Sebastian Sawe and Margaret Kipkemboi among big stars to feature at the Valencia half marathon this weekend

Justin Lagat, our senior author in Kenya, wrote this preview as he’s touring in North America! 

Newly topped world champion Sebastian Sawe of Kenya can be a person to look at this weekend on the streets of Valencia, Spain. The silver medalist from the ladies’s race, Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi, will characteristic within the girls’s race.

After his fellow countryman, Daniel Ebenyo had opened up an amazing hole within the closing levels of the half marathon championships race in Riga on 1^st October, Sawe had strongly come from behind, and all that Ebenyo might do was to salute him and watch as he ran previous to win the World title.

The truth that Ebenyo participated within the New Delhi half marathon and gained it comfortably on the weekend ought to increase Sawe’s confidence as he tackles a deep subject on Sunday.

The 28-year-old, who has remained unbeaten on the roads this 12 months can be up towards a troublesome subject that features Kibiwott Kandie of Kenya who holds the course report at 57:32, Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia with a private finest time of 58:32, Kenya’s Matthew Kimeli with 58:43, Ethiopia’s Tadese Worku with 58:47 and Hagos Gebrhiwet with 58:55, amongst others.

Three weeks after profitable the world half marathon silver medal on the Riga World Highway Operating Championships, Kenya’s Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi can be in motion as nicely within the girls’s race.

Chelimo had misplaced the title by a small margin to her compatriot Peres Jepchirchir, who efficiently achieved a hat-trick for the half marathon world title.

With the world report of 1:02:52 having been set on this course by Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey in 2021, it will likely be attention-grabbing to see whether or not Kipkemboi will be capable to enhance her private better of 1:05.26. European report holder Melat Kejeta of Germany has the quickest time of 1:05:46 on the beginning listing. Different sub-1:06 girls on the beginning listing embody Gotyom Gebreslase of Ethiopia (1:05:36) and Tsigie GEbreselama (1:05:46).

Many thrilling and quick highway races have normally occurred in Valencia, and this weekend shouldn’t be an exception.