The world’s best runners will take over the streets of Copenhagen

A long and extraordinary track season has barely ended before a new battle takes place in Copenhagen this weekend. The surface is different, but the runners are the same: pure world class all the way. “These road races are just special. No matter what happens, I am just happy to go out and run. It’s my last race of the season, so I am excited to see if I can win,” Yared Nuguse said at Friday’s press conference ahead of the World Athletics Road Running Championships in the Danish capital. The Olympic 1500-meter bronze medalist from the USA will run the Road Mile, which kicks off the championships on Saturday. Nuguse is indeed expected to be at the front, ranking second in the world over the track mile this season. The women’s Road Mile is scheduled just before, where Agathe Guillemot from France will be a contender for a medal. “I can’t wait for tomorrow. I am hoping for a medal. That would be the perfect way to finish the season,” Guillemot told the press in French. The 27-year-old runner will go up against familiar faces from many of this season’s Diamond League races. Among them—to name a few—is Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu, who won the 3000m in Bislett and the 5000m in Brussels during the season. Scandinavian stars in the line-up The Road Mile on Saturday will be followed by the 5K. With Jakob Ingebrigtsen in the men’s field, that race will naturally draw extra attention. Norway’s European and recently crowned Ultimate Champion over 5000 meters was not present at the press conference. Instead, another Scandinavian star lit up the room: Andreas Almgren. The Swede rose to fame last month by winning the European 10,000-meter Championship in spectacular fashion. Now, it is time for a fast road race when the championships culminate on Sunday with the Half Marathon. “I am very excited about this race. My entire season until now was focused on the European Championships. Track races have their own charm, but this half marathon will be something special. It is the first step in an exciting fall. After Copenhagen, I will go straight to the USA to prepare for the marathon,” Almgren said, referring to his newly revealed debut at the New York City Marathon in November. The World Half Marathon Championships have historically been an East African affair, but with Almgren’s presence, that could change. Among the favorites is Kenya’s Nicholas Kipkorir, who won the CPH Half last year in 58:23—a personal best he lowered to 58:08 in March when he finished second in Lisbon. His compatriot Daniel Ebenyo—silver medalist at the 2023 World Half Marathon Championships—is another strong Kenyan card. World record holder has her eyes on the title So, of course, is Agnes Ngetich in the women’s race. The 25-year-old Kenyan was crowned World Cross Country Champion in Florida in January. Could she follow up with a title on the road, where she holds the 10K world record? “That would be a dream come true. But it is a very strong line-up. Everyone wants to win the title. For me, just winning a medal would be a nice way to close the season,” Ngetich told the press. Danish hope dreams of dipping under one hour On the local side, expectations lean toward Jacob Simonsen in the men’s Half Marathon. The 31-year-old holds the national record in the half marathon at 61:11 minutes. “I am in much better shape now than when I set the record. My dream goal is to run sub-one hour,” Simonsen said. “I have often been fortunate to race here in the city. I know the streets very well and know the vibe during the race. I am just going to take it all in.” Around 60,000 runners will join the elite during the two days of racing.