad will do everything they can to ensure that last year’s victory by Kibiwott Kandie, the man who broke the world record here, running 57.32 in 2020, will continue this year. Their two best assets should be Daniel Mateiko and Isaia Kipkoech Lasoi; the former has already run nine half marathons and knows the Valencian avenues like the back of his hand, coming third in both 2021 and 2022, with 58:26 as his personal best, which he will have to improve on if he wants to stand up to the Ethiopian duo. Mateiko improved his 10,000m time at the Paris Olympics, although his 26:50.81 was only good enough to place him in eleventh position. Lasoi, who is in great form after finishing third in Copenhagen six weeks ago, with a personal best of 58:10 in his fourth (!!) half of 2024, is sure to be in great shape.

Theory tells us that this quartet should be the ones to take the podium places on 27 October, but the magic of the half marathon, which is never as tight as the 42,195m, often brings wonderful surprises. One of them could well be Thierry Ndikumwenayo, who amazed in the Olympic 10,000m by smashing the Spanish record at this distance with a time of 26:49.49. After the rest required following the Games, Thierry may not have had enough time to realise his unlimited potential at this distance, but his performances over shorter distances give him sufficient room for manoeuvre to break the Spanish record, set just a year ago by Carlos Mayo with 59:39 after the previous record had remained unbroken for 22 years. Thierry will have the 59:13 held by Switzerland’s Julien Wanders as the European record in his sights and perhaps the biggest danger for him will be if he remains caught in no man’s land, as joining the leading group, who will be aiming for a sub-58 finish as always, does not seem the most sensible strategy in this his first foray over the distance. This hypothetical record would serve as a well-deserved tribute to Pepe Ortuño, who will retire as his trainer when Thierry crosses the finish line. Tadese Worku, Gemechu Dida, Edward Cheserek and Bravin Kiprop are all well under the one-hour mark and will be looking for their day of glory in Valencia. Among the Europeans, the Portuguese Samuel Barata (national record last year with 59:40), the Italian runner-up at the Europeans Pietro Riva (59:41) and the British runner Emile Cairess (60:01), fourth at the Paris Olympics in the marathon, will be competing with Ndikumwenayo.

Ngetich wants to make her debut in style

The possibility of a women’s world record will also glimmer over the Valencian asphalt on Sunday, courtesy of Agnes Ngetich, who smashed the 10K world record in Valencia on 13 January with a stratospheric time of 28.46. After that explosion, the Kenyan lost some steam, if we can refer to her 5th place in the World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade as such. During the track season she suffered from physical problems that made her give up the chance to compete in the Kenyan trials in Eugene at the last minute, thus saying goodbye to her Olympic dreams. Since then, her plan has been to make her début in Valencia over 21,097 m and, despite her status as a newcomer, it is not out of the question that she could make a serious attempt at the world record currently held by Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey, who clocked an impressive 1:02:52 in Valencia in 2021. The pacemaking duties will fall to Japhet Kosgei and Vincent Nyageo, who will travel at a tempo of just under 3:00/km, to ensure a challenge to the WR if Ngetich still has some strength in her legs in the final stretch.

Following them will be a large group comprising Tsige Gebreselama, Llilian Rengeruk and Ejgayehu Taye. Gebreselama returns to the scene of her debut two years ago (1:05:46), a time she improved on this February by winning the prestigious Ras Al Khaimah Half in 1:05:14. Although, Ngetich’s biggest threat could be fellow debutant and compatriot Lilian Rengeruk, 5th in the Olympic 10,000m and with a 10K time of 29:32 set in Valencia in January, she is projected to be a strong performer over double the distance. While Taye, also making her debut at this distance, is an accomplished 5K specialist, although she also dipped below 30 minutes (29:50.53) in the 10,000 at the Ethiopian trials in Nerja. The main European hopefuls should be Great Britain’s Samantha Harrison, who improved to 1:07:10 in Valencia last year, and Germany’s Konstanze Klosterhalfen, a brilliant winner on her début two years ago with 1:05:41, although she does not seem to be in her best form at present.

Spain’s record is looking wobbly

If there is a record that has every chance of crumbling on Sunday, it is the Spanish women’s record, not because it is outdated, as Laura Luengo became the record holder just a year ago with her 1:09:41, but because her own form heralds a not inconsiderable improvement on that mark. The On Athletics team athlete will set off at a devilish pace of 3:16/3:17 per kilometre under the guidance of duathlon world champion Javier Martin to seriously threaten the 1:09 barrier. It could well be that she manages to beat that and yet not hold the record as both Irene Sanchez-Escribano and Boulaid Kaoutar are planning to run at the same pace, which could make for an exciting three-way duel. The Toledo athlete shone at the Olympic Games in Paris over her favourite 3,000m steeplechase and is facing a very exciting duel over the distance with confidence; she already ran at a Spanish record pace in the 10K in Laredo (31:35) in March and her good adaptation to asphalt is more than promising. On the other hand, the new Spanish champion Kaoutar (1:10:44 on 6 October in Albacete) already knows what it means to run under the 1:09 mark, as she clocked 1:08:57 in Gijón a year and a half ago when she was still competing under the Moroccan flag. Place your bets.

Emmaculate Anyango faces four-year ban following provisional suspension over doping

Kenya’s long-distance runner Emmaculate Anyango faces the prospect of a four-year ban after being handed a provisional suspension for doping as the net nabs another big fish.

Kenya’s long-distance prodigy Emmaculate Anyango has joined the list of shame following her provisional suspension for a doping violation.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced Anyango’s provisional suspension on Friday for the presence/use of a prohibited substance (Testosterone and EPO).

It means Anyango will remain suspended until her case is heard and determined and she faces a minimum of a four-year ban if she is found culpable.

It is a blow to the 24-year-old who was already making waves having been one of the standout athletes in the early months of the 2024 season.

