Cardiff is to host the International Association of Athletics FederationsÔÇÖ World Half Marathon in March 2016.┬á It was in the IAAFÔÇÖS council meeting on Friday in which it was announced.
It is the first time the event is being held in Cardiff and will see elite runners, as well as amateurs ,take to the streets of the capital. With the 2016 Olympics the same year, it is likely that many elite runners will use the event as preparation for their Olympic performance.
The event which has been previously staged in Bristol in 2001, Birmingham in 2009 and South Shields in 1992, is expected to see over 20,000 people compete with the hope of an appearance from Mo Farah.
This year was the first year that CardiffÔÇÖs annual Half Marathon was incorporated into the British Half Marathon Championships and saw more than 19,000 people participate with more than 40,000 spectators.
The 2016 event will follow the same route as the usual Cardiff Half Marathon, starting and finishing at the city centre. The notoriously flat route takes in some of CardiffÔÇÖs landmarks including Cardiff Bay, Cardiff City Football Club and the Wales Millennium Centre.
Previous Half Marathon runner Derek Neupauer called the plans ÔÇÿexcitingÔÇÖ stating that ÔÇÿitÔÇÖs a great sporting event that will cause a lot of excitement and buzz around CardiffÔÇÖ. He goes on to say that ÔÇÿthe thought of Mo Farah running past my house is exciting enoughÔÇÖ.
CardiffÔÇÖs Half Marathon course record was beaten this year by Kenyan Loitarakwai Lengurisi who got round the course in 61 minutes and 51 seconds. With the course known for being especially flat and fast, it is hoped that the worldÔÇÖs best athletes may challenge this record and their personal records alike.
Copenhagen is set to host the next World Championships in 2014.
Emma Giles
News Writer
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