Yehualaw and Matata Triumph Amidst Rain and Wind at Antrim Coast Half Marathon
.jpg/Yalemzerf%20Yehualaw%20(1)__800x600.jpg)
In the picturesque yet challenging terrain of the Antrim Coast, runners faced formidable weather conditions during the Antrim Coast Half Marathon. Among them, Kenya's Alex Nzioka Matata and Ethiopia's Yalemzerf Yehualaw emerged victorious, conquering fierce winds and relentless rain.
Yalemzerf Yehualaw, not new to the rigors of top-tier competition, having won the London Marathon in 2022, continued her dominance in the women's race. From the outset, Yehualaw took a commanding lead, clocking a remarkable time of 65 minutes and 34 seconds, despite adverse weather conditions. Her performance was a clear minute and sixteen seconds ahead of her closest competitor, Kenya's Loice Chemnung. Reflecting on her race, Yehualaw shared, "I am very happy to win this race but if it wasn’t raining and so windy then I would have run under 64 minutes. But I am happy to win. I would like to thank the organisers and my coaching team." Her victory marked her third win at this event, a testament to her enduring prowess and affinity for the Antrim Coast course.
Joyciline Jepkosgei, the 2021 London Marathon winner and one of Yehualaw's expected rivals, finished third, trailing by a minute and thirty-three seconds. The challenging conditions played a significant role, as Yehualaw's time was notably slower than her personal best of 63:51.
On the men's side, Alex Nzioka Matata, a 27-year-old Kenyan athlete, showcased his resilience and skill by finishing the race in 59 minutes and 48 seconds, barely eleven seconds shy of his personal best. Matata's performance was particularly impressive given the "awful weather conditions," as he described post-race. "The course was not easy for everybody. I am pleased to win but I wanted to defeat my personal best. The weather was even tougher than I expected. The rain was heavy, I could really feel. But I pushed my level as far as I could," Matata stated.
Hillary Kipkoech, also from Kenya, followed Matata, finishing in 60 minutes and 29 seconds, while Ethiopia's Birhanu Legese, a two-time Tokyo Marathon champion, clinched the third spot by a narrow margin.
Women's Half Marathon Top Results
| Pos | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Yalemzerf YEHUALAW | 1:05:31 |
| 2. | Loice CHEMNUNG | 1:06:47 |
| 3. | Joyciline JEPKOSGEI | 1:07:04 |
| 4. | Ftaw ZERAY | 1:07:15 |
| 5. | Mulat TEKLE | 1:08:16 |
| 6. | Roza DEREJE | 1:09:35 |
| 7. | Jackie GAUGHAN | 1:11:58 |
| 8. | Natasha PHILIPS | 1:12:31 |
| 9. | Annie HEFFERNAN | 1:13:51 |
| 10. | Fionnuala ROSS | 1:14:16 |
Men's Half Marathon Top Results
| Pos | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Alex NZIOKA MATATA | 59:47 |
| 2. | Hillary KIPKOECH | 1:00:28 |
| 3. | Birhanu LEGESE | 1:00:28 |
| 4. | Adissu GOBENA | 1:01:29 |
| 5. | Levy KIBET PACE | 1:01:38 |
| 6. | Hillary CHEKWONY | 1:01:57 |
| 7. | Simon DEBOGNIES | 1:02:02 |
| 8. | Hiko TONOSA | 1:02:47 |
| 9. | Alex MASAI | 1:02:55 |
| 10. | Ryan GREGSON | 1:03:01 |
