Ethiopian distance runner Fotyen Tesfay (© Getty Images)
Ethiopia’s Fotyen Tesfay produced the fifth-fastest half marathon performance in history to win at the Generali Berlin Half Marathon – a World Athletics Elite Label road race – in the German capital on Sunday (6).
Tesfay clocked 1:03:35 to lead an Ethiopian sweep of the podium in the women’s race, while compatriot Gemechu Dida was a convincing winner of the men’s race in 58:43.
Tesfay, who clocked a PB of 1:03:21 in Valencia last year, was contesting just her fourth race over the distance, but her intentions were clear from the outset as she cruised through the opening 5km in 14:58. She maintained that pace through 10km, passing that checkpoint in 29:54 – just 12 seconds shy of the 10km PB she clocked in Valencia earlier this year – and continued through 15km in 45:02.
Teammates Ftaw Zeray and Alemaddis Eyayu were by now several minutes adrift of the leader, and Tesfay went on to stop the clock at 1:03:35. She now owns two of the five fastest performances in history and becomes the first woman to break 64 minutes twice.
"The course is very good, but it was extremely windy and the cold temperatures made it also difficult for me,” said Tesfay. “But I kept my rhythm well and I'm happy with my fast time.”
Zeray finished second in 1:07:02 and Eyayu took third place in 1:07:12.
The men’s race was somewhat closer, but Dida’s victory was never in doubt. The African 10,000m silver medallist came within four seconds of the PB he set last year to take the men’s race in 58:43.
Kenya’s Richard Etir was second in 59:30, finishing just ahead of Amanal Petros, who smashed his own German record with 59:31, moving him to fourth on the European all-time list.
Kwizera smashes Burundian half marathon record in Prague
Rodrigue Kwizera showed he’s more than just a cross-country specialist, winning at the Generali Prague Half Marathon – a World Athletics Elite Label road race – in 58:54 on Saturday (5).
The 25-year-old, who was recently crowned winner of the World Athletics Cross Country Tour for the third year in a row, took almost two minutes off the Burundian record which had stood since 1997. It was Kwizera’s second half marathon to date, having made his debut at the distance five years ago.
He was pushed all the way by Kenya’s Isaia Kipkoech Lasoi, who finished a close second in 58:56. His compatriot Ezra Kipketer Tanui was further behind in third in 59:20.
World cross-country silver medallist Lilian Rengeruk was a clear winner of the women’s race, clocking 1:05:27 to finish comfortably ahead of fellow Kenyan Veronica Loleo (1:06:40). Ethiopia’s Sentayehu Lewetegn was third in 1:08:41.
