Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia breaks women’s half marathon world record by more than a minute with time of 1:02:52 in Valencia and fends off competition from Yalemzerf Yehualaw
- Letesenbet Gidey broke the women’s half marathon world record in Valencia
- Gidey finished in 1:02:52, taking over a minute off Ruth Chepngetich’s record
- The Ethiopian managed to finish ahead of compatriot Yalemzerf Yehualaw
Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey smashed the women’s half marathon world record on Sunday, finishing in one hour, two minutes and 52 seconds at the Valencia Half Marathon Trinidad Alfonso EDP.
The 23-year-old Gidey, who is also the world 5,000 metres (14:06.62) and 10,000 metres (29:01.03) record-holder, shaved more than a minute off the previous half marathon mark of 1:04:02 set by Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich in April this year.
‘I’m so happy to break the world record in my first half marathon and my first race for the NN Running Team. Gracias Valencia,’ Gidey, the Tokyo Olympics 10,000 metres bronze medallist, said.
Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey broke the women’s half marathon record by more than a minute
Gidey finished with a time of 1:02:52 at the Valencia Half Marathon Trinidad Alfonso EDP
Her 10 kilometre split was 29:45 minutes, around 35 seconds better than the pace of Chepngetich when she set the record, and she steadily improved in sunny conditions to cruise to victory.
In August another Ethiopian, Yalemzerf Yehualaw, ran 1:03:44 in County Atrim. However, that time wasn’t ratified and has now been beaten in any case.
Gidey managed to fend off competition from Yalemzerf Yehualaw, who finished in 1:03:51
On Sunday, Yehualaw finished in 1:03:51, which was also inside the previous world record.
In the men’s race, Kenya’s Abel Kipchumba made a late charge to win in 58:07 minutes, moving him to sixth on the world all-time list.
Fellow Kenyan Rhonex Kipruto was second in 58:09 and Daniel Mateiko was third in 58:26 as the top seven men finished the World Athletics Elite Label road race inside 59 minutes.