Faith Kipyegon will chase yet another world title – and could set her fourth world record of 2023 – at the inaugural World Road Running Championships.
The Kenyan, arguably the standout athlete of the year, will contest the women’s mile on Sunday in Riga, Latvia.
Global titles in the mile, 5km and half marathon will be contested at one road championships for the first time.
Great Britain has sent a team of 12 athletes including Big Half winners Calli Thackery and Jack Rowe.
Thackery is joined by Abbie Donnelly, Clara Evans and Samantha Harrison in the women’s half marathon, while Mahamed Mahamed and Jonny Mellor join Rowe in the men’s race.
Verity Ockenden will compete in the women’s 5km, with Scott Beattie and Tom Mortimer contesting the men’s event.
Sarah McDonald and Callum Elson are GB’s representatives over one mile.
All six elite races take place on Sunday, alongside mass-participation races over each of the three distances.
World Athletics president Lord Coe said: “This is the first time we have staged an event that celebrates road running in all its guises, from the elite runners, to dedicated recreational runners, to runners who are just starting out, including the kids.
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“With races over the mile, 5km and half marathon, this event showcases the great middle distance and endurance road runners of the world together for the first time, and features the primary entry points for a recreational runner’s journey.
“The great beauty of running is its accessibility and this event offers something for everyone, including plenty of inspiration for those who want to make running part of their lives.”
Competition for class act Kipyegon
Five world record holders will be in action among the 347 entered athletes, who represent 57 nations.
Two-time Olympic 1500m champion Kipyegon, winner of double world gold on the track in Budapest in August, has set world records over 1500m, the mile and 5,000m on the track in an unbeaten season.
World Athletics president Lord Coe said: “This is the first time we have staged an event that celebrates road running in all its guises, from the elite runners, to dedicated recreational runners, to runners who are just starting out, including the kids.
“With races over the mile, 5km and half marathon, this event showcases the great middle distance and endurance road runners of the world together for the first time, and features the primary entry points for a recreational runner’s journey.
“The great beauty of running is its accessibility and this event offers something for everyone, including plenty of inspiration for those who want to make running part of their lives.”
Competition for class act Kipyegon
Five world record holders will be in action among the 347 entered athletes, who represent 57 nations.
Two-time Olympic 1500m champion Kipyegon, winner of double world gold on the track in Budapest in August, has set world records over 1500m, the mile and 5,000m on the track in an unbeaten season.
World Athletics Road Running Championships schedule
All times BST
09:50 – Women’s 5km (Verity Ockenden)
10:15 – Men’s 5km (Scott Beattie and Tom Mortimer)
11:00 – Women’s mile (Sarah McDonald)
11:10 – Men’s mile (Callum Elson)
11:30 – Women’s half marathon (Calli Thackery, Abbie Donnelly, Clara Evans, Samantha Harrison)
12:15 – Men’s half marathon (Jack Rowe, Mahamed Mahamed, Jonny Mellor)
BBC/Jamiu Ogunshe