The Sirikwa Classic Cross-country champion was awarded the Sports Personality of the Month award for February by the Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) after coming close to breaking the world 10km world record in February.

Anyango recorded the second fastest 10km time in history when she clocked 28:47 in Valencia, Spain, improving Ethiopian Yalemzerf Yehualaw’s world record (29.14) but unfortunately for her, compatriot Agnes Ngetich won the race in a better time of 28.46.

She would go on to finish fourth at the World Cross-Country Championships in Serbia followed by second place at the BAA 5k Road Run in Boston and in 10km Road in Bengaluru, India.

She, however, missed a place in team Kenya to the Paris Olympics after finishing sixth in the 10,000m trials which was held at the Prefontaine Classic, the Eugene Diamond League in May.

Back-to-back second places finishes would follow in 10km in Atlanta and in 15km in New York in July.

Ngetich to attempt world record on Valencia Half Marathon debut

World 10Km record holder Agnes Ngetich will lead an attempt on the 21km world record when she debuts at the Valencia Half Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich on October 27.

Ngetich returns to the city where she achieved her 10km world record of 28:46 (and 5km — 14:13) at the Valencia Ibercaja in January.

It's the city where Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey set the women’s half marathon record of 1:02.52 in 2021 and Kibiwott Kandie set the second fastest time in the world, 57:32, in 2020. 

Ngetich will lead the attempt on Gidey's mark in a race which has produced eight of the top 10-fastest times over the distance.

She faces tough competition from compatriots Lilian Kasait Rengeruk and Catherine Amanang'ole and Ethiopia's Tsigie Gebreselama.

In the men's category, Kenya's Daniel Mateiko (58:26) will challenge the Ethiopian duo of Yomif Kejelcha (57:41) and Selemon Barega (57:50).

The European battalion is led by Samuel Barata (Portugal), Pietro Riva (Italy), Amanal Petros (Germany) and Emile Cairess (Great Britain).

Marc Roig, coach of the event's international elite athletes, assessed this start list as: “the best half marathon this year, with high-level duels that aim, once again, to achieve 57-minute performances by several athletes.

"And a clear challenge to the stopwatch in the women's race. Never before has a debutant who has run a 10K in under 29 minutes taken to the start line. We are looking forward to seeing how fast the race will be on October 27.” 

Anyango confident of making the cut in women's 10,000m in Oregon

Valencia 10km Road Race silver medalist Immaculate Anyango is setting her sights on securing a spot in the women’s 10,000m team for a maiden appearance at the Paris Olympic Games.

With the Kenyan 10,000m teams (men and women) selection scheduled for May 25 in Oregon, USA, during the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League, Anyango is eager to showcase her prowess.

"I'll be heading to the Olympics Trials this week in Oregon. My goal is crystal clear: earn my place to represent Kenya in Paris," Anyango declared.

The Olympic qualifying mark for the women’s 10,000m is 30:40.00 whereas  Anyango boasts a personal best (PB) of 32:51.58 set at the  Fernanda Ribeiro Gala in Maia, Portugal.

Anyango is confident in her ability to meet the Olympic standard in Oregon. She said her mission now is to realise her dream of competing at the global extravaganza.

 "Making it to the Olympics is my ultimate goal. While the challenge of hitting the mark is real, my determination will drive me to succeed," she emphasised.

Acknowledging the tough competition in the women’s 10,000m field, Anyango remains cautious, admitting that, "The competition among female athletes in the 10,000m will be tough. It's going to be a demanding race."

However, she believes her meticulous preparations and participation in key races this year will give her an edge in the USA.

“My preparations are going on well. I have taken part in a couple of races this year and they have been crucial as far as my endurance and speed work are concerned,” she stated.

Anyango kicked off the year with a strong performance in January at the Valencia 10km Road Race, clocking 28:57 to secure the runner-up spot. Agnes Ngetich clocked 28:46 to obliterate the women’s 10km record.

She later went on to clinch the title at the Sirikwa Classic cross-country tour clocking 32:55.

Anyango also made the Kenya team to the World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, Serbia in March but finished outside the podium in position four (31:24).

The results, however, did not dampen her spirits as she went on to clinch silver at the Boston 5km Road Race in April clocking 14:59 behind Ethiopia’s Fotyen Tesfay (14:45).

She also won another silver medal the same month in the Bengaluru, India 10km Road Race clocking 31:16 behind Lilian Kasait (30:56).

Recognised for her achievements, Anyango was awarded the LG/SJAK  Personality of the Month for February after her victory at the Sirikwa Classic.

She sees this accolade as a significant motivation as she prepares for the Olympic Trials in Oregon, stating, "The award will fuel my motivation as I gear up for the Olympic trials."

Agnes Ngetich reveals what cost her Agnes Tirop's world record by two seconds

Agnes Ngetich has reacted after missing out on the late Agnes Tirop's women's-only world record at the Adizero Road to Records.

Former World Cross Country bronze medalist Agnes Ngetich has expressed disappointment after missing the women’s-only 10km world record at the Adizero Road to Records on Saturday morning.

Ngetich cut the tape in 30:03 to cross the finish line ahead of reigning World Cross Country bronze medalist Margaret Chelimo who crossed the line in 30:39. Jesca Chelangat completed the podium, clocking an astonishing 30:46 to cross the line.

With her time, Ngetich missed the late Agnes Tirop’s world record of 30:01 by two seconds. The late Tirop set the record during the 2021 edition of the Adizero Road to Records that has stood since then before Ngetich threatened it.

Following her win, she complained about having worked alone and pushed herself throughout the race, something that cost her the world record.

“My race was good, though I struggled alone and pushed alone and that’s why I missed the world record…I’m happy with the result but I really wanted the world record.

“However, now that I have missed it, I’m content with my win because I worked alone. I normally train my mind to always keep going and target to lower my time and I want to go for the Olympics…my target for this year,” Ngetich said.

Meanwhile, Ngetich started the race comfortably and was in charge from the 3km mark, looking very poised as she competed.

