Joyciline Jepkosgei runs 1:04:51 WR in Valencia, Spain (Valencia Half Marathon)

VALENCIA (ESP, Oct 22): Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei eclipsed her world record in the Valencia Half Marathon, taking her mark down by one second from 64:52 to 64:51. Jepkosgei started incredibly fast, passing through 5km in 14:52 and 10km in 30:09 (15:17 5km split) and even though she lowed through 15km in 45:59 (15:50 5km split) and 20km in 61:30 (15:31 5km split), Jepkosgei dug deep to set her second world half marathon record of the year. “It was my first race in Valencia, I enjoyed a lot, the weather is nice, the circuit is perfect to run fast. I hope to come back in March for the World Half Marathon Championships,” said Jepkosgei. Fancy Chemutai dropped back at the 15km mark but still finished second in a lifetime best of 65:36 with Lucy Cheruiyot making it a Kenyan clean sweep in 67:30. Ethiopia’s former track champion Gelete Burka was fourth in personal best 68:17 while Trihas Gebre was the top European finisher in sixth in a Spanish record of 69:55. Bahrain’s Abraham Cheroben won the men’s race in 59:11 in a sprint finish ahead of Ethiopians Leul Gebresilase (59:12, PB) and Tsadik Fikadu (59:22) while Norway’s Sondre Nordstad Moen improved his lifetime best from 62:19 to Norwegian record 59:47 in fourth to move to third on the European all-time lists behind Mo Farah (59:22) and Antonio Pinto (59:43).