WORLD-CLASS ELITE FIELD ANNOUNCED FOR 2026 CONDOR EXECUTIVE ANTRIM COAST HALF MARATHON

Press Release, Thursday 02 July 2026

Strongest Half Marathon Elite Field Ever Assembled in UK & Ireland Set for Antrim Coast Olympians, major marathon champions and sub-59-minute stars to headline spectacular World Athletics Gold Label event. 

The 2026 Condor Executive Antrim Coast Half Marathon has today unveiled what is widely regarded as the strongest elite half marathon field ever assembled in the history of the United Kingdom and Ireland, bringing together Olympic medallists, World Championship finalists, major marathon winners and some of the fastest road runners on the planet.

The World Athletics Elite Label event will once again attract the very best athletes from across the globe, with an extraordinary line-up featuring athletes from Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Great Britain, Ireland and the United States. The race will also showcase the best domestic talent as representative teams from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales compete on one of the fastest courses in the world. 

Adding to the event's growing global profile, the race will be streamed live worldwide by World Athletics, while audiences across North America will watch live on FloSports, delivering the spectacular Antrim Coast scenery and world-class racing to millions of viewers.

Women's Race Packed with International Stars Leading the women's field is Ethiopian sensation Girmawit Gebrzihair, whose outstanding personal best of 64:14 places her among the fastest athletes ever entered into the event. The 2022 Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon champion also arrives after finishing runner-up at the 2025 Valencia 10km.

Joining her is fellow Ethiopian Wede Kefale (65:21), third at the 2025 Copenhagen Half Marathon and fourth at this year's Valencia 10km, alongside one of the world's premier marathon runners, Degitu Azimeraw, whose remarkable marathon best of 2:17:58 includes victories in Barcelona and a runner-up finish at the London Marathon. Uganda's Sarah Chelangat, runner-up at the 2026 Paris Half Marathon, adds further quality with a best of 66:31, while Kenya's former World Junior Champion Mercy Chebwogen (66:32) brings championship pedigree to the field.

British hopes will be led by Olympian Jess Warner-Judd, who has enjoyed an outstanding period on the roads with top performances at both the London and New York Marathons.

The United States will field an exceptionally strong challenge through Annie Frisbie, twice an eighth-place finisher at the Boston Marathon, and Dakotah Popehn, an Olympic marathon finalist who returns after finishing third on the Antrim Coast in 2025. 

The depth continues with Ethiopian rising star Mekides Shimeles, winner of the 2026 Rotterdam Marathon, and experienced British international Lily Partridge, ensuring an exceptionally competitive contest from start to finish. Men's Field Features Olympic Legends and Sub-59 Specialists. The men's race promises to be potentially the fastest ever staged on UK and Irish soil.

Kenya's Isaia Lasoi arrives with a stunning personal best of 58:10, while former Antrim Coast champion and UK & Ireland All-Comers Record holder Daniel Mateiko returns to the course where he produced one of the greatest performances in race history. 

Mateiko remains one of the fastest athletes ever to race in Britain or Ireland. Joining them are fellow Kenyan Samwel Chebolei (58:48), recent Prague Half Marathon runner-up, and former Copenhagen Half Marathon champion Edward Cheserek. Ethiopia's exciting young star Yismaw Dillu, winner of the 2025 Cardiff Half Marathon, continues his rapid rise after breaking the one hour barrier, while Kenya's Vincent Kipkorir enters following victory at the 2026 Malaga Half Marathon.

One of the standout names is Ethiopian marathon star Mohamed Esa, whose marathon credentials include runner-up finishes in both the Boston and Chicago Marathons before claiming victory at the 2026 Cape Town Marathon. 

The international spotlight will also shine on American distance-running legend Galen Rupp, a two-time Olympic medallist whose career includes victories at the Chicago Marathon and podium finishes in Boston and at the Olympic Games. Home fans will be excited to welcome Great Britain's Marc Scott, World Indoor 3000m bronze medallist and one of Britain's finest distance runners, while Ireland's challenge will be spearheaded by three-time national champion Hiko Tonosa.

Completing an extraordinary field is Kenya's emerging marathon star Little Nick Kitundu, winner of the 2025 Seoul Marathon. A Truly Global Showcase the quality and depth across both elite races underlines the growing international reputation of the Condor Executive Antrim Coast Half Marathon, which continues to attract many of the world's fastest road runners while providing one of the sport's most picturesque race experiences. With athletes capable of challenging course records, fiercely contested international team competition between England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and live global television coverage, the 2026 edition promises to deliver one of the highlights of the international road racing calendar. 

Race Director Ruth McIlroy said: "To assemble a field of this calibre is a huge statement for the Condor Executive Antrim Coast Half Marathon and for athletics across the UK and Ireland. We have Olympic medallists, major marathon champions, world-class half marathon specialists and some of the sport's brightest emerging talents all racing on the Antrim Coast. Combined with our international team competition and global broadcast coverage through World Athletics and FloSports, we believe this will be the highest-quality half marathon ever staged in these islands and another unforgettable day for athletes, spectators and viewers around the world."

The 2026 Condor Executive Antrim Coast Half Marathon takes place on Sunday 23 August on its stunning World Athletics Elite Label course along Northern Ireland's spectacular Antrim Coast, with thousands of participants set to join the elite athletes for one of the world's premier road running  events. The 5K race starts at 9:00am, followed by the half marathon at 11:00am, with live global coverage beginning at 10:15am via World Athletics, FloSports across North America, and live streaming on the official event website, allowing fans around the world to watch all the action unfold live from the Antrim Coast.

You can view the full Elite Start List for 2026 here.