Chepkurui, Kandie headline second Hong Kong Half Marathon

Seasoned road runner Gladys Chepkurui and former World Half-marathon record holder Kibiwott Kandie headline a star-studded field for the first top Half-Marathon in 2025, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Half Marathon, set for Sunday 5 January.

With a 1:05:46 personal best (PB) in the distance, the former Boston Half Marathon champion Chepkurui goes up against Ethiopia’s 2022 World Marathon champion Gotytom Gebreslase who is the fastest on paper with a 1:05:36 PB.

Gebreslase is fresh from winning the Al Sharqiyah Half Marathon, Al Khobar in Saudi Arabia on Saturday 14 December where she clocked 1:07:10.

CHAN Organizing Committee chairman provides update on Kenya's preparedness

The duo will face stiff competition from the trio of Ethiopia’s Ftaw Zeray, a 1:06:04 runner, Kenya’s Sheila Chelangat who heads to the race with a 1:06:06 PB and Miriam Chebet, a 1:06:43 runner.

The five will be looking to dethrone last year’s winner Sarah Chelangat of Uganda who dominated the women’s race last year with Chepkuri, who came home in second place looking to go one better this year.

Meanwhile, Kandie who ran 57:32 to set the then-world record in 2020 is the quickest in a race where he renews rivalry with Stephen Kiprop and Berlin Marathon champion Milkesa Mengesha.

The trio raced together in this year’s Berlin marathon with Mengesha winning the men’s competition while Tigist Ketema triumphed over the women’s field. Mengesha clocked 2:03:17 seconds to finish ahead of Kenya’s Cyrbian Kotut in a two-horse race that came down the final kilometre

Kiprop clocked 02:03:37 to finish just outside the podium places with Kandie settling for 13th place in 02:06:46. The former is the second fastest on paper with a 58:42 PB while Mengesha is a 58:58 runner.

To more athletes who have dipped under 60 Haftu Teklu (59:06) and Weldon Langat (59:22) are also expected to challenge the trio.

Geoffrey Toroitich clocked 1:01:38 last year to lead a Kenyan sweep for the men’s race with Evans Mayaka (1:01:53) and Ronald Kirui (1:01:58) completing the podium.

Elite Women

Gotytom Gebreslase PB 1:05:36

Gladys Chepkurui PB 1:05:46

Ftaw Zeray PB 1:06:04

Sheila Chelangat PB 1:06:06

Miriam Chebet PB 1:06:43

Elite Men

Kibiwott Kandie PB 57:32

Stephen Kiprop PB 58:42

Milkesa Mengesha PB 58:58

Haftu Teklu PB 59:06

Weldon Langat PB 59:22