Farah headlines ten-strong team for IAAF/Cardiff University World Half Marathon Championships
British Athletics has announced a ten-strong team for the IAAF / Cardiff University World Half Marathon Championships which will be held on Saturday 26 March in South Wales.
Mo Farah (handicap -6.8) will headline the men’s team later this month as he makes his debut at these championships. The double Olympic, World and European champion last competed in the UK over 3000m at the Glasgow Indoor Grand Prix and is excited at the prospect of racing in front of another home crowd in South Wales.
Farah said: “I am looking forward to running on the British team at the IAAF / Cardiff University World Half Marathon Championships in Cardiff. It will be my first time to compete at this Championship but I have been training hard and hope to perform well.
“I always enjoy racing in front of a home crowd and I’m sure they will give myself and the rest of the British team, fantastic support as they line the streets of the city,” added the European record holder over the half-marathon (59:32).
Five-time Welsh cross country champion Dewi Griffiths (handicap -5.7) will get a rousing reception around the course as he joins Callum Hawkins (handicap -6.3) who set a half marathon personal best of 62:36 in Paris last weekend. Trials winner Ryan McLeod (handicap -5.2) and Matthew Hynes (handicap -4.2) occupy the other spots on the men’s team.
2014 European Cross Country champion Gemma Steel (handicap -2.1) leads the way in the women’s team and will be looking to improve upon a seventh place finish at the 2012 edition of the event in Bulgaria.
Alyson Dixon (handicap -1.4), 18th at the last edition in Copenhagen, and Charlotte Purdue (handicap -0.2) take their places in the squad while Rachel Felton (handicap -0.3) and Jenny Spink (handicap -0.4) will make their debut international appearances for the British Athletics team. Jess Coulson (handicap -0.3), who won the Trials in Cardiff last October, was not available for selection.
Team Leader Spencer Duval spoke after the announcement: “There is some great British history in these championships with Paula Radcliffe and Liz McColgan winning at previous editions and I am really looking forward to seeing the team tackle the course at the IAAF / Cardiff World Half Marathon Championships.
“It is a great opportunity for the team to contest a major championship on home soil and I have every faith that they will take advantage of the support from the British public on the route. It will be a fantastic development opportunity for some of the athletes and those who are preparing for the Virgin Money London Marathon (Olympic Trials event) in April.”
British Athletics team for the IAAF / Cardiff University World Half Marathon Championships on Saturday 26 March 2016:
Men
Mo Farah (handicap -6.8)
Dewi Griffiths (handicap -5.7)
Callum Hawkins (handicap -6.3)
Matthew Hynes (handicap -4.2)
Ryan McLeod (handicap -5.2)
Women
Alyson Dixon (handicap -1.4)
Rachel Felton (handicap -0.3)
Charlotte Purdue (handicap -0.2)
Jenny Spink (handicap -0.4)
Gemma Steel (handicap -2.1)