Ruth Chepngetich Smashes World Half Marathon Record in Istanbul

World marathon champion Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya won the 2021 N Kolay Istanbul Half Marathon with a new World record time on Sunday, April 4.

The World marathon champion Chepngetich shaved 29 seconds off the previous World record to win N Kolay Istanbul Half Marathon with an impressive time of 1:04:02.

"I am really happy with this amazing result," said Chepngetich. "The world record is something I have been dreaming about for some time and I am so happy to do it on the streets of Istanbul."

Yalemzerf Yehualaw of Ethiopia took second place in a new PB and the 3rd fastest time in the history of 1:04:39.

The third-place took Kenya's Hellen Obiri, the 9-time World champion (4x5000m, 1500m, 3000m, 4x1500m, and cross country), clocked a stunning 1:04:51 to become the fastest half marathon debutant in history. She broke the previous debut record of 1:05:18 by Genzebe Dibaba from the 2020 Valencia Half Marathon.

For the first time in history, three women finished inside 65 minutes in a single half marathon race.

In the men's race, Kenya's Kibiwott Kandie, the World record holder in the event, claimed victory in 59:39 just two seconds ahead of his compatriot the three-time World half marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor. The men's podium concluded another Kenyan athlete Roncer Kipkorir with 59:49.

See the full Istanbul Half Marathon results here.