Kenya‘s Peres Jepchirchir won the 2020 women’s World Athletics Half Marathon Championship gold in a new world record time in Poland yesterday.
In a thrilling sprint finish, Jepchirchir defeated Germany’s Melat Yisak Kejeta and Ethiopian Yalemzerf Yehualaw to regain her world title from 2016 in a new women’s only world record of 1:05:15.
The Ethiopian born Kejeta clocked a new German record of 1:05:18 to win the silver while Ethiopian Yehualaw clocked a massive personal best of 1:05:18 to win the bronze. All three ran under the Jepchirchir’s previous would record of 1:05:34.
Towards the end of the second lap (around 8km into the race), defending champion Netsanet Gudeta took a tumble and lost contact with the lead group to finish in a disappointing eighth place.
World record-holder Ababel Yeshaneh and World silver medalist Joyciline Jepkosgei collided and crashed to the ground just three kilometers before the line.
Ethiopian Yeshaneh finished the race in fifth place in 1:05:41 while Kenyan Jepkosgei took the sixth place 1:05:58.
It was the fastest women’s half marathon race of all time as the top six women finished inside 66 minutes and the top nine finished inside 67 minutes.
In the team event, Ethiopia produced the best cumulative time with 3:16:39, smashing the championship record. Kenya took team silver with 3:18:10 while Germany took bronze with 3:28:42.
Sri Lankan marathon champion Hiruni Wijayaratne was disappointing yesterday as she did not finish the event. The 105 women athletes were taking part this half marathon event which was the only world athletic event in this year.(DR)