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On Sunday 14th February 2021, a world-class field, including Joshua Cheptegei and Beatrice Chepkoech, take part in the third consecutive 5KM Herculis Monaco Run 2021

Joshua Cheptegei was arguably the dominant male athlete of 2020. Following his stunning 12:51 in the Herculis event last year, a world record, Cheptegei returns to Monaco on Sunday, but this time, as the world record holder in both the 5,000m (12:35.36) and 10,000m (26:11.00). Indeed, a fact that his competitors are likely trying to forget, Cheptegei achieved 2 of those 3 world records from last year in Monaco and he has made no secret of his love for racing in the Principality, stating on his Instagram, “it feels so good to be back in this magical city! This is the place where I broke the World Record for 5000m last August.”

The NN Running Team and Nike athlete will compete in his first event of 2021 against a strong field, including Kenyans Bethwell Birgen (13:04.66) and Davis Kiplangat (13:07.55 / 13:28 5KM) and Moroccan athlete Abdelaati Iguider (12:59.25 / 13:20 5KM) but he will undoubtedly enter the race as the overwhelming favourite, particularly as the event have confirmed that the route, from the Port Hercule to the Quai Albert, will remain the same as last year.

In the womens’ race, Beatrice Chepkoech will lead a diminished field on last year but she boasts some impressive Monaco pedigree herself. This little corner of southern Europe hosted her 2018 world record in the 3000m SC (8:44.32). Chepkoech’s last performance in Monaco was in the Monaco Diamond League meeting on the Louis II track in August last year where she finished in a disappointing (for her) sixth (14:55.01), but this will mark her competitive 5KM road debut. The challenge most likely to concern her is the one coming from her Swedish competitor, Meraf Bahta, who with a PB of 14:49.95 has the potential to be dangerous, but, at the gun, this race is Chepkoech’s to lose.

Both Cheptegei and Chepkoech look set to wear the new Nike road racing flat, the Nike Streakfly zoomx.

How to watch the race

The race will be broadcast live on YouTube, via the event’s dedicated Channel (link below):

Herculis 5km Monaco Run 2021

What time is the race?

The coverage starts across YouTube and Facebook at 08:45am in the UK, with the race starting at 09:00am in the UK.

Full race entry list

Men

Joshua Cheptegei – UGA

A Iguider – MOR

B Birgen – KEN

D Kiplangat – KEN

M Amdouni.- FRA

R Douma – NED

A Vojta – AT

S Fitwi – GER

Y Michiels – BEL

O Hesselbjerg – DEN

E Roudolff-Levisse – FRA

Luuk Maas – NED

R Montoya – FRA

Alexis Miellet – FRA

T Nijhuis – DEN

M Gras – FRA

M Frere – FRA

Women

B Chepkoech – KEN

A Finot – FRA

M Bahta – SWE

A Lemitre – FRA

A Clavier – FRA

M Julien – FRA

A McTighe – SUI

N Battocletti.- ITA

N Lauwaert – BEL