Two-time New York Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor and 2021 London Marathon winner Joyciline Jepkosgei spearhead Kenya’s assault at the Barcelona Half Marathon on February 16.
Barcelona marks Kamworor’s first race of the 2025 season. His last was a fifth-place finish ( 2:08:50 ) at the New York Marathon on November 3.
However, the 32-year-old heads into the race as a seasoned half-marathon specialist with an illustrious record. He is a three-time World Half Marathon champion — Copenhagen 2014 ( 59:08 ), Cardiff 2016 ( 59:10 ) and Valencia 2018 ( 1:00:02 ).
His road racing resume includes triumphs at the 2019 Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon ( 58:54 ), 2019 Copenhagen Half Marathon ( 58:01 ) and the 2011 Lille Half Marathon ( 1:00:02 ).
Kamworor has secured multiple runners-up finishes at the New Delhi Half Marathon — 2014 ( 59:07 ), 2011 ( 59:31 ) and 2013 ( 59:30 ). He clocked 59:38 at the 2021 Istanbul Half Marathon to finish second behind compatriot Kibiwott Kandie ( 59:35 ).
Kamworor faces tough competition from Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo, the 2020 Olympic 10,000m bronze medallist, who’ll be using the race to fine-tune his preparations for his 42km debut at the London Marathon on April 27.
Kiplimo won the 2020 world title in Poland, where he clocked 58:49 ahead of Kandie ( 58:54 ) and Ethiopia’s Amedework Walelegn ( 59:08 ).
He won the 2021 Lisbon Half Marathon ( 57:31 ), 2022 Ras Al Khaimah ( 57:56 ), 2022 Newcastle ( 59:33 ) and 2023 New York ( 1:01:31 ).
New York Marathon champion Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands spices up the race.
His half-marathon triumphs include last year’s Loop Den Haag ( 1:00:21 ) and the 2019 Marugame Half Marathon ( 1:00:24 ).
Last year’s third-place finisher Roncer Konga, 2023 World Half Marathon bronze medallist Samwel Mailu, Bernard Kibet and Josphat Kiprono are also in the mix.
Others are debutants Julius Kiplimo, Edwin Kisalsak and Geoffrey Kiboy.
Defending women’s champion Jepkosgei will seek to retain her crown after clocking 1:04:29 last year ahead of Ethiopia’s Senbere Teferi ( 1:04:40 ) and Gladys Chepkurui ( 1:06:34 ). Jepkosgei is no stranger to the Barcelona course having finished as runners-up in 2023 ( 1:04:46 behind Irene Kimais ( 1:04:37 ) and ahead of Catherine Reline ( 1:05:39 ).
She has a silver medal from the 2018 World Half Marathon Championships ( 1:06:54 ) and victories in Valencia 2017 ( 1:04:51 ), Prague 2017 ( 1:04:52 ) and Berlin 2021 ( 1:05:16 ).
Gladys Chepkurui seeks to improve on last year’s third-place finish.
