Reigning Africa junior cross country champion Rhonex Kipruto broke the course record of UAE Health Kidney 10km road race held in New York City’s Central Park.
At 18, Kipruto ran the fastest time of 27:08 to bring down fellow Kenyan Sammy Kipketer’s time of 27:11 he set in 2002.
Kipruto, who won the Ndalat Gaa cross country championships last year led Mathew Kimeli (28:19), the 2017 Iten cross country champion who finished second before Ethiopian Teshome Mekonen completing the podium in 28:10.
Kipruto smashed the previous event record of 27:35, set by world record holder Leonard Patrick Komon of Kenya in 2011.
Ethiopia’s Buze Diriba won the women’s race in 32:04, just ahead of compatriot Aselefech Mergia who clocked 32:06. Monicah Ngige of Kenya finished third for the second consecutive year in 32:15.
Top three finishers
Men
- Rhonex Kipruto-27:08
- Mathew Kimeli-28:19
- Teshome Mekonen-28:10
Women
- Duze Diriba-32:04
- Aselefech Diriba-32:06
- Monicah Ngige-32:15