The 23-year-old showcased her skills and kept checking her watch throughout the race and after covering 7km, she had opened up a wide gap between herself and her competitors and was looking very strong.

As she passed the ninth-kilometer mark, she was pushing hard as fans cheered her to keep going. With the finish line in sight, Ngetich then sprinted to the finish line, clocking 30:03 to cross the finish line first.

Kenyan trio of Peter Mwaniki, Emmaculate Anyango and Bravin Kipkogei headline the 16th edition of TCS World 10K Bengaluru

The Kenyan trio of Emmaculate Anyango, Peter Mwaniki and Bravin Kipkogei headline the 16th edition of TCS World 10K Bengaluru on April 28.

The World Athletics Gold Label Road Race is a Sh27m prize money event featuring some of the world's most accomplished road and track athletes.

Anyango, the world's second-fastest woman over 10K, clocked 28:57 in Valencia while finishing behind compatriot Agnes Ngetich, who posted a 28:46 world record.

A silver medalist at the 2019 African Junior championships in 3000m, Anyango barely missed the podium at this year's World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.  

“I am very excited to be in Bengaluru for the first time for this incredible event, which has gained a worldwide reputation for being one of the best 10K races. I have heard so much about the events hosted in India and the running revolution they began nearly two decades ago," said Anyango.

"I am looking forward to being there and doing my best. The field of runners in the women’s category is quite strong this year and I love a good challenge."

She will be joined by Lilian Kasait (29:32), Faith Chepkoech (29:50), Loice Chemnung (29:57), Cintia Chepngeno (30:08) and Grace Nawowuna (30:27). 

Two Ethiopians, Aberash Minsewo, this year's Tata Mumbai Marathon winner, and Lemlem Hailu, 2022 World Indoor 3000m champion, add further shine to the women's start lists.  

Mwaniki is the fastest among the men with a time of 26:59 he achieved while finishing third in Valencia earlier this year. He is the 19th runner in the World to run 10K in under 27 minutes. 

Kipkogei, the 2019 African junior champion over 10,000m is credited with 27:02 from Madrid last year while Kiprop, clocked an impressive 27:16 this February at Castellon, Spain.

They will keep the race interesting.   

Two more Kenyans, Hillary Chepkwony, last year's third-place finisher, and Patrick Mosin, the runner-up in Castellon the previous year, are expected to provide the necessary boost to return fast times.

Two young runners, John Wele from Tanzania and Boki Diriba from Ethiopia may also threaten the Kenyans.  

Kenyans Nicholas Kimeli (27:38) and Irene Cheptai (30:35) have held the course records in Bengaluru since 2022.

The winners in the men's and women's categories will each take home Sh3.3m.  A course record bonus of Sh1m is also up for grabs.

Emmaculate Anyango Achol will headline 16th edition of TCS World 10K Bengaluru

Emmaculate Anyango Achol, the world's second-fastest 10K woman runner, will headline the 16th edition of TCS World 10K Bengaluru, scheduled for Sunday. The World Athletics Gold Label Road Race is a USD 210,000 prize money event featuring some of the world's most accomplished road and track and field athletes.

And among the star attractions this year is Kenya's Anyango, who clocked an excellent 28:57 in Valencia while finishing behind her teammate Agnes Ngetich, who posted a world record 28:46 there.

A silver medalist in the 2019 African junior championships in 3000m, Anyango narrowly missed the Belgarde podium in this year's World cross-country championships.

"I am very excited to be in Bengaluru for the first time for this incredible event, which has gained a worldwide reputation for being one of the best 10K races. I have heard so much about the events hosted in India and the running revolution they began nearly two decades ago.

"I am very much looking forward to being there and clock my best. The field of runners in the women's category is quite strong this year and I love a good challenge," expressed Anyango.

Five of her compatriots will also take the women's starting line-up in Bengaluru, with timings faster than the event course record (30:35).

Lilian Rengeruk Kasait (29:32), Faith Chepkoech (29:50), Loice Chemnung (29:57), Cintia Chepngeno (30:08), and Grace Nawowuna (30:27) make their team formidable. Anyango's inclusion in this epic line-up draws attention to a power-packed elite women's race to the title.Rengeruk and Chepngeno participated in the epic race in Valencia, while Chepkoech and Chemnung clocked their best in Castellon and Paris. Nawowuna did it in Lille.

Two Ethiopians, Aberash Minsewo, this year's Tata Mumbai Marathon winner, and Lemlem Hailu, 2022 World Indoor 3000m champion, add further shine to the women's start lists.Peter Mwaniki, Bravin Kipkogei spearhead elite men's line-upMeanwhile, in the elite men's lineup, Kenya's Peter Mwaniki Aila (29) entered with the fastest time, 26:59. He achieved this mark while finishing third earlier this year in Valencia.

In that process, Peter became the nineteenth runner in the World to run the 10K distance in under 27 minutes.His country-mate and 2019 African junior champion over 10,000m - Bravin Kipkogei Kiptoo - is credited with 27:02 in Madrid last year and along with Bravin Kiprop, who clocked an impressive 27:16 this February at Castellon, Spain, will keep the race interesting.

Two more Kenyans, Hillary Chepkwony, last year's third-place finisher, and Patrick Mosin, the runner-up in Castellon the previous year, are expected to provide the necessary boost to return fast timings here.Two young runners, John Wele from Tanzania and Boki Diriba from Ethiopia, may also pose a threat to the Kenyans.

The winners in the men's and women's categories will each take home USD 26,000. A course record bonus of USD 8,000 is also in the offing.

Ngetich smashes world 10km record with 28:46 in Valencia

Kenya's Agnes Ngetich obliterated the women's world 10km record by running 28:46* at the 10K Valencia Ibercaja, a World Athletics Label road race, on Sunday (14).

