Beatrice Chebet and co. heading to Barcelona with world record in sight

ATHLETICS Beatrice Chebet and co. heading to Barcelona with world record in sight

Abigael Wafula 13:29 - 26.12.2023

Beatrice Chebet will lead a strong contingent to the Cursa dels Nassos road race in Barcelona with the main goal being to break the women's 5km world record.

Reigning World Cross-country champion Beatrice Chebet will headline a strong field for the Cursa dels Nassos road race in Barcelona, scheduled for Sunday 31 December.

Chebet will be joined by compatriots Lilian Kasait and Ethiopia’s Ejgayehu Taye, who finished first, second, and third respectively at the World Road Running Championships in Riga.

Their presence is a major highlight of the Cursa dels Nassos 2023, with the ambitious goal of breaking the women's world record for the five-kilometer race during the event.

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"We have made a very clear commitment to top-tier female representation. Having the podium from the last world championship in road athletics will establish us as a global reference in women's sports," stated David Escudé, the Sports Councilor of Barcelona City Council as quoted by Watch Athletics.

Escudé announced during the race presentation press conference held at the Joan Antoni Samaranch Olympic and Sports Museum in Barcelona.

Escudé emphasized that the primary objective of the competition was to break the world record for the women’s 5km road race. The current world record stands at 14:29.

Meanwhile, the men's category will see the participation of refugee athlete Dominic Lobalu from South Sudan, residing in Switzerland. 

Noteworthy runners, including 18 athletes clocking less than 14:00, will compete in the event, among them Spanish athletes Ilias Fifa and Abdessamad Oukhelfen.

The event has seen strong registration numbers, with approximately 9,000 runners already signed up. Notably, there is a historic 33% female participation and 30% beginners, highlighting the growing appeal and inclusivity of the competition.

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