21 January 2016

Mo Farah (coach: Alberto Salazar) has made himself available for selection to the British Athletics team for the IAAF/Cardiff University World Half Marathon Championship in Cardiff on Saturday 26 March.

The Olympic champion over 5000m and 10,000m will target the race in front of a home crowd to boost his preparations ahead of another tilt at double gold on the track at the Rio Olympic Games in August.

Five-time world champion Farah would make his debut appearance at these Championships if he is selected. British Athletics will announce the team on 7 March with Farah currently the British and European record holder over the 13.1 mile distance.

Farah commented: ““I am pleased to announce that I am available for selection for the British team in Cardiff at the IAAF / Cardiff University World Half Marathon Championships. 

“I’ve never run at the World Half-Marathon Championships before, and I know the standard is incredibly high with athletes who really target and train specifically for the event, so I know it will be a hard race. 

"It will be a good chance to try to claim another World title and I know that the British fans will be out in force.  I always get amazing support whenever I race in the UK and I hope this will help me along the way.”

The 32 year-old added: “My primary aim for 2016 is the Olympic Games in Rio in August but this race will be a good way to build my endurance before I return to the track in the summer.  I hear the course in Cardiff is very fast and it may take a personal best to win the race but I’m up for the challenge."

The 22nd edition on the IAAF World Half Marathon Championship will return to the UK for the first time since 2009 and for the first time ever in Wales. It will also offer 25,000 runners of all ages and abilities the chance to compete in a mass participation race along the fast, flat and iconic course around the Welsh capital.

Matt Newman, Chief Executive of Cardiff 2016 delivery organisation Run 4 Wales, said: “We are absolutely thrilled Mo Farah has put himself forward for selection for the British Athletics team competing at the IAAF/Cardiff University World Half Marathon Championships on 26 March 2016.

“It’s a major coup for Cardiff 2016; Mo’s appearance has always been a key ambition for us and this news will give a huge boost in the final nine weeks of preparation.

“The Welsh public will get a rare chance to witness one of athletics’ global stars competing around their capital city.

“As well as the elite races, Cardiff 2016 also provides a mass race for all levels of runners to compete alongside Mo Farah by ‘Running in the Footsteps of Champions’. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and we would urge everyone to sign-up before the February 29th deadline.”

To register to run in the mass race at Cardiff 2016 visit www.cardiff2016.co.uk/register/