8th March 2016

Farah Headlines Ten-strong Team For World Half

8 March 2016 

British Athletics has today 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 (coach: Alberto Salazar) 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 (Kevin Evans) will get a rousing reception around the course as he joins Callum Hawkins (Robert Hawkins) who set a half marathon personal best of 62:36 in Paris last weekend. Trials winner Ryan McLeod and Matthew Hynes (Stan Markley) occupy the other spots on the men’s team.

2014 European Cross Country champion Gemma Steel (John Nuttall) 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 (self-coached), 18th at the last edition in Copenhagen, and Charlotte Purdue (Nic Bideau) take their places in the squad while Rachel Felton (Christopher Frapwell) and Jenny Spink (Bruce Tulloh) will make their debut international appearances for the British Athletics team. Jess Coulson (Mick Woods), 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 (Alberto Salazar)

Dewi Griffiths (Kevin Evans)

Callum Hawkins (Robert Hawkins)

Matthew Hynes (Stan Markley)

Ryan McLeod

Women

Alyson Dixon (Self-coached)

Rachel Felton (Christopher Frapwell)

Charlotte Purdue (Nic Bideau)

Jenny Spink (Bruce Tulloh)

Gemma Steel (John Nuttall)