Yomif Kejelcha wins in Valencia (© Organisers)
Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha broke the world half marathon record* at the Medio Maratón de Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich on Sunday (27), clocking 57:30 at the World Athletics Gold Label road race.
In his sixth appearance over the distance, the 27-year-old world indoor mile record-holder took one second off the world record set by Jacob Kiplimo in Lisbon three years ago.
The world record looked to be under threat for most of the women’s race, but Agnes Ngetich eventually fell short by just 11 seconds, crossing the line in 1:03:03 – the second-fastest performance in history – on what was her debut at the distance.
Held in light rain and temperatures around 15C, the men’s race started fast with pacemakers covering the first kilometre in 2:43. They struggled to maintain that, but Kejelecha moved to the front just before the third kilometre and took command of the race, followed by fellow Ethiopian Selemon Barega and Kenyans Daniel Mateiko, Edward Cheserek, Weldon Langat and Isaia Kipkoech Lasoi.
The lead pack of six went through the 5km checkpoint in 13:38 with Kejelcha in front. His relentless rhythm soon paid off and after 22 minutes the lead pack was whittled down to three as only Mateiko and Lasoi managed to stay with him.
They went through 10km in 27:12, still on course to break the course record, but the pace decreased slightly over the following kilometres and a 13:44 section between 10km and 15km put the world record in jeopardy.
Sensing the world record was at risk of slipping away, Kejelcha increased the pace and broke away from Mateiko and Lasoi with ease. In a battle against the clock, the two-time world indoor champion charged through the finish line in 57:30 to break the world record by one second and his PB by 11 seconds.
After trying to stay with Kejelcha for much of the race, both Mateiko and Lasoi lost a lot of ground in the closing stages but they held on to second and third place. Mateiko improved his PB to 58:17, while Lasoi clocked 58:21 in what was his fifth half marathon of the season.
Ethiopia’s Gemechu Dida finished fourth in a PB of 58:39 just ahead Kenyan half marathon debutant Vincent Kibet Langat (58:41). Barega was the sixth and final man to finish inside 59 minutes, clocking 58:57.
"This race wasn't easy," said Kejelcha. "Today I told myself to do it in 57 minutes, and I saw from the clock on the lead car that it was possible, despite the rain. I wanted to break the world record and I'm really happy I did it.
"At 15km I was confident and I thought I could get the record. But by 18km and 19km I started to get nervous because the pace changed, so it was a big challenge. The rain and tight turns also made it difficult.
"The half marathon world record was my dream and I beat it," he added. "I'm very happy."
Despite this being her first attempt at the distance, there was talk on the eve of the competition about Agnes Ngetich’s chances of setting a world record in Valencia. Any questions regarding her intentions were soon answered when the 25-year-old went through 5km in 14:38 with Ethiopia’s Ejgayehu Taye on her shoulder, both of them well clear of Kenya’s Lllian Rengeruk (14:55) and the Ethiopian duo of Fotyen Tesfay and Tsige Gebreselama (14:57).
Ngetich and former world 5km record-holder Taye continued their 2:56/km pace to reach 10km in 29:18 – a time that only three women have ever bettered for that distance – but Taye began to lose ground about seven minutes later.
Meanwhile, Ngetich continued running behind the two pacemakers but her speed also started to decrease as she covered the next 5km segment in 14:57. Her pace dropped to 3:00/km, suggesting that the world record was slipping away, but she continued to pull away from her opponents. Taye, meanwhile, was overtaken by Tesfay and Rengeruk before 18km.
Ngetich, running on heavy legs, managed to hold on to victory in 1:03:04. Tesfay bettered her previous best by five minutes, clocking 1:03:21 for second place with Rengeruk taking third in 1:03:32. It meant the podium finishers moved to second, third and fourth respectively on the world all-time list.
A tiring Taye managed to finish fourth on her half marathon debut with 1:04:14, still enough for a top-10 spot on the world all-time list.
"I'm really happy, and so proud that I achieved the second fastest time ever on my debut," said Ngetich. "Valencia will always have a special place in my heart because it's where I set my world record in the 10km.
"Running fast for the first 10km wasn’t an error, it was done consciously to try to win. It's a great achievement for me. I ran a good time, despite the rain. Someday I'll try again to get the record, hopefully in Valencia."
Emeterio Valiente for World Athletics
* Subject to the usual ratification procedure
Leading results
Women
1 Agnes Ngetich (KEN) 1:03:04
2 Fotyen Tesfay (ETH) 1:03:21
3 Lilian Kasait (KEN) 1:03:32
4 Ejgayehu Taye (ETH) 1:04:14
5 Tsigie Gebreselama (ETH) 1:05:18
6 Sheila Chelangat (KEN) 1:06:08
7 Jesca Chelangat (KEN) 1:06:13
8 Viola Chepngeno (KEN) 1:06:55
Men
1 Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) 57:30
2 Daniel Mateiko (KEN) 58:17
3 Isaia Kipkoech Lasoi (KEN) 58:21
4 Gemechu Dida (ETH) 58:39
5 Vincent Langat (KEN) 58:41
6 Selemon Barega (ETH) 58:57
7 Birhanu Balew (BRN) 59:41
8 Thierry Ndikumwenayo (ESP) 59:42
