Kenya will field an under-strength women’s team at this weekend’s World Half Marathon Championships in Valencia following the withdrawal of Fancy Chemutai and Mary Wacera. Chemutai, the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon champion and Wacera, the 2016 World Half Marathon bronze medallist’s exit leaves the defending champions with only three athletes in the women’s race including world half marathon record holder Joyciline Jepkosgei, Ruth Chepg’etich and Pauline Kaveke. She returns to Valencia, the same city, where she lowered the world record to 1:04:51 last year. In the men’s category, there was also a change as Alex Oloitiptip replaced two-time World Half Marathon silver Bedan Karoki before the final entries deadline. Each country will field five athletes with three to score for the team titles where Kenya will defending both titles.

Source: The Star March 22, 2018 20:37 UTC