Faith Kipyegon wants to end the season on a high when she makes her debut in the road mile at the inaugural World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia on October 1.
The 1,500m world record holder is a double gold medalist in 1,500m and 5,000m at the recently concluded World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Despite her imperious form, Kipyegon faces stiff competition from the Ethiopian duo of world 1,500m silver medalist Diribe Welteji as well as from Freweyni Hailu though she will have Beatrice Chepkoech for company.
Australia’s Jess Hull, ranked in the top eight all-time in the mile on the track cannot be overlooked either.
A total of 347 athletes, including five World record holders, have been entered to compete where global titles in the road mile, 5km and half marathon are up for grabs.
This list is made up of 152 women and 195 men from 57 teams which also includes Olympic and World champions.
Beatrice Chebet, World 5,000m bronze medalist in Budapest, will be going for her second out-of-stadium world title of the year in the 5km.
The field which will also feature 5km mixed race world record holder Ejgayehu Taye, Olympic 3,000m steeplechase champion Peruth Chemutai and Japan’s Nozomi Tanaka is set to be an intriguing race.
Peres Jepchirchir, Olympic gold medalist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, will be looking to defend her title in the half marathon.
She will be challenged by Irine Jepchumba Kimais, world cross country silver medalist Tsigie Gebreselama, Germany’s European 5,000m champion Konstanze Klosterhalfen and USA’s Sara Hall.
The men’s entries will see world 10,000m silver medallist Daniel Simiu and European 5km record-holder Jimmy Gressier of France square it out.
The 5km race will feature Nicholas Kimeli battling it out against Ethiopia’s World record holder Berihu Aregawi and his compatriot Yomif Kejelcha.
The women’s 5km race will kick off proceedings in the action-packed day 11:50 am followed by the men’s half marathon at 2:15 pm.
