by Alfonz Juck
Jacob Kiplimo, photo by Dan Vernon Photography / World Athletics
thletics The men’s event in Gydnia was super quick! And the top 5 was amazing and they were way deep! This update was by EME News.
Kiplimo: the new star is born
Kibiwott Kindie, photo by Dan Vernon Photography / World Athletics
GDYNIA (POL, Oct 17): The men’s race got off to a conservative start, with the first kilometer passing in just 2:54, slower than in the world’s top marathons. But the pace would heat up soon enough. The 10-K mark was hit at 28:23, 15 km in 42:17 and with the third 5-K segment covered in 13:54 only 11 men remained in contention. In the 16th kilometer, Kenyan Kibiwott Kandie put in yet another surge and this time the pack was broken for good.
Jacob Kiplimo, photo by Dan Vernon Photography / World Athletics
About 50 minutes into the race, Jacob Kiplimo (will be 20 in November) began to pull away from Kandie who would have to settle for second place. WR holder Joshua Cheptegei, who was in third, was passed by Ethiopian Amedework Walelegn and had to settle for fourth at the finish. Running along the seafront to the finish, Kiplimo maintained his pace and cruised to the finish in 58:49, a new championships and national record. Kandie crossed second in 58:54 becoming the first man ever to run three sub-59:00 half-marathons in the same year. Third went to Walelegn in 59:08, a personal best. Down the finish order, Cheptegei made and excellent debut in 59:21, and Andamlak Belihu of Ethiopia (59:32) rounded out the top-5.
Jacob Kiplimo, photo by Dan Vernon Photography / World Athletics
The top European was Morhad Amdouni of France who set a national record of 59:40 in eighth place. Top ten finished sub one hour. The team title went to Kenya in 2:58:10, a scant 15 seconds ahead of Ethiopia (2:58:25). Uganda was a close third in 2:58:39. France 6th in 3:02:10 as top European team. In all, 117 men finished the race. With the help from RRW.
The WCHM medalists, photo by Dan Vernon Photography / World Athletics