The 22-year-old becomes the first woman to break 29 minutes for the distance, improving by 28 seconds the previous road mixed race world record set by Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw in Castellon two years ago.

World cross country bronze medallist Ngetich was paced in the Spanish coastal city by her compatriot Japheth Kipkemboi Kosgei and the first world record fell at half way as Ngetich went through the 5km checkpoint in 14:13. That is six seconds faster than the women’s world record achieved in a mixed race, set by Ethiopia’s Ejgayehu Taye in Barcelona in 2021, and matches the time Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet set in a woman-only race in Barcelona a fortnight ago.

Ngetich’s 10km time is also faster than the women's world record for the distance on the track, with Letesenbet Gidey’s world 10,000m record standing at 29:01.03.

Emmaculate Anyango also dipped under 29 minutes in Valencia, clocking 28:57 to finish runner-up to her compatriot Ngetich.

"I am so happy. I didn't expect this world record," said Ngetich. "I was coming to improve my time, at least somewhere around 29:14, but I am happy that I ran a world record of 28 minutes. I didn't expect this."

She will now focus on the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Belgrade 24 in March and then the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where athletics will be the No.1 sport in August.

The men’s race was won by Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo in 26:48.

Agnes Ngetich to attack 10km world record in Valencia

Agnes Ngetich is eager to break the 10km world record when she heads to the 10K Valencia Ibercaja.

Trailblazing athlete Agnes Ngetich will attack the 10km road race when she heads to the 16th edition of the 10K Valencia Ibercaja on Sunday 14 January.

The race, which has already closed its registrations after exhausting the available numbers, will feature more than 100 elite athletes from fifteen different nationalities in search of their best marks in the city of running.

Valencia is known to produce faster times and world records with the current men’s world record that was set in 2020 by Rhonex Kipruto (26:24) still in place.

Ngetich will be hoping to go one step better with the aim to improve her best time achieved in Lille (France) in 2023. At the time, she was only 12 seconds behind the world record held by Yalemzerf Yehualaw (Castellón 2022, 29:14).

The coordinator of the elite athletes of the race, José Enrique Muñoz Acuña, has assured that the athlete will be keen to arrive at the starting line in top form to try to unseat the world record of the Ethiopian.

Ugandan athlete Jacob Kiplimo, current world record holder in the half marathon headlines the men’s field.

Rodrigue Kwizera (Burundi, 26:56), Pietro Riva (Italy, 27:50), and Richard Douma (Netherlands, 28:08) will also be in the mix.

Also on the starting line will be the refugee athlete from South Sudan who has recently obtained Swiss nationality Dominic Lobalu, and won the last edition of the 10K.

Abdessamad Oukhelfen will lead the Spanish elite in men and Agueda Marques in women, who come to the 10K in excellent shape and with great ambitions.

Chepngeno taking on Valencia 10km after Mwale triumph

After a successful half marathon debut over the weekend, Viola Chepngeno has shifted her focus to the Valencia 10km race set for January 14.

Chepngeno won the 21km race during the inaugural Mwale Medical and Training City, which is proof she can compete comfortably on the roads.

“I came here without proper half marathon preparations since I am more of a 10km runner,” said Chepngeno. “This win has motivated me to try my luck in the bigger half marathons soon.”

She clocked 1:12:54 to win at Mwale ahead of Christine Njoki in 1:13:31 and Glorious Jepkirui in 1:14:02.

Chepngeno has had a good run in 10km. She finished third at the Brasov 10km, where Agnes Ngetich set the unratified 10km world women-only record.

“The winning shows that I can run a half marathon very well. I also want to represent the country at next year’s World Cross Country Championships,” she said.

Eliud Maiyo and Irene Cherop were the 42km winners under hot conditions.

Maiyo clocked 2:24:20 ahead of Dennis Kiprotich (2:24:29), Moses Kige-(2:27:21), Duncan Manyara (2:28:00) and Henry Kosgei (2:30:10).

Cherop timed 2:46:23 to beat Viola Chemos to second in 2:49:23 as Rael Kiara (2:53:47), Sally Jepkosgei (2:55.:13) and Joy Lemuma (2:56:48) completed the top five slots.42km men

However, Maiyo bemoaned the status of the course, saying: “I have never run on such a hard and harsh course. It is full of hills and slopes but my training came in handy. Mixing rough roads and tarmac is very challenging — one is soft while the other is hard.

Cherop, from Iten, said she trains mid-morning which was key since she is used to sunny conditions.

“I train around 11 am and that marched with today’s weather,” she said.

This was her second 42km race after winning Mt. Ruwenzori marathon.

Catherine Reline eyeing Olympic glory next season

21-year-old Catherine Reline will be eyeing a debut at the Olympic Games after a fruitful 2023 season.

21-year-old Catherine Reline will be hoping to extend her good fortunes to the 2024 season as she eyes the Olympic Games in Paris, France.

Reline has enjoyed a great 2023 season, securing a podium place in most of her races. The highlight of her career this season was finishing third in the Half Marathon at the World Road Running Championships.

She also won the Chemasusu Dam Half Marathon and also finished second at the Trunsylvania International 10K where Agnes Ngetich broke the world record.

However, Ngetich’s world record was not ratified since the course did not meet the standards of World Athletics.

“I have another race in Brazil then after that, I will come back home to prepare for the Olympic Games where I intend to make Team Kenya for the 10,000m,” she said.

Speaking about her preparations ahead of the Chemasusu Dam Half Marathon, Reline said she did not prepare well for the race since she was just from the World Road Running Championships in Riga.

“I had not prepared well for the race since I was just from competing at the World Half Marathon.

I rested for a bit and then went to compete…I wanted to try the half marathon because my body was not very tired and I felt like I had the strength to run another race,” she said.

Courtesy of her win, she walked away with Ksh 100,000 and she expressed her excitement about walking away with the money noting that the economic times are hard.

Agnes Ngetich clocks second-fastest time in history with dominant win in France

Agnes Ngetich clocked 29:26, the second-fastest time in history, to win the 10km trail road race in Lille, France.

