RWANDA’S female athletes Claudette Mukasakindi, Janet Nyirahabimana and Pelaggie Musabimana will line up against world record holder Paula Radcliffe in next month’s World half marathon.

The event, scheduled for October 11 will be hosted in central England, Birmingham.

After opting out of last year’s world championships due to fitness concerns, the 35-year-old Radcliffe is part of the British team for this year’s event.

In 2008, Netherlands’ Lornah Kiplagat took top spot after clocking one hour, eight minutes and 37 seconds. Mergia Aselefech of Ethiopia and Kenya’s Pamela Chepchumba completed the podium slots after clocking one hour, nine minutes and 57 minutes and one hour, 10 minutes and one second respectively.

Rwanda’s athletics federation (RAF) recently named a strong eight-man team for the marathon whose prize money is in the range of Rwf122.5m.

Other members on the team include national long distance ace Dieudonne Disi, Sylvain Rukundo, Gervais Hakizimana, Eric Sebahire and Jean d’luc Mukakigeri.

Disi was Rwanda’s top performer in last year’s edition held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil after clocking one hour, three minutes and three seconds to finish sixth.

The podium slots were claimed by Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadese, Patrick Makau Musyoki of Kenya and Ahmad Hassan Abdullah of Qatar.

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