Ethiopian Haftu Teklu smashed the course record of the 31st edition of the Barcelona Half Marathon that was held on Sunday (17) in Barcelona, Spain.
Teflu was in a lead group of seven athletes, including the two Ugandan hares Abel Sikowo and Mathew Chekwurui, set an intense pace which took them through 5km mark at a record pace with Eritrean Aron Kifle and Teklu passing with a time of 14:05 (18 seconds below the record).
At the 10km mark, the group passed with 28:08 (28 seconds ahead) and the first hare, Chekwurui, gave the baton to Sikowo so that he would shoot up to kilometer 15.
Teklu who was debuting held onto Sikowo who slowed down leaving Kissa and Teklu to kick and fight for honors but the Ethiopian carried the day with a strong kick cutting the tape in a new personal best and new course record of 59:39, five seconds behind the previous record that was set in 2018 by Mule Washiun from Ethiopia.
LEADING RESULTS
21KM MEN
- Haftu Teklu (ETH) 59:34
- Stephen Kissa (UG) 60:14
- Chala Regasa (UG) 60:33
- Aron Kifle (ETH) 60:48
- Abel Sikowo (UG) 61:39
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