Two-time world marathon champion to run half-marathon event in September

Edna Kiplagat is to return to British roads on September 7 to race the Bupa Great North Run.

The two-time world marathon champion was victorious over 26.2 miles in the British capital in April as she led home a Kenyan one-two, out-sprinting her namesake Florence Kiplagat to win the Virgin Money London Marathon.

That came after Kiplagat won world marathon gold for the second time in Moscow in August to become the first to successfully defend the title.

The 34-year-old is due to face a field including the likes of fellow Kenyan and former London marathon winner Mary Keitany for the half-marathon race on Tyneside and will be hoping to make up for her defeat in a sprint finish to Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba at this event in 2012.

Former world record-holder for the half-marathon with 65:50, Keitany also has a 2:18:37 marathon best to her name clocked when winning in London in April 2012. Kiplagat’s PB for 13.1 miles is 68:48 from 2013.

World and Olympic marathon champion Stephen Kiprotich will be among those to race the men’s event.

The Bupa Great North Run will this year become the first running event in the world to have its one millionth finisher. To celebrate the milestone the organisers are throwing a party on the banks of the Tyne on September 4, with the event to be put together by the creative team behind the London 2012 ceremonies.

We ve teamed up with Bupa Great North Run organisers and have a pair of tickets to give away to one lucky Athletics Weekly reader. Click here for further details and to enter (competition closes at midnight on Monday August 25, 2014).

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