Kibiwott Kandie breaks world half marathon record with 57:32

Kibiwott Kandie broke the world record in the half marathon with a sensational time of 57:32. The 24-year-old kenyan runner improved the previous world record held by Geoffrey Kamworor (58:01 set in Copenaghen in 2019) by 29 seconds.  

The top-four runners dipped under the previous world record. 

Jacob Kiplimo finished second in 57:37 ahead of 10000m world under 20 champion Rhonex Kipruto (57:49), Alexander Mutiso (57:59), Kelvin Kiptum (58:42), Bravin Kipkosgei Kiptoo (59:37). Switzerland’s Julien Wanders finished eighth and first among the European runners in 59:55 ahead Spain’s Carlos Mayo (60:06). 

Kandie dipped under the 60 minute barrier for the fourth time this year after running 58:58 in Ras Al Khaimah, 58:38 in Prague and 58:54 at the World Half Marathon in Gdynia, where he finished second behind Jacob Kiplimo. 

The leading group went through the 5 km in 13:37 and the 10 km in 27:25. Kandie pushed the pace at 14 km and went through the 15 km mark in 41:10. Rhonex Kipruto, Jacob Kiplimo, Philemon Kiplimo and Alexander Mutiso ran on Kandie’s shoulders. 

Kandie pushed the pace after 50 minutes. Kiplimo was the only runner to resist to Kandie’s attack and caught up with his Kenyan rival at 20 km mark, which they went through in 54:52. Kandie and Kiplimo took turns with the lead in the final km. Kandie pulled away from Kiplimo in the final sprint with 500 metres to go. 

Kibiwott Kandie: “I can’t believe it. I have beaten Geoffrey Kamworor’s world record by half a minute. Today is a great day for me and for Kenya”. 

Valencia lived up to its reputation as the “Ciudad del Running”. Kandie launched his decisive kick with 500 metres to go setting the fourth world record in Valencia this year after Rhonex Kipruto’s 26:24 in the road 10 km last January, Joshua Cheptegei’s 26:11.00 in the men’s 10000m and Letesenbet Gidey’s 14:06.02 in the women’s 5000m. 

World 1500 metres record holder Genzebe Dibaba won the women’s half marathon in 1:05:18 setting the fastest ever debut over distance. Kenya’s Sheila Kipkirui finished second in 1:05:39 ahead of 2015 world 5000m silver medallist Senbere Teferi (1:05:51), Kenya’s Dorcas Tuitoek (1.07:18), US Emily Sisson (1:07:26) and Kenya’s Brenda Jepleting (1:08:47). 

Chebet wins the marathon in 2:03:00

Kenya’s Evans Chebet won the men’s marathon in 2:03:00 setting the sixth fastest time in history. Chebet held off 2019 Boston and Chicago winner Lawrence Cherono, who clocked the seventh best performance of all-time with 2:03:04. 

Ethiopia’s Birhanu Legese crossed the finish-line in third place with 2:03:16 setting the second fastest time of his career after the 2:02:48 time set in Berlin last 2019, when he finished second behind Kenenisa Bekele. Kenya’s Amos Kipruto finished fourth in 2:03:33 moving up into 11th place in the all-time list. 

Eleven runners ran under the 2:06 barrier: Reuben Kiprop took fifth place in 2:04:12 ahead of Ethiopia’s Chalu Deso Gemisa (2:04:53), two-time world champion Abel Kirui (2:05:05), Abebe Negewo (2:05:15) and Leul Gebrselassie (2:05:29), Philemon Rono (2:05:37) and Oqbe Kibrom (2:05:53). 

Ayad Lamdassem set the Spanish record with 2:06:35. Amanal Petros broke the German record wiith 2:07:18 beating Turkey’s European record holder Kaan Kigen Ozbilen (2:08:50). 

Five athletes (Reuben Kiprop, Amos Kipruto, Evans Chebet, Lawrence Cherono and Birhanu Legese) went through the 35 km mark in 1:42:17. Cherono and Chebet launched their attack at 40 km pulling away from Legese and ran neck to neck in the final 2 km Chebet broke away from Cherono with 500m to go to cross the finish-line in 2:03:00. Cherono lost his second race in seven appearances over this distance, but he impoved his PB from 2:04:06 to 2:03:04. Four men broke the 2:04 barrier, the most ever in a single race. 

Valencia becomes the third fastest marathon in the world after Berlin and London. 

Peres Jepchirchir set the fifth fastest time in history in the women’s marathon

Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir won the women’s marathon in 2:07:16 clocking the fifth fastest time in history. Only Brigid Kosgei, Paula Radcliffe, Mary Keitany and Ruth Chepngetich ran faster than Jepchirchir. Jepchirchir crowned a very successful season in which she won the world half marathon title setting the world record with 1:05:16. 

Last year’s New York Marathon winner Joyciline Jepkosgei finished second setting her PB with 2:18:40. Namibia’s Helalia Johannes (world bronze medallist in Doha 2019) smashed her PB with 2:19:52. For the first time in history six women ran under the 2:20 barrier.  Ethiopia’s Zeineba Yimer finished fourth in 2:19:54 beating Tigist Girma and Degitu Azimeraw, who shared the same time with 2:19:56. 

Sweden’s Carolina Wikstroem was the first European athlete in 11th place with 2:26:37 ahead of Germany’s Deborah Schoneborn (2.26:52) and Marta Galimany Guasch, who narrowly missed the Spanish record with 2:27:07.

See complete full Valencia Marathon results here.