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.
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