Reigning World Cross-country bronze medalist Agnes Ngetich was in a class of her own as she reigned supreme in the 10km road race in Lille, France on Saturday, November 18.

Ngetich clocked 29:26, the second-fastest time ever to win the race ahead of Emmaculate Anyango who clocked a Personal Best time of 30:01 to finish second. Christine Njoki completed the podium, clocking 30:41 to cross the finish line.

The 22-year-old has been in stellar form this season and will be keen to continue the winning streak to next year’s Olympic Games in Paris, France, where she intends to compete in the 10,000m.

Ngetich previously clocked a world record time of 29:24 at the Brasov Running Festival in Romania but the record was not ratified by World Athletics since the course did not meet the required standards.

She is also fresh from reigning supreme at the Athletics Kenya Cross-Country Meet held at Kyongong Grounds, Bomet County.

She clocked 31:55 to win the race ahead of Cynthia Chepngeno and Sandra Chebet who finished second and third in respective times of 31:59 and 32:11.

Ngetich’s time is the second-fastest time by a woman in history. She now comes behind former London Marathon champion Yalemzerf Yehualaw, who clocked a world record time of 29:14 to win the women's event in Castellón, Spain earlier this year.

Ngetich vows to break the world 10km record again if not ratified

World cross-country bronze medallist Agnes Ngetich has vowed to set another record if her current world 10km record is not ratified by the World Athletics.

Speaking in Kapsokwony after winning the 10km senior women's title in the second leg of the Athletics Kenya (AK) cross-country meeting at the Kapsokwony High School ground in Bungoma County, Ngetich said it was not her blunder that the course was short.

“If my world record will not be ratified, I still have time to set another one because I did not create the mess that happened on the course,” said the two-time East Africa under-20 champion.

She said even if the course was 25 meters less, she could have either set her personal best or even broken the world record. “I had a chance to go ahead and set the world record because I was not only also in great shape but determined to make history," she noted. 

"Even with the addition of the 25 meters, I believe I would have comfortably run 30:00 minutes. All the same, I still have time on my side and I will do it again," she insisted. 

Ngetich broke the women-only world 10km record in the Transylvania 10km in Brasov, Romania, last month after posting 29:24 to surpass the initial time of 30:01 set by the late Agnes Tirop in Herzogenaurach, Germany in 2021.

Meanwhile, former athlete Tegla Sang has welcomed the move by the government to change the name of Kericho Green Stadium to Wilson Kipkurugut Chumo Stadium.

During the Mashujaa Day celebrations held in Kericho County, President William Ruto announced that the facility will now be known as the Kipkurgut Chumo Stadium.

The move is aimed at celebrating the first Kenyan to win an Olympic medal—the 800m bronze —during the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

"Allow me to celebrate Kiprugut Chumo, the first Kenyan to win an Olympic medal by renaming the Kericho Green Stadium in his name," he noted. 

Sang, a former All Africa Games 400m champion, said the government is doing a good thing to support the legends who brought fame to the country.

“This is a good move to celebrate legends that brought fame to the nation,” said Sang, the first Kenyan to compete for the country at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, Mexico.

The late Chumo, who was the first Kenyan to win an Olympic medal for the country, died last year aged 84.

Sang said as much as the government's move is good, it's long overdue. " We don't have to wait for some athletes to die to recognize them," she noted.

She said the government should also offer monetary awards to retired athletes because they did not earn much during their time. 

“Majority of former athletes did not earn any money from running, unlike the current athletes. With the government handing goodies to any medal winner, they should always remember those who laid that foundation,” she said.

She added that medical insurance for retired athletes would go a long way in cushioning them during their current old age.

Sang cited Nyantika Maiyoro, Amos Biwott, Kipchoge Keino, the late Naftali Temo, Naftali Bon, Ben Jipcho, Lydia Stephens, Elizabeth Jemeli Chesire, Hezekiah Nyamau, and Charles Asati as other deserving cases in as far as recognition and awards is concerned.

Why Agnes Ngetich's world record will not be ratified

Ngetich broke the women-only world 10km record at the Trunsylvania 10km but her record will not be ratified.

Agnes Ngetich made headlines two weeks ago as she oozed class to win the women’s 10km and break the women-only world 10km record at the Trunsylvania 10km, a World Athletics Elite Label road race held as part of the Brasov Running Festival in Romania.

Ngetich clocked 29:24 to cut the tape first ahead of Catherine Reline who finished second in 30:14 as Joy Cheptoyek of Uganda completed the podium in 30:34.

However, the 22-year-old’s record will not be ratified, as the course was found to be short by 25m. The race organisers made the announcement on their Facebook page, indicating that the course did not meet the standards of World Athletics.

When any world record is broken, World Athletics is required to re-measure the course to ensure it meets the required distance.

A part of the lengthy post on Facebook read: “During the homologation process of the World Record set by Agnes Ngetich, that required a remeasurement, it was indicated that the course used in Brasov, on September 10, differed with 25m from the certified circuit.

Although barely relevant in relation to the 36 seconds that Agnes Ngetich took from the previous World Record, this difference makes the result technically non-ratifiable.”

With her world record not being ratified, this means that the previous 10K record of 30:01, was set by the late Agnes Tirop. The women’s 5k record of 14:29, set by Ethiopia’s Senbere Teferi in 2021 will also stand.

Agnes Ngetich becomes multi millionaire after smashing women-only 10km World Record

The 22-year-old broke the women-only world 10km record in Romania, surpassing the late Agnes Tirop's record, with Catherine Reline also shining for Kenya.

Kenya was once again thrust into the global limelight on Sunday after Agnes Ngetich shattered the women-only world 10km record by clocking 29:24 at the World Athletics Elite Label road race in Brasov, Romania, on Sunday.

At only 22, Ngetich covered the initial 5km in 14:25, eclipsing the previous record for that distance by four seconds. 

