Ejgayehu Taye, Isaia Lasoi target record times at RAK Half Marathon

Ethiopia's Ejgayehu Taye and Kenya's Isaia Lasoi are leading contenders to follow a quartet of stars who have set world records in the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon whose 18th running comes on Saturday 1 February.

The duo reckon that they are running into the sort of form that suggests fast times.

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World Championships bronze medalist indoors and out, and a top eight finisher at the Olympic Games, Taye has rarely raced on the road, but if she can bring her track form to Ras Al Khaimah, she would clearly be a leading contender for victory in 2025.

Her performance at the half marathon in Valencia three months ago where she finished ahead of last year’s RAK winner Tsigie Gebrselama, in 64:14 adds to her favourite tag.

"Taye decided to try for the world record based on her recent training. RAK half will be her second 21km and based on the quality and volume of training, the hope is for a much better time now.

She trained for not more than six weeks after the track season was over and the longest training was 25km.

However, this time she’s regularly been covering more than 28km with a 3:30 pace at altitude. Her goal in this race is the world record,"

The Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon has regularly returned world record times since Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya ran 58:53 in the inaugural event in 2007.

The women then took over with luminaries like Mary Keitany, Peres Chepchirchir and Ababel Yeshaneh setting women’s records during the last decade.

But such have been the advances in shoe technology and the boost of energy gels in the interim that the current men’s record is over a minute faster, with the 57:30 that Yomif Kejelcha clocked in Valencia three months ago.

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The women’s record is an equally formidable 62:52 set by his colleague Letesenbet Gidey at the same race over three years ago.

In contrast, the RAK record is eminently breachable, at least on the women’s side. As it happens, Taye’s debut 64:14 is exactly the same as the RAK course record time, set in 2022 by another colleague Girmawit Gebrzihair who runs again next weekend.

Gebrzihair looks to be in prime form too, following a rapid 29:34 for the Valencia 10k on January 12.

In the men’s race, Lasoi is hoping to emulate recent top three finishers who returned to win the following year. He came through for third last year and is nothing if not ambitious.