Ethiopian long-distance runner Yomif Kejelcha shattered the men’s world half marathon record in Valencia on Sunday, setting a new benchmark with a time of 57 minutes and 30 seconds, edging out the previous record by just one second.
Kejelcha, 27, who is also the world indoor mile record holder, asserted his dominance early in the race.
In his sixth attempt at the distance, he took control around the three-kilometre mark, maintaining a blistering pace that left his competitors in the dust.
The Ethiopian star reached the 5-kilometre checkpoint at 13:38, 10 kilometres at 27:12, and crossed 15 kilometres at 40:56.
It was at this point that he made his decisive move, breaking away from the Kenyan duo of Daniel Mateiko and Isaia Kipkoech Lasoi to secure his record-breaking victory.
Kejelcha’s historic run dethrones the previous record held by Ugandan athlete Jacob Kiplimo, set in Lisbon three years ago.
In the women’s race, Kenyan runner Agnes Ngetich was also on track to make history, maintaining a world-record pace through the first half of the race.
Although her speed slowed slightly in the later stages, she finished in an impressive 1 hour, 3 minutes, and 3 seconds, marking the second-fastest time ever recorded in women’s half marathon history.
Valencia’s race, renowned for its fast, flat course, continues to live up to its reputation as a prime stage for record-breaking performances, drawing elite runners from around the globe.
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