The stage is set for a historic showdown on the iconic Antrim Coast Road, as the 2025 Condor Executive Antrim Coast Half Marathon officially unveils what is being hailed as the strongest elite field ever assembled in UK and Irish distance running history.

Over 100 elite athletes representing 19 nations across four continents will descend on Northern Ireland this August, with a further 40 plus countries represented in the mass race, making the 2025 edition not just a world-class competition, but a truly global celebration of endurance, unity, and elite performance. With a course renowned for its breathtaking coastal backdrop and fast times, the Antrim Coast Half Marathon continues to raise the bar for road racing on these shores.

“This is without doubt the most competitive elite field we’ve ever assembled, not just in the history of the event, but in the history of distance running on these islands,” said James McIlroy, Race Director of the Antrim Coast Half Marathon. “To have multiple Olympic and World Champions, world record holders, and rising stars all coming to Northern Ireland is a massive moment for the sport, and for this event. It shows how far we’ve come in a very short time, and we’re incredibly proud to be able to host these athletes on what we believe is one of the most spectacular race routes in the world.”

Leading the men’s charge is none other than Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda, multiple Olympic and World Champion and world record holder over both the 5,000m (12:35) and 10,000m (26:10). At just 28, Cheptegei’s long-awaited debut on the Antrim Coast will mark a major moment in global distance running.

Antrim Coast Half Marathon

Lining up alongside him is a man widely regarded as one of the greatest road runners of all time, Kenya’s Geoffrey Kamworor. A three-time World Half Marathon Champion, three-time World Cross Country Champion, and former half marathon world record holder, Kamworor returns to peak form following a 2:04 victory in the Rotterdam Marathon and a blistering 58:44 in Barcelona.

They are joined by Ethiopia’s Mohamed Esa, a three-time World Major Marathon silver medallist, fresh off a 2nd-place finish at the 2024 Chicago Marathon. Another formidable contender, Kenya’s Erick Sang, enters the race having recently broken into the elite 2:04 marathon club with a 2:04:30 finish in Hamburg and a win at the 2025 Den Haag Half Marathon.

Also confirmed is European star Sondre Nordstad Moen of Norway, a trailblazer who became the first European to break both the 60 minute half marathon and 2:06 marathon barriers. Moen brings winning form into Antrim after victories in Muscat and a strong showing at the London Marathon.

British and Irish hopes will be represented by Olympians Phil Seseman, Callum Hawkins, and Paul O’Donnell. Seseman, a two-time top 8 finisher at the London Marathon, brings consistency and grit. Hawkins, who twice placed 4th at the World Championships, looks to rediscover his podium form, while Ireland’s O’Donnell has been turning heads with a new PB of 2:10 in Congers, New York earlier this year.

In the women’s race, all eyes will be on Kenya’s Lillian Kasait, the fourth-fastest woman in history over the half marathon (1:03:32) and a former World Junior Champion. Her debut on the Antrim Coast is expected to be one of the highlights of the international season. She will be pushed by Ethiopia’s Mizan Alem, a rising star and former World Junior Champion who recently made headlines by winning the prestigious Seven Hills Road Race.

Also in the mix is Ethiopia’s Bertukan Welde, who claimed victories at both the Prague Marathon and Riyadh Half Marathon this year.

Europe’s challenge will be led by Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal, Norway’s 13-time national champion and reigning European Half Marathon Champion. A double Olympian and proven performer on every stage, Grøvdal will be aiming to disrupt East African dominance and put in a performance worthy of her status.

Flying the flag for the USA is Dakotah Popehn, who placed 11th at the 2024 Paris Olympic Marathon and finished 2nd at the Two Harbors Half Marathon.

From Great Britain and Ireland, expect a strong showing from Calli Hauger-Thackery and Rose Harvey. Hauger-Thackery has built a stellar reputation after finishing 6th in Boston, 7th in Berlin, and winning bronze at the 2023 European Championships. Harvey, a Paris Olympian, placed 9th at the 2024 London Marathon and recently took the top spot at the Nice Half Marathon.

Elite commentary for the 2025 race will be delivered by a top-tier lineup including Tim Hutchings, Wendy Sly MBE, Kevin English, and Scott Overall, with full broadcast details to be announced soon.

From sweeping coastal views and lightning-fast racing to a start list brimming with Olympic medallists, world record holders, and rising stars, the 2025 Condor Executive Antrim Coast Half Marathon is shaping up to be a landmark moment in the global running calendar. Whether running, spectating, or tuning in around the world, this year’s race promises to be a true classic.