28th March 2014 11:09
Lisa Stublic is Croatia’s leading long distance runner and on Saturday in Copenhagen she will look to further the status she holds in her home country.
And as Stublic, 29, runs at the IAAF/AL-Bank World Half Marathon, she will do so as the fastest woman in Europe this year.
Earlier this month Stublic finished fourth over the 13.1 miles in New York in 69:36, a time which puts her just ahead of Italy’s Valeria Straneo on the rankings.
Straneo has a best of 69:45 and they will bid to challenge the might of Africa.
Lucy Wangui Kabuu heads the field with a personal best of 66:09 from 2013 while fellow Kenyan Sally Chepyego qualified after winning in Okayama in December in 68:24.
But Championship races do not always mean quick times, with tactics and style often playing a greater part.
It was in New York last year where Stublic ran the national record of 69:18 in what proved quite a year for her as she produced the Croatia’s marathon record time, too, just a few weeks later with 2:25:44 in Zurich.
She could be among the major contenders for gold at the marathon - if she decides to compete at it - at the European Athletics Championships in the Swiss city in August.
Straneo had a sensational summer at the World Championships in Moscow last year with the performance of her career when she won silver in the marathon.
Her story remains so inspirational - however many times it is told - as she made the podium in a 2:25:58 only three years after having her spleen removed.
Now in Copenhagen she will look to write another chapter in her extraordinary life and she is part of an extremely strong Italian squad - both men and women.
Her teammate Anna Incerti has twice won the Rome-Osita half marathon and she was second in 70:10 in Verona in February as Straneo won in that 69:45.
As Eritrean Zersenay Tadese - with a personal best of 58:23 from 2010 - chases a sixth gold at the Championships in the men's event, Italy’s Jamel Chatbi, with a 2013 best of 62:38, and Daniele Meucci, with 62:44, are the fastest Europeans in the field.
Ayad Lamdassem will lead the Spanish charge on the back of his 62:57 from winning the national championships in La Coruna last month.