ANTRIM COAST READY FOR A DAY OF ATHLETICS HISTORY AS WORLD- CLASS STARS LEAD 43-NATION RUNNING FESTIVAL
Mateiko v Lasoi headline the half marathon as world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech targets sub-15 minutes in inaugural Antrim Coast 5K
LARNE, NORTHERN IRELAND – THURSDAY 13 AUGUST 2026: The stage is set for one of the biggest days in the history of Northern Ireland road running as the Condor Executive Antrim Coast Half Marathon returns on Sunday 23 August, bringing together a world-class elite field, thousands of runners from 43 countries, hundreds of charity fundraisers and the inaugural Antrim Coast 5K featuring some of the biggest names in global athletics.
Now in its seventh edition, the World Athletics Elite Label race promises a
spectacular celebration of running on one of the world’s fastest and most scenic coastal courses — with world-class athletes competing at the front and thousands of personal stories unfolding throughout the field.
MATEIKO v LASOI — HISTORY IS THE TARGET
At the sharp end of the half marathon, all eyes will be on a potentially historic showdown between Kenyan stars Daniel Mateiko and Isaia Lasoi, with both targeting the unprecedented goal of becoming the first man to break 58 minutes for the half marathon on UK or Irish soil. Mateiko returns to the Antrim Coast as the UK & Ireland All-Comers Record holder, having run a sensational 58:36 on the course in 2023. Fresh from a 2:03:44 marathon in Tokyo earlier this year, he returns with unfinished business.
Standing in his way is 26-year-old Lasoi, whose 58:10 personal best places him among the fastest half marathon runners ever. The 2025 Boston Half Marathon winner arrives after his marathon debut in London and a series of major international podium performances.
And they will not have the course to themselves.
Kenya’s Samwel Chebolei, who has already broken 59 minutes twice in 2026, lines up alongside former Copenhagen Half Marathon champion Edward Cheserek, 2026 Malaga Half Marathon winner Vincent Kipkorir, 2025 Cardiff Half Marathon winner Yismaw Dillu and 2025 Seoul Marathon winner Little Nick Kitundu.
Adding further global star quality is American distance-running legend Galen Rupp, the double Olympic medallist and former Chicago Marathon champion, making his highly anticipated Antrim Coast debut. Britain’s Marc Scott, Ireland’s three-time national champion Hiko Tonosa and a host of international athletes will also battle for honours.
WORLD-CLASS WOMEN’S FIELD
The women’s race promises an equally compelling contest.
Ethiopia’s Girmawit Gebrzihair, with a stunning 64:14 personal best, heads a formidable field that includes Wede Kefale, former London Marathon runner-up Degitu Azimeraw, Uganda’s Sarah Chelangat, Rotterdam Marathon winner Mekides Shimeles, American Olympian Dakotah Popehn, with British Olympian Jess Warner-Judd leading the home challenge after an impressive period on the roads. Five-time Olympian Jo Pavey will also return for her seventh Antrim Coast, pacing the Sub-2-Hour group and giving hundreds of runners the opportunity to chase their personal goal alongside one of Britain’s greatest endurance athletes.
BEATRICE CHEPKOECH TO ATTACK 15-MINUTE BARRIER IN INAUGURAL
ANTRIM COAST 5K
Before the half marathon gets underway, the inaugural Antrim Coast 5K will provide another spectacular international showcase.
The new race is set to feature international teams from Ireland and Scotland, alongside a world-class field headed by Beatrice Chepkoech.
The Kenyan superstar, current 3000m steeplechase world record holder and former world champion, will take on the Antrim Coast 5K with an ambitious target of breaking the 15-minute barrier.
Chepkoech’s appearance adds another extraordinary dimension to an event already featuring one of the deepest elite half marathon fields ever assembled in the UK and Ireland. The men’s 5K will be headlined by former World Junior Champion Ermais Girma, who will lead a high-quality field as international teams and elite athletes battle over the fast Antrim Coast course. The inaugural 5K will therefore provide a race-within-a-race — with national and international pride, world-class athletes and the opportunity to witness a potentially historic performance before the half marathon takes centre stage.
43 COUNTRIES. THOUSANDS OF STORIES. HUNDREDS OF CHARITY
FUNDRAISERS
But while the elite athletes will chase records and podiums, the organisers are keen to emphasise that the Antrim Coast is ultimately about every runner.
