The Ethiopian distance running sensation and second fastest women of all time (64min 46seconds), Yalemzaf Yehuwalaw has confirmed that the Antrim Coast HalfMarathon will be one of only four events she will race in 2021, and the first after the Tokyo Olympics.
The athlete’s agent confirmed Yalemzaf will be making a serious attempt at the current Women’s World record (currently 64 min 31 sec) on the Antrim coast, and after watching last year’s race believe the fast course along with the amazing atmosphere will help get the best out of the 21-year-old.
Yalemzerf Yehualaw finished third at last year’s World Championship after leading for most of the race before tripping on the finishing straight mat.
Yalemzerf will be joined by Ethiopian team-mates Yitasyish Mekonnen and Tsehay Gemechu at this year’s event. Tsehay Gemechu a two-time winner and course record holder at the prestigious New Delhi Half Marathon has a personal best from 2020 of 66 min 0 sec, as well as finishing fourth at the 2019 World Championships over 10,000metres and sixth at the World Cross country championships.
Tsehay, went on to break distance legend Tirunesh Dibaba’s Ethiopian 10km road record last year with a hugely impressive 30 min 15 seconds. The African stars will be joined by early confirmed British Internationals, Jo Pavey, Sam Harrison, Tracy Barlow and Kirsty Longley.