The significance of this feat becomes more profound when considering that the previous record was held by the late Agnes Tirop of Kenya. 

Running closely behind, Kenya was once again represented on the podium by Catherine Reline who clocked a solid 30:14, securing second place. Uganda's Joy Cheptoyek completed the top three with a commendable time of 30:34.

World Athletics, in its statement, lauded Ngetich's achievement by saying, “As well as being the fastest women-only 10km, Ngetich's time is the third-quickest by a woman in history." 

This achievement is only behind the remarkable runs of 29:14 and 29:19 by Ethiopia's Yalemzerf Yehualaw, both accomplished in mixed races.

The remarkable feat was not just a win for Ngetich in terms of accolades but also a significant financial windfall. 

The race organizers had initially placed the prize money at $5,000 (Ksh 731,000). However, smashing a world record comes with its unique set of rewards. and Ngetich is set to receive an additional bonus of $50,000 (Ksh7.3 million) from World Athletics.

This sums up to a whopping total of $55,000 (Ksh8.4 million) that Ngetich will be taking home, a well-deserved reward for her impeccable performance.

Speaking after the race, an ecstatic Ngetich remarked, “It is quite a surprise to me. I didn’t expect to break the world record. All I ever wanted was a personal best (PB) of 30:00 or 30:02 but to set a new world record in the women’s 10km was the last thing I expected.”

As fans across the globe celebrate her achievement, many are confident that this is just the beginning for the World Cross Country bronze medalist. 

With youth on her side and a clear demonstration of her capability, the world waits in anticipation of her next move. Will she redefine another record, or perhaps set a new standard for future generations to aspire towards? Only time will tell. 

For now, Agnes Ngetich revels in her well-deserved moment of glory, inspiring millions and etching her name in gold.

Ngetich breaks women-only world 10km record in Brasov

Kenya’s Agnes Ngetich broke the women-only world 10km record* at the Trunsylvania 10km, clocking 29:24 at the World Athletics Elite Label road race held on Sunday (10) as part of the Brasov Running Festival in Romania.

In an impressive solo running display, the 22-year-old showed her intent from the start and covered the first 5km in 14:25 – four seconds faster than the women-only world record for that distance.

She had a lead of 10 seconds over her compatriot Catherine Reline at that point.

Racing on the loop course, Ngetich went on to pass 6.5km in 18:54 and 8.5km in 24:56 before crossing the finish line in 29:24 to record the fastest ever 10km in a women-only race, improving on the 30:01 set by the late Agnes Tirop in Herzogenaurach in 2021.

As well as being the fastest women-only 10km, Ngetich’s time is the third-quickest by a woman in history, behind only the 29:14 run by Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw in a mixed race in Castellon last year and the 29:19 Yehualaw clocked in Valencia earlier this year.

“The world record is a surprise to me,” said Ngetich, who started the 2022 race in Brasov as the pacemaker but went on to finish second in 30:30. “I didn’t expect to get the world record. I just wanted a PB, low 30 minutes to break the course record, but a world record is really a surprise.”

The race started at a fast pace right from the gun with Ngetich, Reline and Uganda’s Joy Cheptoyek leaving the pacemaker – who had been asked to lead the runners through 5km in 15:00 – quickly behind.

The trio sped through 1500m in 4:12 and Cheptoyek started to lose contact with the Kenyan pair a kilometre later. Ngetich and Reline went through 3km in 8:32 but it was only a few hundred metres down the road in the Coresi district on the outskirts of the Transylvanian city that the latter started to drift back. From then on, Ngetich was out on her own.

Ngetich, who claimed bronze at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Bathurst in February and then finished sixth in the 10,000m final at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 last month, set a women-only world 5km record with her split of 14:25, improving on the 14:29 achieved by Ethiopia’s Senbere Teferi in Herzogenaurach on the same day that Tirop set her 10km mark.

By 7km, Ngetich had built up an 18-second lead over Reline and the gap just kept on widening.

As Ngetich passed the 8.5km checkpoint in 24:56, Reline was second in 25:29, and the leader continued to fly over the final section of the three-lap course before gaining her second world record of the morning.

“I started the year with the World Cross, which was perfect, so I wanted to close the season with a good result,” explained Ngetich, who achieved that aim in sensational style.

Reline held on to finish second in 30:14, while Cheptoyek placed third in 30:34.

The men's race was won by Weldon Langat, who completed a Kenyan double in 27:05.

A group of seven athletes went through 5km in 13:30, with another four just two seconds further back at the halfway point.

Surges in the sixth kilometre by Kenya’s Amos Kurgat and Dennis Kibet saw the pair pull away, with Langat being towed along comfortably in their wake.

Kibet continued to regularly push the pace over the course of the next three kilometres but with just over one kilometre to go, he started to pay for his service at the front.

As Kurgat and Langat embarked on the final kilometre, the latter used that as a signal to change gears and made a decisive move that took him to victory just over two-and-a-half minutes later.

Kurgat took second place in 27:12, while the 2018 world U20 5000m champion Edward Zakayo Pingua came through strongly over the final kilometre, firstly overtaking the tiring Kibet and then almost catching Kurgat to complete an all-Kenyan podium in third place with 27:14.

Mile wins for Van Riel and Mechaal

The Trunsylvania 10km took place on the second day of the Brasov Running Festival, with Saturday (9) offering elite mile races.

Robin van Riel of the Netherlands and Turkiye’s Emine Hatun Mechaal claimed victories in the European Road Mile, winning in national records of 4:05.5 and 4:41.7, respectively.

Mechaal was the first across the line as dusk started to fall over the Coresi district, after a well calculated run that saw the 2014 European U20 cross country champion pull away from her nearest rivals over the final 100 metres.

Romania’s Cristina Balan finished second in 4:43.0, while Greek 1500m champion Melissa Anastasakis was third in 4:44.0, both women also setting national records.

