Geoffrey Kamworor and Joyciline Jepkosgei attack the Barcelona Half Marathon titles

Two-time New York City Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor and 2021 London Marathon winner Joyciline Jepkosgei will compete in the Barcelona Half Marathon on February 16. Barcelona will be Geoffrey Kamworor’s first race of the 2025 season. His last was a fifth-place finish (2:08:50 hours) at the New York City Marathon on November 3.

The 32-year-old Kenyan enters the race as a seasoned half marathon specialist with an outstanding record. He is a three-time world half marathon champion – Copenhagen 2014 (59:08 min), Cardiff 2016 (59:10 min) and Valencia 2018 (1:00:02 hours).

His road race resume includes triumphs at the 2019 Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon (58:54 min), the 2019 Copenhagen Half Marathon (58:54 min), and the 2019 Copenhagen Half Marathon (58:54 min), as well as the 2011 Lille Half Marathon (1:00:02 hours).

Geoffrey Kamworor faces stiff competition from Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo, the 2020 Olympic 10,000m bronze medalist, who will use the race to fine-tune his preparations for his 42km debut at the London Marathon on April 27.

Jacob Kiplimo won the 2020 world half marathon title in Poland, where he clocked 58:49 min ahead of Kibiwott Kandie (58:54 min) and Ethiopian Amedework Walelegn (59:08 min).

He won the 2021 Lisbon Half Marathon (57:31 min), 2022 Ras al Khaimah (57:56 min), 2022 Newcastle (59:33 min) and 2023 New York (1:01:31 hours).

New York City Marathon champion Abdi Nageeye (Netherlands) will also compete.

Defending women’s champion Joyciline Jepkosgei will try to retain her crown after running 1:04:29 hours last year ahead of Ethiopian athlete Senbere Teferi (1:04:40 hours) and Gladys Chepkurui (1:06:34 hours).