At each of the last two World Half Marathon Championships, the Kenyan women swept the medals, but today belonged to Ethiopia as they won both the individual and women’s team title.
27-year-old Netsanet Gudeta Kebede led the way for Ethiopia as she dropped world record holder, Joyciline Jepkosgei of Kenya around 14km, and went on to set a world record herself, clocking 66:11 to run the fastest time ever in a women’s-only race (Jepkosgei has the overall WR at 64:51).
Gudeta wound up winning with ease as she had dropped the field by 15km before splitting 15:23 from 15k to 20k to build up an enormous lead.
Her eventual margin of victory was an incredible 43 seconds over runner-up Jepkosgei. Kenyan Pauline Kamulu took bronze in 66:56, two seconds behind Jepkosgei.
The victory was particularly sweet for Gudeta as she had been denied medals by the Kenyans in the past; in each of the past two editions, she finished as the top non-Kenyan (4th in 2016, 6th in 2014) but could not crack the podium.
The victory was particularly sweet for Gudeta as she had been denied medals by the Kenyans in the past; in each of the past two editions, she finished as the top non-Kenyan (4th in 2016, 6th in 2014) but could not crack the podium.
In all, Gudeta, who was the bronze medallist at the 2015 World XC Champs, took home at least $80,000 in prize money — $30,000 for the win, $50,000 for breaking Lornah Kiplagat’s women’s-only world record of 66:25, and a share of the $15,000 prize money awarded to the victorious Ethiopian team.
Emma Bates finished as the top American in 27th, clocking a PR of 71:45.
Source: LetsRun
Emma Bates finished as the top American in 27th, clocking a PR of 71:45.
Source: LetsRun
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