Africa set to dominate at HalfMarathon in Poland

The World Half Marathon Championships in Gdynia, Poland on the coast of the Baltic Sea is the athletically romantic destination for the 2020 event being run on Saturday.

Postponed from March, the race will not have as many entrants as would have been the case before the coronavirus, but 250 plus elite runners will be in action and the women’s field in particular looks to be the strongest yet fielded for the half marathon.

At first glance the absence of teams from the US, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, as quoted on LetsRun.com, is a blow to the event, but as the site points out, only one American has ever won a medal for a top-10 finish in 23 championship races. The real strength comes from Africa.

SA’s absence does not receive a mention, which is rather sad for a country that once set world best times over the distance.

The race will therefore still be an amazing competition with the ever-present clash of the finest athletes that Ethiopia and Kenya have to offer in both women’s and men’s races, while in the latter, Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei and his countryman, Jacob Kiplimo are favourites.

Cheptegei, who set world records over 5,000 and 10,000 metres on the track during the last two months, stands to become only the second man to win world titles in cross country, track and road running if he wins the half marathon. There is a distinct possibility that he will secure a third world record as well.

That said, this will be a debut at the 21.0975m distance for both him and

Kiplimo. The Kenyan team is being led by the exciting 23-year-old Kibiwott Kandie who won Kenya’s national cross country title, broke a Paul Tergat 15km race record in Sao Paulo and posted a 58:58 half marathon in the United Arab Emirates in February.

Ethiopia have Birhanu Legose as their anchor. He has featured over every distance from 1,500m through to the marathon, winning Tokyo twice with a personal best of 2:04:48. His fastest half marathon was a 59:20 in India.

The women’s field boasts two world record holders in Ababel Yeshanah, who holds the record for races incorporating both men and women, while Peres Jepchirchir set a women’s only record of 65:34 in Prague last month.

Throw into the mix the reigning world champion, Netsanet Gudeta and a former world record holder Joyciline Jepkosgei, and the racing will be intense even without the usual highly charged team competition between Ethiopia and Kenya.

Meanwhile on the South African front, Athletics SA has released notification that selective running events will take place during November and December under certain conditions, yet to be confirmed.

What has been articulated is that only 2020 licensed athletes may run either of two 10km races, one each in November and December, that have been given the go ahead for Border. Eastern Province have approved three 10km and one 15km event. Meanwhile, numerous trail races are going ahead in various parts of the country. My Run is back in operation and parkrun appears to be getting ever closer.