Worlds Fastest Women over 10,000m to compete at the IAAF Northern Ireland International XC

18 December 2018

Worlds Fastest Women over 10,000m to compete at the IAAF Northern Ireland International XC

Athletics NI is pleased to announce that Kenya's Pauline Kamulu, who is this year’s fastest 10,000m female runner in the World, will compete at the IAAF Northern Ireland International Cross Country on the 19th January 2019.

 

The talented 23-year-old will bring world class credentials to the event which is set to be held at Billy Neill Centre of Excellence. Pauline has had a terrific 2018 season thus far, both on and off the track, and even secured bronze in the World Half Marathon Road Championships in Valencia with a time (and PB) of 66.56s. The race winner, Netsanet Gudeta (Ethiopia) was only 45 seconds faster and broke the World Record to take gold with a time of 66.11s.    

In July this year, Pauline set a blistering time of 31.41s for 10,000m in Japan which is 24 seconds faster than any other female this year. Further success followed in August when she ran a 10k road time of 31.56s in South Africa which ranks her 4th in the World.

As 1 of only 12 permitted IAAF Cross Country events held across the world, the event will continue to bring some of the world’s best XC runners to Dundonald and Pauline is expected to have some fierce opposition on the day, which will likely include GB internationals who took team silver in the European Championships a little over a week ago.

19-year-old Ethiopian and silver medallist at the World Junior Cross Country last year, Hawi Feysa has also been confirmed.

The men's race will now include Kenya's Richard Yator who is the World's second fastest 10,000m runner this year with a time of 27.14s from a recent race in Japan. Richard is also the World Youth Champion over 3,000m from 2015. At Dundonald, he will be fully tested by Rio Olympics 10,000m silver medallist Paul Tanui who has also 3 World bronze medals to his name.

Past international stars who have raced in Ireland's most prestigious International include Mo Farah who was 6th at Stormont in 2005.

Note: Athletics NI is hosting a full schedule of events alongside the IAAF Northern Ireland International including the Home CountriesCeltic Games International, British Cross ChallengeFlahavan's Porridge Primary School Race and a full range of junior races from U13s to U20s. Entries are still open and details can be found here.