In the men’s race, runners in the leading pack were reluctant to go with pacemaker Stephen Masindet and they passed 1km in an unofficial 2:40.0, which made the anticipated sub-four-minute time and a world record highly unlikely.

In the end, Van Riel was able to outsprint his younger compatriot Stefan Nillessen in a thrilling duel as the finish line approached.

Van Riel clocked 4:05.5 to Nillessen’s 4:05.8, with Italy’s Giovanni Filippi third in 4:07.2.

Further elite mile action will be on offer in Riga next month as the World Athletics Road Running Championships hosts mile, 5km and half marathon races.

Ben Flanagan shatters Canadian record at B.A.A. 5K

For the second year in a row, the men’s Canadian 5K record was shattered at the B.A.A. 5K in Boston. Ben Flanagan of Kitchener, Ont., placed second in the race and broke the previous Canadian record by ten seconds in 13:26.

There was a lot of buzz around the Canadian 5K record heading into Saturday’s race, with Charles Philibert-Thiboutot of Quebec City coming in as the national record holder and defending B.A.A. 5K champion, while Flanagan came into the race as the reigning Canadian 5K champion, holding the second-fastest 5K time in Canadian history. 

The men’s elite race got out quickly, going through the first mile in four minutes and 12 seconds (13:00-flat pace). Flanagan and Philibert-Thiboutot found themselves in the chase pack after Ethiopia’s Tsegay Kidanu was off to an early lead. Philibert-Thiboutot drove the chase pack to catch Kidanu at the 3K point. 

In the final mile, a large pack of 15 runners was still in contention, lining up for a sprint finish on Charles St. through the Boston Common. Flanagan made a move with his Very Nice Track Club training partner, U.S. miler Morgan Beadlescomb,with 300 metres to go, and held on to finish second behind Beadlescomb in 13:26. Kenya’s Edwin Kurgat finished third in 13:27. 

Flanagan took a glance over his shoulder with one mile to go and couldn’t believe how many guys were in the lead group. “When Morgan made his move, I knew I had to keep myself close to him,” says Flanagan. “He and Charles are 1,500m guys, so you know they are explosive.”

“The race was awesome,” says Flanagan. “Even though I ran there four years ago, it well exceeded my expectations.”

This 5K record is the third Canadian road record Flanagan has broken in the last 12 months. Last June, he broke the long-standing Canadian 10K record at the B.A.A. 10K in Boston, finishing fourth in 28:11. Four months later, he ran the Canadian half-marathon record of 61-flat, beating Cam Levins by four seconds at the Valencia Half Marathon. Levins later took the half-marathon record back, running 60:18 at the Vancouver First Half in February. 

“My goal is to make a world’s team,” says Flanagan. “It annoys me that I haven’t been able to do it yet.”

Flanagan and Philibert-Thiboutot will head back to the track to chase the 2023 world championships 5,000m standard of 13:07:00 at the Sound Running Invitational in Los Angeles on May 6.

Canada’s Julie-Anne Staehli finished 13th in the women’s 5K, in 15:50. The 2022 world championship steeplechase bronze medallist, Mekides Abebe of Ethiopia, won the women’s race in a sprint finish ahead of Kenya’s Agnes Ngetich, in 15:01. American Annie Rodenfels of Boston finished third in 15:12.

Olympic Steeple Bronze Medalist Benjamin Kigen And World XC Champ Beatrice Chebet Lead Fields For BAA 5k

Patriots’ Day Weekend will kickoff with exciting competition, as international and U.S. stars take to the roads for the 2023 B.A.A. 5K presented by Point32Health, and the 2023 B.A.A. Invitational Mile on Saturday, April 15.

Among the professional athletes entered in the B.A.A. 5K are reigning champions Charles Philibert-Thiboutot (Canada), Marcel Hug (Switzerland), and Jenna Fesemyer (USA), while recently crowned world cross country champion Beatrice Chebet of Kenya will make her Boston road racing debut. Local Bay State stars Johnny Gregorek and Ellie Shea will compete in the B.A.A. Invitational Mile, a three-lap race starting and finishing on Boylston Street.

“This year’s professional fields blend together experience with up-and-coming stars for the B.A.A. 5K and B.A.A. Invitational Mile,” said Mary Kate Shea, B.A.A. Director of Professional Athletes. “Participants, spectators, and running enthusiasts will get to witness world class competition at shorter distances two days before the 127th Boston Marathon."

International standouts will be at the front of the B.A.A. 5K, led by Kenya’s Benjamin Kigen – an Olympic bronze medalist in the 3000m steeplechase from 2021—and Philibert-Thiboutot, who set a Canadian national record at the 2022 B.A.A. 5K en route to winning in 13:35. Philibert-Thiboutot’s countryman Ben Flanagan, a three-time Falmouth Road Race winner, as well as reigning B.A.A. Half Marathon champion Geoffrey Koech of Kenya, are also entered. Leading the American contingent is Olympian Mason Ferlic, two-time World Cross Country participant Emmanuel Bor, U.S. Road Mile champion Eric Avila, and NCAA All-American Morgan Beadlescomb.

On the women’s side, 2023 World Cross Country champion Beatrice Chebet and bronze medalist Agnes Ngetich (Kenya) will take on World Athletics Championships 3000m steeplechase bronze medalist Mekides Abebe (Ethiopia), all racing the B.A.A. 5K for the first time. The United States will be well represented in the women’s professional ranks, with reigning USA 5K national champion Weini Kelati, defending B.A.A. Invitational Mile winner Annie Rodenfels, 2022 USA Club Cross Country champion Bethany Hasz, Olympian Marielle Hall, and 2022 USATF 10,000m bronze medalist Natosha Rogers all racing. Rodenfels and Hasz are members of the B.A.A. High Performance Team, training in Boston under coach Mark Carroll.

