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The interest for the upcoming Egmond Half Marathon this Sunday is overwhelming. The organization of Le Champion has prematurely closed the registration, because the limits of 10,000 half marathon runners and 2,000 quarter marathon runners have been reached weeks ago. The interest from abroad is eye-catching. Hundreds of runners from ample 20 countries are coming a (long) weekend to Egmond aan Zee to experience the unique atmosphere of this sports feast.

Among these participants are of course a lot of athletes from Germany, Belgium and Great Britain, but also the United States, South-Africa, Spain, France and Denmark will be represented in Egmond, besides the top athletes from African countries. The Egmond Half Marathon is booming, as the entire running sport is hot at this moment.

Olympic Champion runs in Egmond

Unique is the participation of Venuste Niyongabo from Burundi, the Olympic Champion on the 5,000 metres in Atlanta in 1996. Niyongabo is running longer distances now and will make his debut in The Netherlands. The main opponent will be the winner of the Dam tot Damloop 2005 William Kipsang. Kipsang won the Egmond Half Marathon two years ago and wants to renew that victory. In the women race Susan Chepkemei is the biggest foreign star. Her two second places in the New York City Marathon demonstrate her status. Chepkemei has won the Egmond Half Marathon already in 2001 and 2002. Hilda Kibet, the winner of last year, will offer Susan resistance. Main Dutch favourites are: Kamiel Maase, Luc Krotwaar and Hugo van den Broek.