Mary Ngugi headlines Roma-Ostia Half Marathon

Mary Ngugi-Cooper will line up for this year’s Roma-Ostia Half Marathon set for 3 March in Italy.

Ngugi, a Boston marathon silver medalist in 2021, headlines the women’s field with a personal best (PB) of 66:29 in the half marathon and 2:20:22 in the marathon.

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She is using the event as part of her preparations for the upcoming Boston Marathon, where she is hoping to finally clinch the elusive title, having finished second in 2021 and third in 2022.

The 2022 Boston bronze medalist who placed fifth at the New York City marathon last year will compete against her compatriots Caroline Korir and Nelly Jeptoo.

The field at Roma-Ostia also has Ethiopian Wariyo Bekelech Teku who is coming off a fifth-place finish in the recent Ethiopian Cross Country Championship as well as compatriot Anna Dibaba, the younger sister of the well-established Tirunesh and Genzebe.

“I’m really excited to announce that in April I will be running @bostonmarathon. Boston holds a special place in my heart, not only for having two podium finishes in the last few years, but getting married there too! The streets are always amazing, crowds loud and I can’t wait to hit Heartbreak Hill once again with a ridiculously strong field of talented women (sic),” Ngugi said while announcing her return to Boston.

As for the men’s elite list, Ethiopian Tsegu Berehanu Wendemu headlines the list with eyes firmly set on running under an hour as he holds a PB of 59:42.

Shadrack Koech, eager to compete on the fast Roman course after his 61.12 in Trento last October, and Kimakal Kipsambu, returning to the capital after pacing with a time of 61.37 in 2023 make up the top three list of elites.

Women's entry fields

Mary Wacera Ngugi - PB 66:29

Caroline J. Korir PB - 67:23

Bekelech Teku PB -69:04

Men's entry fields

Berehanu Tsegu PB - 59:42

Shadrack K. Koech PB - 61:12

Kipsambul Kimakal PB - 61:32