South Africa's Stephen Mokoka out to end Kenya's dominance at World Road Running Championships

South Africa’s Stephen Mokoka will be out to end Kenya’s dominance in the men’s half marathon at the World Road Running Championships on Sunday.

The 2018 Cape Town Marathon champion posted on his X (Twitter) handle citing his preparation for the do-or-die assignment.

He said: “Time to put on the green and gold again. Time for World Athletics Road Running Championships Riga 23.”

Mokoka has only raced twice this year and the half marathon will mark his third race where he will be looking to make an impression.

The two-time Shanghai Marathon champion opened his season at the Osaka Marathon where he finished fifth before finishing fourth at the Nelson Mandela Bay Half Marathon.

His plans to dethrone Team Kenya will not be a walk in the park. Kenya has won the individual half marathon title 13 times in 24 previous editions and they hold strong claims of extending that tally to 14.

The Kenyan charge consists of the trio of sub-59-minute performers in Benard Kibet, Charles Kipkurui Langat, and Sabastian Kimaru Sawe, while their next man, Daniel Simiu Ebenyo, is a 59:04 performer.

Ethiopians will also be in the mix with the hope of making a mark. Jemal Yimer Mekonnen is the quickest in their ranks with a PB of 58:33 that dates back to 2018.

He will be backed up by teammates Nibret Melak, Dinkalem Ayele, and Tsegay Kidanu, who are all sub-60 men.

Uganda’s charge will be led by Andrew Rotich Kwemoi, whose PB of 59:37 was run in Lille, France, last year. He took victory at the Milan Marathon in 2:07:14 earlier this year but failed to finish the marathon at the World Championships in Budapest.