Former marathon world record holder Kosgei heads Lisbon Half elite field

The Kenyan Brigid Kosgei will be the top contender, looking for her first win at one of the fastest half marathons in the world.

Kosgei, 30, a previous marathon world record holder and still the third fastest woman ever (2:14:04), returns to Portugal for the fourth time, after coming second in 2022 in the same EDP Lisbon Half Marathon (1:06:46).

Besides Kosgei, the women’s elite field will feature other big names, such as the Ethiopians Bosena Mulatie (65.46) and Tigist Menigstu (66:20), and the Kenyan Betty Chepkemoi Kibet (66:37). All of them will be targeting the course record set last year by Almaz Ayana (1:05:30), but we can expect fast times, especially because there will be a bonus of EUR 150,000 for a new world record (Letesenbet Gidey, 62:52).

In the men’s field – also with a EUR 150,000 bonus for a world record (which was set by Jacob Kiplimo in this same course in 2021 (57:31) – the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon will have 10 athletes with personal bests below the hour. Kenyan Abraham Kiptum (59:09) and the Ethiopian Solomon Berihu (59:17) are the main contenders, but they will have strong competition from Dinkalem Ayele (59:30), Brian Kwemoi (59:37) and Bravin Kipkogei Kiptoo (59:37). Another athlete to keep an eye on is the American Leonard Korir, who will aim to break the national record of Ryan Hall (59:43).

Also, EDP Lisbon Half Marathon will have a few of the best European athletes, such as the Norwegian Sondre Moen (59:48), the Italian Eyob Ghebrehiwet Faniel (60:07) or the Germans Amanal Petros (60:00) and Hendrik Pfeiffer (62:05). Final mention to the Brazilian Daniel do Nascimento, who will also try to break the national record of Brazil (59:33 – Marílson dos Santos, in 2007).