The 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships were held in Birmingham, United Kingdom on 11 October 2009. It was the final event of the International Association of Athletics Federations' 2009 World Athletics Series.Tadese Set For Birmingham Defence . Sporting Life (2009-09-28). Retrieved on 2009-10-07.

Organisation The city of Birmingham was selected by the IAAF Council after a presentation by UK Athletics and the Birmingham City Council. It was the third time the championships were held in Great Britain, after the 1992 event on Tyneside and the 2001 edition in Bristol.Event History. Official 2009 WHM website (2009-07-05). Retrieved on 2009-10-07. A number of events were scheduled to coincide with the Championships: a three-day convention for Association of International Marathons and Distance Races, as well as an IAAF press conference to discuss the future and progression of the sport.47 Member Federations set to compete in Birmingham. IAAF (2009-10-05). Retrieved on 2009-10-07.

In addition to the main World Championship races, the Birmingham Half Marathon started thirty minutes after the women's World Championship race. Organised by Birmingham City Council and sponsored by EDF Energy, it was the second edition of the mass race which attracted over 9,000 runners in 2008. A total of 12,068 people signed up to run the Birmingham Half Marathon.Tyle, Jane (2009-09-29). Entries for second EDF Birmingham Half Marathon up by third . Birmingham Post. Retrieved on 2009-10-07.

A total of 47 IAAF member federations sent athletes to the championships, the highest number since the 2002 edition.

Course The men's race and women's race started at BST 9.00 am and 9:30 am, respectively.$245,000 Prize Money; Course Route and Profile; Team Scoring – World Half Marathon. IAAF (2009-10-07). Retrieved on 2009-10-07. The course passed through Birmingham city centre and the city's southern suburbs, with Centenary Square acting as the start and end point of the race. Highlights along the route included Cannon Hill Park, Cadbury World and the Bournville model village, Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Victoria Square and the Bull Ring.18th IAAF World Half Marathon Championships Proposed Route . IAAF (2009-10-07). Retrieved on 2009-10-07. The course is largely straight and flat, although there is an abrupt descent and ascent at the start and finish of the route, and slight rises and falls between the 10 km and 16 km marks around Selly Park.Route Profile. Official 2009 WHM website (2009-07-05). Retrieved on 2009-10-07.

Competition

Pre-race

Eritrean runner Zersenay Tadese, who had won the last two World Half Marathons as well as the 20 km race in 2006, announced that he would attempt to defend his title and his chances improved after world leader Patrick Makau Musyoki was not listed in the Kenyan squad.Turner, Chris (2009-09-28). Three-time reigning champion Tadese set to defend titles in Birmingham – World Half Marathon. IAAF. Retrieved on 2009-10-07. The defending women's champion Lornah Kiplagat did not attempt to defend her title due to a knee injury, and three-time champion Paula Radcliffe filled the void, aiming for a record fourth title.Turner, Chris (2009-10-01). In absence of defending champion, history beckons for Radcliffe – World Half Marathon. IAAF. Retrieved on 2009-10-07. However, she too withdrew from the event due to tonsillitis, dealing a blow to the host nation's chances.Radcliffe to miss half marathon. BBC Sport (2009-10-05). Retrieved on 2009-10-07.No World Half Marathon for Radcliffe who is sidelined by tonsillitis. IAAF (2009-10-05). Retrieved on 2009-10-07.

Tadese was the outright favourite of the men's race, with his greatest challenge coming from Kenyans Sammy Kitwara, Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich and Bernard Kiprop Kipyego, and Ethiopians Tilahun Regassa and Dereje Tesfaye. Dathan Ritzenhein, Fabiano Joseph Naasi and Marilson dos Santos were other outside chances. The Kenyan and Eritrean men's teams were favoured for the gold and silver team medals, while the teams from Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda were suggested as possible bronze medallists. Unusually, Qatar (whose team placed third in 2008) did not send any runners to the competition.Turner, Chris (2009-10-08). Men's Race Preview - World Half Marathon, Birmingham 2009. IAAF. Retrieved on 2009-10-08.

In the women's race, Kenyan Mary Jepkosgei Keitany was the favourite in the absence of Kiplagat and Radcliffe. Keitany went into the championships as the world's leading half marathon runner, having run 1:07:00 seconds earlier in the season, and the race was seen as a chance for her to make her mark over the distance. The next fastest runner that season was her compatriot Philes Ongori, although her time of 1:07:50 was some way off Keitany's. Two more possible medallists, Filomena Cheyech and Caroline Cheptanui Kilel rounded out a strong Kenyan squad. The Ethiopian team was missing two of their best runners (Dire Tune and Aselefech Mergia), but Abebu Gelan and Aberu Kebede were still in medal contention. The Japanese athletes, Yukiko Akaba and Yurika Nakamura, looked to maintain Japan's past podium form in the team competition. New Zealand's Kim Smith was regarded as an unknown quantity, as she was moving into road competitions after much success on the track.Turner, Chris (2009-10-09). WOMEN’s RACE PREVIEW - World Half Marathon, Birmingham 2009. IAAF. Retrieved on 2009-10-11.

