Kenya’s Kibiwott Kandie is one of the major highlights in the elite list of athletes for next month’s Valencia Half Marathon in eastern Spain.

Kandie, 27, brags of winning the race on two occasions in 2020 and last year, going on top of the world after smashing the World Record for the Half Marathon when he clocked 57:32 in the 2020 edition.

The other Kenyans listed in the elite category includes Mathew Kimeli, Sebastian Sawe, Patrick Mosin, Brian Kwemoi, Weldon Langat, Laban Kiplimo, Eric Sang, Kelvin Kibiwott, Josphat Kiprotich, Hillary Kipkoech and Bravin Kiprop.

Their chase for on the streets of Valencia is expected to face a big test from the Ethiopians who are winless in the race since 2019, especially being thrashed by the Kenyans.

Yomif Kejelcha who tasted victory in 2019 will lead Ethiopia’s pool of long distance runners,scheming how to reclaim the title.

Olympic champion and the 2023 World Championships bronze medalist in men’s 10,000 Selemon Baraga is also part of the Ethiopian contingent for the Valencia showdown next month.

Margaret Chelimo, the 2022 Edreams Mitja Marato Barcelona Half Marathon champion is poised for another career glory in road racing after entering the competition that is set for October 22.

The Nandi County based athlete has had some great outings on the track,having a silver medal in the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar before adding a bronze medal to her collection from the Eugene Championships last year in women’s 10,000m.

Ethiopia’s Melat Kejeta entered the race with the best time in the women’s category this year, having timed 1:0518 when she won a silver medal three years ago in Poland at the World Half Marathon Championships.

Her compatriot Gotytom Gebreslase who won a silver medal last month in the Women’s Marathon at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest has been labelled as the pre-event favourite.

Gotytom is the 2021 Berlin Marathon winner and she also takes pride in winning the 2022 World Athletics marathon in Eugene,Oregon in USA.

Coach of the international elite runners for the Valencia Half Marathon Marc Roig says he expects records to be broken in this year’s edition.

“Valencia proves that it is,once again the race chosen by the world elite to beat their records.The return of last year’s winners in men’s category is a sign that the race is well liked. We expect some great records as well as national records and to finish the year with the fastest world record of the year for both men and women”, Roig said.

The revamped route of the Valencia course will continue to offer the opportunity for outstanding performances in a race long established at the top level worldwide.