Mutai out to defend Cardiff half title as Kenyans dominate fields
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Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 29.09.24. | 16:44
World Cross Country Championships fourth-place finisher Grace Nawowuna makes her debut
Kenyans in the 21st edition of the Cardiff Half Marathon set for Sunday 6 October, are hoping to retain the men’s title won by Vincent Mutai last year while the women look to reclaim the trophy won by Ethiopia’s Mestawut Fikir.
In his second time of asking, Mutai a 60:20 runner, clocked 60:35 for a surprise victory. He comes to the race on the back of a second-place finish at the Cardiff Cross Challenge from November, looking to repeat his 2023 feat.
Compatriots Benard Ngeno and Cosmas Boi pose the biggest threat for the champion, Ngeno (59:07) the fastest athlete on paper owing to an impressive lifetime best set at the Trinidad Alfonso Half Marathon in 2019, finishing second at the world’s top race over the distance.
On his part, Boi (59:29) comes to the city following a solid block of training that indicates a new PB could be possible. Perhaps his greatest accolade to date was a victory at the 2023 Stramilano Half Marathon.
Other Kenyans include Patrick Mosin (59:31), the winner of the 2023 Lille Half Marathon, but more notably third at the Prague Half Marathon that was won by the current World Half Marathon champion Sebastian Sawe in April.
Bravin Kiptoo (59:37), Antony Kimtai (59:45), and Vincent Kigen (59:48) are the other Kenyans chasing a podium place.
In the women's race, Nelly Jepchumba (67:00) is the fastest entrant with her closest competitor likely to come from Miriam Chebet (67:14), runner up at the Istanbul Half Marathon and notably the winner at the Ibiza 10K in 30:40.
Ethiopian Anchinalu Dessie (67:30), winner of the Stramilano Half Marathon, another Kenyan Caroline Nyaga (67:36), an exciting late edition to the race, will all be chasing times in Cardiff so will Daisy Kimeli (68:34).
Perhaps the most exciting prospect in the women’s race, however, is Grace Nawowuna who will make her debut here, but was fourth at the World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst in 2023 and has a 29:47 best for 10,000m.
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