As Kenyan were glued on pay television sets watching Berlin marathon, Daniel Kipchumba led a 1-2 podium finish for Kenyan runners in this year’s Copenhagen Half Marathon ran in Denmark.
Kipchumba won the race beating Daegu marathon champion Abraham Kiptum and Ethiopian Jemal Yimer Mekonnen in a thrilling sprint finish.
The champion clocked 59:06 ahead of Kiptum, the two time Lagos marathon champion to second place 59:09 before Mekonnen claimed the last podium place in 59:14.
Double world 3000m indoor champion Yomif Kejelcha, finished fourth on his debut in a time of 59:17, as the top eight men finished inside 60 minutes.
Former Berlin half marathon champion Joan Chelimo was the only Kenyan on the podium after finishing third behind world 1,500m silver medallist Sifan Hassan from the Netherlands, who was competing in her first half marathon race, broke the European half marathon record in winning the women’s race in 65:15.
Ethiopian-born Hassan, who won the European 5000m gold in August, bettered the previous record by one minute and 10 seconds.
Fellow Dutch athlete Lornah Kiplagat, who like Hassan was born in East Africa, held the record of 66:25 since 2007.
Ethiopia’s Ababel Yeshaneh finished second in 65:46, ahead of race favourite Joan Chelimo of Kenya who clocked 66:15.
Results
Men
- Daniel Kipchumba (KEN) 59:06
- Abraham Kiptum (KEN) 59:09
- Jemal Yimer (ETH) 59:14
- Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) 59:17
- Felix Kibitok (KEN) 59:21
- Edwin Kiptoo (KEN) 59:28
- Lelisa Desisa (ETH) 59:52
- Dominic Kiptarus (KEN) 59:55
- Asefa Mengstu Negewo (ETH) 60:00
- Alexander Mutiso (KEN) 60:11
Women
- Sifan Hassan (NED) 1:05:15
- Ababel Yeshaneh Brihane (ETH) 1:05:46
- Joan Chelimo Melly (KEN) 1:06:15
- Zeineba Yimer (ETH) 1:06:21
- Ruth Chepngetich (KEN) 1:07:02
- Bekelech Gudeta Borecha (ETH) 1:07:03
- Hiwot Gebrekidan Gebremaryam (ETH) 1:07:36
- Meseret Belete (ETH) 1:07:51
- Meskerem Assefa (ETH) 1:08:34
- Belaynesh Oljira (ETH) 1:08:36