Kamworor, Cheptegei set for clash of Titans in Antrim Coast Half Marathon

Set for Sunday, 24 August, this year’s Condor Executive Antrim Coast Half Marathon is set to host one of the most anticipated distance running duels of the decade, as Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei and Kenya’s Geoffrey Kamworor go head-to-head.

In what promises to be a historic showdown on Irish soil for the very first time, the clash headlines the most prestigious men’s field ever seen in Ireland.

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Cheptegei, the reigning double Olympic champion and world record holder over both the 5,000m and 10,000m, is widely regarded as one of the greatest distance runners in history, and his Antrim Coast debut signals his intention to conquer yet another distance on the world stage.

Standing in his path is Kamworor, a 32-year-old whose accolades include three World Half Marathon titles, three World Cross Country Championships, and a World Championship 10,000m silver medal from Beijing in 2015.

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The former World Half Marathon record holder, who obliterated the mark in 2019 with a stunning time of 58:01, remains a dominant force, having clocked 58:44 in Barcelona this year and ran a blistering 2:04:33 in April’s Rotterdam Marathon.

Before he turns his focus to the Chicago Marathon, Kamworor will make his long-awaited Irish debut on the Antrim Coast.

Adding to the firepower, Ethiopia’s Mohamed Esa, the 24-year-old marathon prodigy, also makes his Irish debut. Esa has rapidly emerged as one of the most consistent and resilient marathoners in the world, finishing runner-up at three of the sport’s most prestigious races: Tokyo 2023, Boston 2024, and Chicago 2024.

Also joining the elite field is Erick Sang, 24, who arrives in peak form, having shattered personal bests already in 2025. He finished third in the Hamburg Marathon with a scintillating 2:04:30 and claimed victory at the Den Haag Half Marathon in 59:38, proving his credentials among the global elite.

Leading the European charge is Norway’s Sondre Nordstad Moen, the trailblazer who became the first European ever to break the 2:06 marathon barrier. A former multiple European record holder, Moen owns lifetime bests of 59:48 for the half marathon and 2:05:48 for the marathon. He will also make his debut on the iconic Antrim Coast, determined to disrupt the African dominance and bring a major performance back to the continent.

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James McIlroy, race director, believes the quality of athletes making their way to the Antrim Coast means all eyes of the running world will be firmly focused on Northern Ireland.

“With these world-class stars confirmed, the 2025 Condor Executive Antrim Coast Half Marathon is shaping up to be an unmissable spectacle, the strongest half marathon lineup ever seen on Irish roads. As these elite athletes prepare to write their names into the history of the sport on one of the most scenic and fast coastal routes in the world, the eyes of the running world will be fixed firmly on Northern Ireland.”