This year's Road Running Championships half marathon is, in effect, the Copenhagen Half Marathon. Chances are you're familiar with the Copenhagen Half Marathon — it's a bona fide fast course.

In 2019, Kenyan Geoffrey Kamworor ran 58:01 in Copenhagen, lowering the men's half marathon world record by 22 seconds.

贾俄仁加 once ran a half-marathon PB of 1:02:34 here. Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who last weekend won the 5000 m at the World Athletics Ultimate Champions meet, ran his first half here; this year he will contest the 5 km.

In 2024, Sabastian Sawe won in Copenhagen in 58:05; in 2025, Nicholas Kipkorir ran 58:23 here.

On the women's side, in 2021 Tsehay Gemechu ran 1:05:08 here, which remains the Copenhagen women's course record.

Copenhagen's half marathon course is famed for being flat and fast, so the many quick times are no accident. The 2026 World Championships half marathon uses the same route as the 2024 and 2025 Copenhagen races.

For elite athletes it means conditions conducive to record attempts: flat surface, late-September Copenhagen temperatures around 15°C, and possibly some wind from the Baltic — generally within acceptable limits. For recreational runners, it also means a chance at personal bests.

The focus of the women's half marathon is almost inevitably on Agnes Ngetich.

The 25-year-old Kenyan is on a striking upward trajectory. In January 2026 she won the senior title at the World Cross Country Championships — her first world-level title. Her half-marathon PB of 1:03:04 ranks second in history, behind Letesenbet Gidey's 1:02:52 world record set in Valencia in 2021.

Notably, Ngetich holds the road 10 km world record (28:46), a pace that leaves her with a huge "speed reserve" over the half-marathon distance.

If Ngetich can claim both the world cross-country title and the world road title in the same season, it would be a rare achievement in the history of long-distance running.

Of course, we also hope for a new women's half-marathon world record—breaking the record carries an extra $50,000 bonus, and the total prize money of $80,000 is certainly enticing.

Her main rival is Ethiopia's Tsigie Gebreselama, who finished fourth in the half at the 2023 Riga Road World Championships and therefore has experience competing for medals at major global events. Also entered is Uruguay's Julia Paternain, the World Championships marathon bronze medallist, representing the rising strength of South American distance running.

The U.S. team is also worth watching. North American half-marathon record-holder Weini Kelati leads the squad, and the selection story around the U.S. team has been dramatic in itself.

At the U.S. Championships, Jess McClain, Emma Grace Hurley and Ednah Kurgat went off course due to a guide error; World Athletics made an exception to allow them to compete as additional entries, but they will not count toward team points. That episode adds extra narrative to the U.S. team's trip to Copenhagen.

If the women's half has a clear focal figure, the men's race is far more open—arguably the most suspenseful edition in recent years.

Nicholas Kipkorir is the fastest name on the start list. The Kenyan ran 58:08 at the Lisbon half in March this year, the tenth-fastest time in world history. He also won the 2025 Copenhagen half in 58:23, giving him a direct "home-track" feel for this course.

But Kipkorir has challengers. Sweden's Andreas Almgren ran 58:41 in Valencia last year, setting a European record; the 10,000m world silver medallist is turning his track speed into road dominance.

Uganda's Joshua Cheptegei, a multiple Olympic and World Championship gold medallist, hasn't posted standout road times, but his major-championship experience and finishing kick make him a threat on any course.

Another Kenyan, Daniel Ebenyo, arrives in Copenhagen with unfinished business. At the 2023 Riga Road World Championships half he took silver in 59:14, losing to teammate Sabastian Sawe. Since then he has taken bronze at the World Cross Country Championships and silver at the World 10,000m Championships; the only thing missing is a half-marathon world title gold.

There's another variable you can't ignore: Jimmy Gressier. The French 10,000m world champion has made a bold decision to enter both the 5 km and the half marathon.

The 5 km is scheduled for September 19 at 2:40 p.m., with the half starting the next morning at 9:45—a recovery window of only 19 hours and 5 minutes. In the 5 km, Gressier is the fastest on paper—this April in Lille he ran 12:51, just 2 seconds off the world record—but his half-marathon PB of 59:45 ranks only 13th on the list, and he has not raced a half this year (2026).