International standouts will be at the front of the B.A.A. 5K, led by Kenya’s Benjamin Kigen – an Olympic bronze medalist in the 3000m steeplechase from 2021—and Philibert-Thiboutot, who set a Canadian national record at the 2022 B.A.A. 5K en route to winning in 13:35. Philibert-Thiboutot’s countryman Ben Flanagan, a three-time Falmouth Road Race winner, as well as reigning B.A.A. Half Marathon champion Geoffrey Koech of Kenya, are also entered. Leading the American contingent is Olympian Mason Ferlic, two-time World Cross Country participant Emmanuel Bor, U.S. Road Mile champion Eric Avila, and NCAA All-American Morgan Beadlescomb.

On the women’s side, 2023 World Cross Country champion Beatrice Chebet and bronze medalist Agnes Ngetich (Kenya) will take on World Athletics Championships 3000m steeplechase bronze medalist Mekides Abebe (Ethiopia), all racing the B.A.A. 5K for the first time. The United States will be well represented in the women’s professional ranks, with reigning USA 5K national champion Weini Kelati, defending B.A.A. Invitational Mile winner Annie Rodenfels, 2022 USA Club Cross Country champion Bethany Hasz, Olympian Marielle Hall, and 2022 USATF 10,000m bronze medalist Natosha Rogers all racing. Rodenfels and Hasz are members of the B.A.A. High Performance Team, training in Boston under coach Mark Carroll.

WXC Bathurst 23 senior women's preview: Gidey goes for gold against tough opposition

Had the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Bathurst 23 gone ahead in 2021 as originally planned, there’s a strong chance that Letesenbet Gidey would already be a world champion at the discipline.

The Ethiopian was in sensational form in 2020 and 2021, setting world records of 14:06.62 for 5000m and 29:01.03 for 10,000m. She had to settle for bronze at the Olympic Games at the longer event, but she prioritized global honors over records in 2022 and was rewarded with her first world title on the track, winning the 10,000m in Oregon in a nail-biting race.

The 24-year-old is now focused on winning her first individual senior world cross-country title. She won back-to-back U20 crowns in 2015 and 2017, joining an elite club of athletes to achieve the feat, alongside Faith Kipyegon and Genzebe Dibaba.

Gidey finished third in the senior women’s race in 2019 and earned gold in the team competition, but this time she heads to Bathurst as one of the big favorites.

If her performance at the Jan Meda Cross Country – Ethiopia’s trial event for the World Cross – is anything to go by, Gidey is certainly in form to challenge for gold in Bathurst. In that race back on 1 January, she bided her time until the last kilometer of the race and then soon opened up a gap of about 20 seconds on a strong domestic field.

It looked as though she was running within herself, too.

As much as individual glory will be Gidey’s biggest goal on Saturday, she will also want to earn gold in the team standings, and Ethiopia will once again be in with a great shout of doing exactly that.

Gete Alemayehu, who has a 1:06:37 half marathon PB, was second in the trial race, just ahead of 30:06.01 10,000m performer Tsigie Gebreselama, bronze medalist in the U20 race in Aarhus in 2019. Fellow Ethiopian Fotyen Tesfaye just missed out on a top-10 placing in Aarhus, so will be keen to improve on that in Bathurst.

But Gidey and her Ethiopian compatriots won’t have an easy ride, as they’ll be up against someone who is undefeated in international cross-country races for more than a year.

Eritrea’s Rahel Daniel has dominated the World Athletics Cross Country Tour and currently tops the season standings thanks to her three victories last month. She won at the prestigious Campaccio meeting in San Giorgio su Legnano, then two days later triumphed in Elgoibar, winning by eight seconds. More recently she won in Hannut, racing in heavy snow, showing she can cope well in any conditions.

Daniel enjoyed a successful 2022 campaign on the track, setting national records for 5000m (14:36.66) and 10,000m (30:12.15), the latter when placing fifth at the World Championships in Oregon.

But the 21-year-old is clearly more at home on cross country, and despite this being her World Cross debut, Daniel will have high hopes for a podium finish.

Beatrice Chebet is just as formidable an opponent, though. The Kenyan took 5000m silver at the World Championships last year and won the U20 women’s title at the 2019 World Cross in Aarhus. She is also the African, Commonwealth and Diamond League 5000m champion, and is a former world U20 champion on the track.

She has raced just twice in cross-country events since the end of the track season, but won both of her races. She won by 13 seconds in Atapuerca in November and by 15 seconds at the Cinque Mulini in January.

In the absence of Chebet at the Kenyan trials, teenager Grace Loibach Nawowuna was a surprising winner of the senior women’s race, beating Olympic semifinalist Edinah Jebitok by four seconds. The Kenyan team also includes two-time world cross-country champion Emily Chebet and Agnes Ngetich.

Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba missed the peak of the 2022 track season through injury, but still managed to win three races on the Wanda Diamond League circuit, and then triumphed at the Venta de Banos Cross Country in December. In her latest appearance, though, she was a distant fifth in Elgoibar, some 47 seconds behind Daniel.

Stella Chesang, the 2018 Commonwealth 10,000m champion, was a dominant winner of the recent Ugandan Cross Country Championships and is keen to improve on her 21st-place finish from the 2019 World Cross. She is joined on the Ugandan team by world U20 5000m bronze medallist Prisca Chesang.

Olympic finalist Nozomi Tanaka, who holds national records for 1000m, 1500m and 3000m, leads the Japanese team. The 2018 world U20 3000m champion placed 39th at the last World Cross when she was still just 19 years of age, so she’ll be hoping for a higher position this time. Ririka Hironaka, who earned U20 team bronze in 2019, will also be flying the Japanese flag in Bathurst.

Ednah Kurgat and Weini Kelati feature on the US team, while Australia’s Rose Davies and Leanne Pompeani will aim to give the home crowd something to cheer for. Other contenders include Canada’s Regan Yee, Mexico’s Laura Galvan, and Britain’s Abbie Donnelly.