NEW YORK (Sept. 21) – As the international track and field season winds down, the world’s top distance runners are gearing up for a high-stakes road racing season. The action kicks off in just 11 days at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia, setting the stage for a series of Platinum Label road races that promise fierce competition and potential record-breaking performances.
Riga 2023 Championships: A Global Stage
The World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga will feature a star-studded lineup, including world champion Faith Kipyegon, world record-holder Berihu Aregawi, and Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir.
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Recreational runners will also have the opportunity to share the course with these elite athletes, adding a unique dimension to the event.
Platinum Label Races: A Marathon of Opportunities
Eight Platinum Label road races are slated between September and December, starting with last weekend’s Blackmores Sydney Marathon, won by Betsy Saina and Othmane El Goumri.
The Abbott World Marathon Majors series will include three of these races: the BMW Berlin Marathon, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, and the TCS New York Marathon.
Star Athletes to Watch
Eliud Kipchoge, the world record-holder and Olympic champion, is set to make a return to Berlin this weekend, aiming for an unprecedented fifth victory. The Chicago Marathon will feature a clash between defending champion Ruth Chepngetich and London Marathon winner Sifan Hassan.
Meanwhile, two-time Tokyo Marathon champion Birhanu Legese headlines the men’s field for the Amsterdam Marathon.
International Return at Shanghai Marathon
For the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, the Shanghai Marathon in late November will welcome an international elite field.
This will be followed by multiple global champion and world record-holder Joshua Cheptegei’s long-awaited marathon debut in Valencia.
New Additions and Future Prospects
The Thai coastal area of Bang Saen will host one of the newest additions to the Platinum Label calendar, the Bangsaen21 Half Marathon, which promises a high-quality elite lineup.
With more than 100 World Athletics Label road races scheduled through the end of 2023, the road racing season offers a plethora of opportunities for both elite and recreational runners.
For more information, visit World Athletics.
Platinum Label road races, Sep-Dec 2023
17 Sep – Sydney Marathon
24 Sep – Berlin Marathon (WMM)
8 Oct – Chicago Marathon (WMM)
15 Oct – Amsterdam Marathon
5 Nov – New York Marathon (WMM)
26 Nov – Shanghai Marathon
3 Dec – Valencia Marathon
17 Dec – Bang Saen Half Marathon
