This year’s edition of PZU Warsaw Half Marathon is surprising in terms of both Polish and overseas runners.
The biggest interest is surely connected with the start of the best Mexican runner Juan Louis Barrios coached by the legendary Polish trainer Tadeusz Kępka who as well was a coach of, among others, former world record holder Arturo Barrios (world record at 10,000 meters set in 1989 and world record at one hour run set in 1991) and the winners of marathons in New York (Salvador Garcia – 1991 and Andres Espinosa – 1993), London (Alejandro Cruz – 1988) and Chicago (three times winner Dionisio Ceron – 1994–1996). Juan Loius Barrios was a guest of last year’s races organized by Warsaw Marathon Foundation. This year, he decided to join the elite of the biggest race in Poland. Two runners i.e. Abraraw Misganaw from Ethiopia and Robert Wambua Mbithi form Kenya will probably hard on his heels – all the three runners have their personal bests under 1:02:00.
Equally interesting is the start of Artur Kozłowski – Polish Champion at marathon (2008, 2015), junior team European Vice-Champion at cross country running (2007) as well as of Szymon Kulka – junior European Champion at cross country running (2012). Fastest Pole of 10th PZU Warsaw Half Marathon, Adam Nowicki, will surely try to improve his last year’s result.
Among women in the elite will start, among others, Izabela Parszczyńska and current bronze medalist of Polish Championships at 10,000 m – Angelika Mach.
We will also host female overseas runners like our good friend from Ukraine, Svitlana Stanko, twice winner of the Warsaw Marathon. As usually, there will also start a strong representation of female runners from Kenya and Ethiopia with Hellen Jepkurgat and Alice Mogire on top – both with their personal bests under 1:10:00.
Men
Juan Luis Barrios, Meksyk, 1:00:46
Robert Wambua Mbithi, Kenia, 1:01:00
Abraraw Misganaw, Etiopia, 1:01:17
Justus Kanda, Kenia, 1:01:18
Loitarakwai Lengurisi, Kenia, 1:01:51
Boniface Kiprop Kongin, Kenia, 1:02:02
Daniel Muimbi Muteti, Kenia, 1:02:11
Artur Kozłowski, Polska, 1:03:36
Szymon Kulka, Polska, 1:03:39
Adam Nowicki, Polska, 1:04:34
Women
Alice Mogire, Kenia, 1:09:57
Perendis Lekapana, Kenia, 1:10:53
Svitlana Stanko, Ukraina, 1:12:09
Olha Kotovska, Ukraina, 1:12:14
Rasa Drazdauskaite, Litwa, 1:12:54
Gedamnesh Yayeh, Etiopia, 1:14:10
Angelika Mach, Polska, 1:17:38
Izabela Parszczyńska, Polska, 1:18:30
