World Athletes has ratified the newly crowned Chicago marathon champion Ruth Chepng’etuch and Francine Niyonsaba records.
Chepngetich clocked 64:02 to set a new world half marathon record when she won the Istanbul Half Marathon.
Chepngetich won the title, defeating Yalemzerf Yehualaw and two time Olympic Games 5000m silver medalist Hellen Obiri, won the title with 38 seconds, while Yehualaw and Obiri both finished inside 65 minutes breaking the 64:02 previous record of 64:31 set by Ethiopia’s Ababel Yeshaneh in Ras Al Khaimah on 21 February 2020.
“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.”
Chepngetich’s record was recently broken by Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey, who won in Valencia last weekend with 62:52 – a mark that is pending ratification.
Niyonsaba capped her 2021 track campaign with a 2000m victory and world record at the Continental Tour Gold meeting in Zagreb on 14 September.
The distance runner from Burundi followed the pacemakers for the first three laps, passing through 400m in 1:04.50 and 800m in 2:09.22. The half-way point was reached in 2:41.37, putting her inside world record pace.
Niyonsaba went through the bell in 4:20.23, meaning she needed a final lap of about 63 seconds to claim the world record. Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu tried to move into the lead on the back straight, but Niyonsaba kept her at bay and then kicked for home, eventually crossing the line in 5:21.56.
Her winning time took more than two seconds off the previous record that had been set indoors by Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba in Sabadell on 7 February 2017.
“I did it. It’s wonderful and it’s fabulous,” said Niyonsaba. “The pacing was really perfect. I want to thank all the people who came to cheer us.