Participants from 43 countries will line up alongside runners from across Northern Ireland, Ireland, Great Britain and beyond, creating a truly international celebration of running on the Antrim Coast.
Hundreds of runners will also take on the challenge while raising money for charities close to their hearts, turning thousands of individual journeys into a collective fundraising effort.
The event will bring together elite international athletes, club runners, first-time half marathoners, families, charity runners and some of the world’s most accomplished endurance athletes on the same start line.
Race Director Ruth McIlroy said:
“This is what makes the Antrim Coast so special. We have some of the fastest athletes on the planet coming here to chase history, but at exactly the same time we have thousands of ordinary people achieving extraordinary things for themselves, their families and the charities they care about.
“This year we have taken another major step forward. The Mateiko-Lasoi battle could produce the first sub-58-minute half marathon ever run on UK or Irish soil, while Beatrice Chepkoech will be targeting the 15-minute barrier in our inaugural 5K.
“We have runners travelling from 43 countries, hundreds fundraising for charity and an elite field that is quite simply extraordinary. “But every single runner has their own story. That is what we want people to
celebrate on 23 August. “We want the entire Antrim Coast to come alive. Come out, cheer the runners, support the charities and enjoy what promises to be an incredible day for Northern Ireland.”
WATCH LIVE — FROM THE ANTRIM COAST TO THE WORLD
The Condor Executive Antrim Coast Half Marathon will be broadcast live around the world on Sunday 23 August, bringing the spectacular Antrim Coast, the world- class elite field and thousands of runners from 43 countries to a global audience. Live coverage begins at 10:15am BST, ahead of the 11:00am half marathon start.
Fans can watch the race live:
On the official Antrim Coast Half Marathon website
Across all World Athletics digital platforms
On FloSports TV across North America
The live broadcast will feature an expert commentary team of:
TIM HUTCHINGS | KEVIN ENGLISH | SCOTT OVERALL
Three highly respected voices from the world of athletics will guide viewers through the morning’s action — from the elite battles at the front to the thousands of runners chasing their own personal goals throughout the field.
World Athletics will stream the race across its digital platforms to a potential global audience of more than five million viewers, while FloSports will provide coverage across the United States and Canada.
The official event website will also carry the live coverage from 10:15am BST.
COME OUT AND CHEER
For those who want to experience the action in person, there are numerous opportunities to see the world’s best athletes alongside thousands of runners taking on the course.
Larne Town Centre provides an opportunity to watch the start before seeing the leaders pass through the 5km point.
Drains Bay at 10km offers spectacular coastal views, while Carnfunnock Country Park provides one of the most scenic viewing locations on the course.
At Ballygally Village, spectators can witness the runners make the turn back towards Larne, creating one of the loudest points on the course.
And for the ultimate race-day experience, the Sandy Bay Finish Hub will feature a giant LED screen showing the live action, finish grandstand, live music, food village and bar, with the first 300 metres of the promenade remaining open to spectators.
RACE DAY TIMETABLE
9:00am — Condor Executive Antrim Coast 5K starts
10:15am — Live global broadcast begins
11:00am — Condor Executive Antrim Coast Half Marathon starts
Approx. 11:57am — Elite men's half marathon winner expected
Road closures begin from 7:00am, with spectators strongly encouraged to arrive early. Car parks open at 7:00am and spectators should aim to be parked by 9:00am.
A DAY OF ATHLETICS. A DAY FOR EVERYONE.
From Beatrice Chepkoech chasing 15 minutes in the inaugural 5K, to Daniel Mateiko and Isaia Lasoi chasing the first sub-58-minute half marathon on UK or Irish soil, the 2026 Condor Executive Antrim Coast Half Marathon is set to deliver a morning of extraordinary international athletics.
But beyond the world-class performances will be 43 nations, thousands of runners, hundreds of charity stories and tens of thousands of people cheering them on. The world’s best are coming to the Antrim Coast.
Now it’s time for Northern Ireland to come out and cheer them home.
SUNDAY 23 AUGUST 2026
43 COUNTRIES. WORLD-CLASS ATHLETES. THOUSANDS OF RUNNERS.
HUNDREDS OF CHARITY STORIES. ONE SPECTACULAR ANTRIM COAST.
COME OUT. CHEER THEM ON. WATCH LIVE. BE PART OF IT.
For race information and live coverage:
ENDS
Antrim Coast Half Marathon would like to say a huge thank our partners who make this event happen:
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