Kiptum 58:18 WR
VALENCIA (ESP, Oct 28): Kenya’s Abraham Kiptum eclipsed Zersenay Tadese’s world half marathon record of 58:23 with 58:18 in the Valencia Half Marathon. Kiptum covered the 10km section between 10-20km in 27:16 and also improved Tadese’s world 20km record of 55:21 to 55:18 en route to the world half marathon record. “Obviously I knew I was in good shape because I set a PB last month in Copenhagen but I was eager to run in Valencia because it’s one of the flattest circuits I’ve ever run and I was confident of improving on my best,” said Kiptum, who clocked 59:09 in Copenhagen last month. Ethiopians Jemal Yimer (58:33, also best result in the U23 category ever) and Abadi Hadis (58:44) finished second and third respectively, the fastest ever half marathon times for second and third and were both under the previous Ethiopian record of 58:47. Amdamlak Belihu finished fourth in 59:19, just one week after winning the New Delhi Half Marathon in 59:18 while the next four finishers all ran inside 59:30 as well. Callum Hawkins was the leading European finisher in 16th in 61:00, two places ahead of Antonio Abadia who made a 61:15 debut to move to fourth on the Spanish all-time lists. Ethiopia’s Gelete Burka won the women’s race in a 66:11 PB ahead of Alia Mohammed Saaeed from the United Arab Emirates who made a 66:13 debut (also a NR, missed Asian record by 2 seconds) with Kenyans Edith Chelimo (66:18) and Pauline Korikwiang (66:31) third and fourth respectively. Yeshi Chekole as 7th with 67:58 achieved Eritrean national record. Poland’s Karolina Nadolska was the leading European finisher in tenth in 70:43. With help from IAAF.
Have you signed up at www.runblogrun.com for our free newsletter?
Want bonus content on athletics? Support the sport of athletics! Support RunBlogRun as we cover the sport of athletics nearly 24/7, and get bonus content, please go to: https://www.patreon.com/