Fresh from her spectacular double gold victory in the 1,500m and 5,000m at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, 1,500m world record holder Faith Kipyegon is gearing up for her first appearance in the road mile at the inaugural World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia, on October 1.
Regardless of her outstanding form, Kipyegon faces tough competition, particularly from Ethiopian athletes such as world 1,500m silver medalist Diribe Welteji and Freweyni Hailu.
She’ll also have strong teammates, including Beatrice Chepkoech. Australia’s Jess Hull, who holds a top-eight all-time ranking in the mile on the track, is another contender to watch.
The championship will feature a total of 347 athletes, including five world record holders, competing for global titles in various categories, including the road mile, 5km, and half marathon.
This diverse group consists of 152 women and 195 men, representing 57 teams, and includes both Olympic and World champions.
Beatrice Chebet, the World 5,000m bronze medalist, aims to secure her second out-of-stadium world title this year in the 5km race.
The field will also include notable athletes like 5km mixed-race world record holder Ejgayehu Taye, Olympic 3,000m steeplechase champion Peruth Chemutai, and Japan’s Nozomi Tanaka, ensuring an exciting competition.
In addition to the road mile and 5km races, the event will feature the half marathon, where Peres Jepchirchir, the Olympic gold medalist from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, seeks to defend her title.
She’ll face strong contenders, including Irine Jepchumba Kimais, world cross country silver medalist Tsigie Gebreselama, Germany’s European 5,000m champion Konstanze Klosterhalfen, and USA’s Sara Hall.
Among the men’s entries, fans can anticipate an intense competition between world 10,000m silver medallist Daniel Simiu and European 5km record-holder Jimmy Gressier of France.
The action-packed day will kick off with the women’s 5km race at 11:50 a.m., followed by the men’s half marathon at 2:15 p.m. Faith Kipyegon’s debut in the road mile promises to be a highlight of the championship, as she continues her quest for excellence in the world of athletics.