For Jimmy, is this a carefully calculated gamble or an overly optimistic risk? The answer will be revealed on Copenhagen's roads.

04

China's eight:

Finding their place on the biggest stage

China has fielded four men and four women for the half marathon.

On the men's side they are led by 仁青东知布 from Qinghai, who ran a personal best of 1:02:15 at the Meishan Renshou half in March this year; the former National Games marathon champion appears to have regained his form.

Yunnan’s Jiang Fakun ran 1:01:58 in 2025 to become the second Chinese man to go under 62 minutes. Sichuan’s Ma Rui and Yunnan’s Wang Tao also broke the 1:03 barrier; the four make up China’s men’s half‑marathon team for the Road Running World Championships.

On the women’s side, Henan’s Liang Tiantian is the most watched name. The 21‑year‑old swept the 5,000 m and 10,000 m golds at this year’s National Athletics Championships; her half‑marathon PB is 1:08:33, marking her as a representative of China’s top tier in the women’s half.

Sichuan’s He Wuxia has a PB of 1:08:30, one of the few Chinese women to crack the 1:09 barrier, and she has a degree of international racing experience.

Xia Yuyu and Yang Yiting were named to the team with PBs of 1:10:07 and 1:10:27 respectively; the latter is a highly promising member of the new generation.

It must be acknowledged that Chinese PBs lag considerably behind top Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes — roughly four minutes in the men’s field and about five minutes in the women’s.

The half‑marathon also features a team competition. For each delegation only four athletes’ results count toward the team standings, and only those four are eligible for medals, official prize money and the team result.

So besides chasing individual breakthroughs, China’s objective is to contest team placings. Especially on the women’s side, if they can beat teams like the USA or Japan there is a real chance of standing on the podium.

Of course, for these eight young Chinese athletes, racing alongside the world’s best is itself a valuable growth experience.

05

5 km and 1 mile,

Who will win?

First, let’s look at the 5 km races:

On the men’s side, France’s Jimmy Gressier leads with 12:51 — just 2 seconds off the world record; Ethiopia’s Yihune ran 12:54 in Lille and follows closely. The two will meet again.

Norway’s Ingebrigtsen, who just won the 5,000 m at the World Ultimate Championships, turns to the roads a week later; his track 5,000 m PB of 12:48.45 makes him the biggest wildcard.

The women’s race is wide open. Kenya’s Caroline Nyaga brings experience; the Netherlands’ Diane van Es holds the European road 5 km record (14:33); Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw won last year’s Copenhagen half and has just run 14:30.36 for 5,000 m.

Ugandan youngster Charity Cherop and American veterans Courtney Frerichs and Karissa Schweizer are also ones to watch.

©ig@Jimmy

Now let’s turn to the 1‑mile races:

On the men’s side, Portugal’s Isaac Nader, the world 1500 m champion, leads the field. North American 1‑mile record‑holder Yared Nuguse of the USA will make his first appearance at the Road Running World Championships — his finishing speed suits this distance especially well.

Belgium’s Pieter Sisk just set a new national road 1‑mile record (3:58.52) before the meet and is in fine form. Spain, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and others have all sent their strongest middle‑distance runners; the depth of the entry list means this race is likely to be decided in the final moments.

On the women’s side, Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu is the top favorite — she won 1‑mile silver at the Riga Worlds and has taken Diamond League titles at 3,000 m and 5,000 m this year. American rising star Addy Wiley posted a world‑leading 4:25.42 this season; Australia’s Olympic 1500 m silver medallist Jessica Hull also has the kick to contest for medals.

China did not enter any athletes in either of these two events.

Start times for the three categories (Beijing Time):

September 19, 16:10: Women's 1 mile

September 19, 16:30: Men's 1 mile

September 19, 20:10: Women's 5 km

September 19, 20:40: Men's 5 km

September 20, 15:10: Women's half marathon

September 20, 15:45: Men's half marathon 

So, who do you think will take the title?