by Alfonz Juck
Fancy Chemutai, Brigid Kosgei, photo by Colombo
Ababel Yeshaneh sets new WR of 64:31, Brigid Kosgei sets PB of 64:49, both under old HM WR! photo by Colombo
The RAK half marathon is under new management. The new team put together a fine race, with two womern under the world record and some very fast men. The following piece is under EME News.
Half WR by Yeshaneh
RAK Half Marathon, photo by Colombo
RAS AL-KHAIMAH (UAE, Feb 21): Ababel Yeshaneh took 20 seconds off the world half-marathon record with 64:31 at the RAK Half-marathon. The Ethiopian was followed home by world marathon record-holder Brigid Kosgei, who in second also beat the old mark with 64:49. The top two, plus the pacemaker, went through 5km splits of 15:07, 15:11 and 15:23 before Yeshaneh moved away. Her fourth 5km showed a marginal slowing with 15:31, but she comfortably did enough to beat Joyciline Jepkosgei’s 2017 mark. Yeshaneh, 28, has run 30:35.91 on the track but since that time in 2013 has excelled on the road, improving to 65:46 in 2018. “I didn’t imagine this result,” she said. “I am a world record-holder!” In third, Rosemary Wanjiru became the fastest-ever debutant with 65:34. Eight went below 67 minutes. Kibiwott Kandie followed up his Kenyan cross-country title the previous weekend with victory in the men’s race in a PB of 58:58, 18 seconds in front of Alexander Mutiso. Mule Wasihun was third in 59:47. European record-holder Julien Wanders was 11th in 60:46.
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Kibiwott Kandie flies at RAK inr 58:58, photo by Colombo
