Strong Elite Fields Set for Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Half Marathon

Strong women's and men's elite fields have been set for the 2020 Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Half Marathon on Firday.

The organizers have put together one the stongest women's elite field with 11 runners holding personal best times under 1 hour and 7 minutes.

The fastest women in the race is the reigning World marathon record holder Brigid Kosgei (PB 65:28) of Kenya.

“Friday’s race has attracted a competitive field and promises to be tough. My target is to run well, and to possibly register my personal best in the race,” Kosgei told Nation Sport Monday.

“I have trained for the last few months and I will stick to my game plan in the race,” she said.

Geoffrey Kipsang who helped Kosgei break the World marathon record last year in Chicago Marathon will be a pacemaker in the women's race. The women course record is 64:52 set by Fancy Chemutai (KEN) in 2018. The current World half marathon record stands at 1:04:51 set by Jocelyn Kosgei in 2017 in Valencia. The target paces on Friday at the RAK half marathon are 15:15 for the 5km, 30:30 for the 10km, and 45:45 for the 15km.

Men's race may see a new course record as 8 runners holding personal best times under one hour will line up on Friday. 

The men's course record stands at 58:42 set by Bendan Karoki (KEN) in 2018 and Stephen Kiprop (KEN) 2019. In the top 30 men’s half marathon all-time performance list 8 of them has been set at the RAK Half Marathon. The men's elite race plan is to cross the 5km marker at 13:50 to 13:55 and 27:40 to 27:50 at the 10km.

The race starts at 7:00am local time/GMT -4.

There will be a live streaming on Free Sports website. See live streaming, live results, and full elite athlete's list and info here.