European 5,00m gold medallist Sifan Hassan from the Netherlands smashed the women course record at the 4th edition of the Copenhagen Half Marathon that was held on Sunday in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The weather being in its perfect weather conditions, the 25-year-old Hassan lowered the European Record that was set in 2007 by more than a minute, when she cut the tape in a new course record of 1:05.15 with 24 seconds short of a new world record. At the same time, Hassan lowered the race record with impressing 56 seconds.
“I often thought I was going to die! The pace was so hard, but I just kept coming back,” an clearly surprised Hassan said after the race, which should be called her debut, although she did run a – much slower – half marathon back in 2011 at age 18.
As expected, Sifan Hassan started the race off really fast and stuck to pre-favorite Joan Chelimo Melly, who had proclaimed that she would be targeting the world record.
The 27 year-old Kenyan who on paper was the race favorite had to settle with a 3rd place after she was overtaken by Ethiopia’s Ababel Yeshaneh Brihane who crossed the line in 1:05.46 with the latter in 1:06.15.
Zeineba Yimer and Ruth Chepngetich finished in fourth and fifth place in 1:06.21 and 1:07.02 respectively.
LEADING RESULTS
WOMEN
- Sifan Hassan (NED) 1:05:15
- Ababel Brihane (ETH) 1:05.46
- Joan Melly (KEN) 1:07.02
- Zeineba Yimer (ETH) 1:06.21
- Ruth Chepngetich (KEN) 1:07.02
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