Great names for Houston!

HOUSTON (USA): Fancy Chemutai, the second fastest woman in history, leads top fields for the Aramco Houston Half-marathon on 20 January, while the line-up for the accompanying Chevron Houston Marathon is equally impressive. Edith Chelimo (65:52), 2014 world champion Gladys Cherono (66:07), 2016 winner Mary Wacera (66:29) and Brigid Kosgei (66:35) help boost a strong Kenyan line-up for the women’s half. Ethiopia’s defending champion Ruti Aga (66:39) is the fastest non-Kenyan. Emily Sisson (68:21) and Aliphine Tuliamuk (69:16) lead the domestic challenge in the line-up which has 10 sub-70 women. Kenya’s Bedan Karoki, the 2016 world half silver medallist, is the quickest in the men’s field with his 58:42 PB. Ethiopia’s Shura Kitata, who was runner-up in the London Marathon last year, Kenya’s Benard Ngeno, Bahrain’s El Hassan El Abbassi and Kenya’s Geoffrey Koech have also run under the hour. Diego Estrada (60:51) is the quickest American in the field, while Japan’s Suguru Osako (61:13), USA’s Luke Puskedra (61:29) and GB’s Dewi Griffiths (61:33) are other notable inclusions. Ethiopia’s Biruktayit Degefa, Kara Goucher, the former world 10,000m silver medallist, will have the home support. Ethiopia’s Muluhabt Tsega and Sechale Delasa are the next quickest, while Kenya’s Sarah Kiptoo and Ethiopia’s Gebayenesh Ayele have also run under 2:27. Ethiopia’s Abayneh Ayele, who ran 2:06:45 in 2016, the fastest on paper in the men’s field. Compatriot Yitayal Atnafu, Kenya’s Dominic Ondoro and Ethiopia’s Birhanu Gedefa are the next fastest in the line-up.