At the pre-race press conference, the IAAF General Secretary, Pierre Weiss, lamented the relative lack of interest in the competition, vocalising the IAAF's dissatisfaction with the number of competing athletes and federations. He acknowledged that the competition's prize money was not at parity with other top level marathons. Wilson Kipketer, the 800 metres world record holder, pointed out that the standard of Europe's long-distance runners had been largely surpassed by other regions' athletes, most notably from Africa. Kipketer argued that Europeans were not making the most of their sporting facilities and were "not training properly or timing and planning their seasons properly". Ed Warner, chairman of UK Athletics, agreed that a rethink was needed in terms of training and mindset.Martin, Dave (2009-10-10). IAAF Press Conference – World Half Marathon Championships. IAAF. Retrieved on 2009-10-11.

Medallists Detailed reports on the event and an appraisal of the results were given both for the men's race and for the women's race. IndividualMen 59:35 59:59 1:00:00 Women 1:06:36 1:07:38 1:07:39 TeamTeam Men 3:01:06 3:02:39 3:06:42Team Women 3:22:30 3:26:14 3:31:31

Race results Complete results were published for the men's race, for the women's race, for men's team, and for women's team.

Men's RankAthleteNationalityTimeNotes Zersenay Tadese59:35CR Bernard Kipyego59:59 Dathan Ritzenhein1:00:00PB4Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich1:00:085Samuel Tsegay1:00:17PB6Wilson Kwambai Chebet1:00:597Kiplimo Kimutai1:01:31SB8Stephen Mokoka1:01:36 9 Juan Carlos Romero 1:01:48 PB 10 Sammy Kitwara 1:01:59 11 Tilahun Regassa 1:02:08 SB 12 Dereje Tesfaye 1:02:09 13 Rachid Kisri 1:02:11 PB 14 Abebe Negewo 1:02:25 PB 15 Fabiano Joseph 1:02:25 SB 16 Marco Joseph 1:02:41 PB 17 Marilson dos Santos 1:02:41 SB 18 Daniele Meucci 1:02:43 PB 19 Abrha Adhanom 1:02:47 PB 20 Andrew Carlson 1:02:50 21 Yukihiro Kitaoka 1:02:50 22 Fouad Larhiouch 1:02:55 PB 23 James Theuri 1:02:55 24 Martin Toroitich 1:02:55 SB 25 Ryosuke Fukuyama 1:03:00 26 Andrew Lemoncello 1:03:03 PB 27 Moses Aliwa 1:03:06 28 Yoshinori Oda 1:03:09 29 Olebogeng Masire 1:03:13 30 Mourad Marofit 1:03:22 SB 31 Shamba Gitimi 1:03:23 SB 32 Atsushi Sato 1:03:25 33 Jackson Kiprop 1:03:31 34 Simon Munyutu 1:03:33 35 Solomon Tsige 1:03:33 SB 36 Mbongeni Ngxazozo 1:03:47 37 Sylvain Rukundo 1:03:59 SB 38 James Carney 1:04:00 SB 39 Jean Baptiste Simukeka 1:04:02 PB 40 Gervais Hakizimana 1:04:04 41 Eric Sebahire 1:04:09 PB 42 Jeffrey Gwebu 1:04:11 43 Jeff Hunt 1:04:16 44 Tesfahiwet Gebretinsae 1:04:17 PB 45 Giomar da Silva 1:04:20 46 Mark Miles 1:04:21 47 Yemane Teame 1:04:23 PB 48 Giovanni Ruggiero 1:04:24 49 Ahmed Baday 1:04:42 50 Abdellah Taghrafet 1:04:46 51 Miguel Ángel Gamonal 1:04:47 52 Denis Curzi 1:04:51 SB 53 John Cusi 1:04:56 54 Joe McAlister 1:04:57 PB 55 Matt Loiselle 1:04:59 56 Francesco Bona 1:05:01 57 Arturo Regules 1:05:09 58 Sergio Reyes 1:05:11 PB 59 Jaime Caldua 1:05:16 60 Phil Wicks 1:05:18 61 David Ramard 1:05:23 62 Daniele Caimmi 1:05:23 SB 63 Andrew Jones 1:05:37 64 Brett Gotcher 1:05:43 65 Cristinel Irimia 1:05:51 66 Keenetse Moswasi 1:05:59 SB 67 Tomomi Itakura 1:06:00 68 Benoit Holzerny 1:06:00 69 Constantino León 1:06:05 70 Scotty Bauhs 1:06:07 SB 71 Godiraone Nthompe 1:06:07 PB 72 Ndabili Bashingili 1:06:08 SB 73 Rapula Diphoko 1:06:12 PB 74 Pablo Villalobos 1:06:17 75 Gareth Raven 1:06:51 76 Kaelo Mosalagae 1:07:10 SB 77 Wu Shiwei 1:07:14 78 João de Lima 1:07:14 79 Franck de Almeida 1:07:44 80 Daglas Mashili 1:07:56 SB 81 Taivo Püi 1:07:58 PB 82 Edmundo Torres 1:08:12 83 José Francisco Chávez 1:08:41 PB 84 César Lizano 1:09:08 PB 85 Xolisa Tyali 1:09:12 86 Chan Ka Ho 1:10:17 SB 87 Fernando Rey 1:10:18 88 Marcel Tschopp 1:10:28 SB 89 Ronnie Holassie 1:11:18 SB 90 Gaylord Silly 1:11:57 91 Simon Labiche 1:12:01 SB 92 Mengi Patou 1:12:17 PB 93 Andrew Pollando 1:14:00 PB 94 Chan Chan Kit 1:28:04 SB — Haylu Mekonnen DNF — Gary Murray DNF — Mohamed Isak DNF — Perhat Annagylyjov DNF — Damian Paul Chopa DNS

Women's RankAthleteNationalityTimeNotes Mary Jepkosgei Keitany1:06:36CR Philes Ongori1:07:38PB Aberu Kebede1:07:39PB4Caroline Cheptanui Kilel1:08:16PB5Mestawet Tufa1:09:11PB6Tirfi Tsegaye1:09:24PB7Kim Smith1:09:35NR8Filomena Cheyech Daniel1:09:44 9 Silvia Skvortsova 1:09:56 SB 10 Amy Yoder Begley 1:10:09 PB 11 Yurika Nakamura 1:10:19 12 Ryoko Kizaki 1:10:32 13 Workitu Ayanu 1:10:35 PB 14 René Kalmer 1:10:37 PB 15 Remi Nakazato 1:10:40 16 Serena Burla 1:10:55 PB 17 Analía Rosa 1:11:08 PB 18 Peninah Arusei 1:11:10 19 Annerien van Schalkwyk 1:11:26 PB 20 Dulce María Rodríguez 1:11:32 SB 21 Abebu Gelan 1:11:33 22 Elza Kireeva 1:11:34 PB 23 Furtuna Zegergish 1:11:56 24 Claire Hallissey 1:12:14 25 Yukiko Akaba 1:12:20 26 Irina Timofeyeva 1:12:38 SB 27 Olivera Jevtić 1:12:44 28 Hiroko Shoi 1:12:46 29 Maria Sig Møller 1:12:50 PB 30 Cassie Fien 1:12:55 31 Galina Aleksandrova 1:13:01 32 Amy Hastings 1:13:20 PB 33 Michelle Ross-Cope 1:13:50 34 Alina Istudora 1:14:01 PB 35 Emma Quaglia 1:14:11 SB 36 Nyakisi Adero 1:14:17 37 Heidi Westover/Westerling 1:14:22 38 Marisol Romero 1:14:26 PB 39 Poppy Mlambo 1:14:27 PB 40 Inés Melchor 1:14:33 PB 41 Jimena Misayauri 1:14:47 42 Ivana Iozzia 1:14:52 43 Gemma Miles 1:14:56 44 Alyson Dixon 1:15:19 45 Rebecca Robinson 1:16:21 46 Claudette Mukasakindi 1:16:31 PB 47 Elva Dryer 1:16:42 48 Nuța Olaru 1:16:56 49 Hortencia Arazapalo 1:17:27 50 Maria Baldaia 1:18:32 SB 51 Julia Rivera 1:18:51 52 Caroline Desprez 1:19:06 53 Elizet Banda 1:19:07 NR 54 Judith Ramírez 1:19:41 55 Caitriona Jennings 1:20:47 56 Liu Yingjie 1:24:29 PB 57 Chao Fong Leng 1:31:47 NR 58 Simone Zapha 1:38:58 PB — Inga Abitova DQ † †: Inga Abitova from was initially 9th (1:09:53), but her competition results were annulled, beginning October 10, 2009, because of breaking anti-doping regulations.

Team results

Men's