Tag Archives: Valencia Half Marathon

Athletics

Abel Kipchumba to face Jacob Kiplimo at Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon

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Kenya’s Abel Kipchumba will battle the world half marathon record holder Jacob Kiplimo at the 15th edition of the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon that will be held on Saturday, 19th February, in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.

Kipchumba secured the second-fastest time in the 2021 Half Marathon distance category, with a personal best of 58:07 that he got at the Adizero Road to Records in Herzogenaurach, Germany.

The 27 years-old would not have an easy leeway as he will face the half marathon biggest obstacle in recent times, the inform Kiplimo.

The 21 year-old dominated the race on his way to beating his closest rival by more than two minutes, as he took one second off the previous world record set by Kenya’s Kibiwott Kandie in Valencia in 2020.

The Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist in 10000m and fifth in the 5000m, covered the opening 5km in 13:40, 10km mark in 27:05, and passed through 15km in 40:27.

But Kipchumba will be expected to deliver an exciting competition and add to a series of world-class records including first place at the 2021 Valencia Half Marathon and second place in the 2020 Napoli City Half Marathon.

Kipchumba and Kiplimo will attack the race course record of 58:42 set by two Kenyans Bedan Karoki in 2018 and Stephen Kiprop in 2019.

Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, stated, “The unveiling of the race routes, technical sponsor and elite athletes of the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon marks an important milestone. The marathon has proven to be a huge success in previous years, and with only a few weeks till the upcoming race, we are excited to welcome back an incredible line-up of athletes and sports enthusiasts to our wonderful Emirate.”

The event will take place with robust safety precautions to safeguard the health and wellbeing of participants and spectators. Participants will have to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination.

Athletics

Abel Kipchumba beats Rhonex Kipruto at the Valencia Half Marathon

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Kenya’s Abel Kipchumba beat Rhonex Kipruto at 30th edition of the the Valencia Half Marathon that was that was held on Sunday (24) in Valencia.

Kipchumba led 1-2-3 Kenyan podium finish as crossed the line with the fastest time this year of 58.00 which was also his new personal best.

Kipchumba was closely followed by the World 10km record holder, Kipruto who crossed the line nine seconds later with Daniel Mateiko closing the first three podium finishes in a new personal best of 58:26.

LEADING RESULTS

21KM MEN

  1. Abel Kipchumba     (KEN) 58:00
  2. Rhonex Kipruto       (KEN) 58:09
  3. Daniel Mateiko        (KEN) 58:26
Athletics

Letesenbet Gidey smashes the World Half Marathon Record at Valencia Half Marathon

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Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey smashed the World Half Marathon record at the Valencia Half Marathon that was held on Sunday (24) in Valencia.

Gidey smashed the previous record of world record of 1:04.02 set by Ruth Chepngetich from Kenya early this year at the Istanbul Half Marathon when she cut the tape in a world record of 1:02.52.

She 1-2 Ethiopian podium finish as she was followed by Yalemzerf Yehualaw who also crossed the line below the previous World record with a 1:03.51.

Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui closed the first three podium finishes in a time of  1:04.54.

The Valencia Half Marathon becomes the only race that currently holds the world record for women and men for the same distance, since Kibiwott Kandie’s mark, 57:32 that he set in the 2020 Edition still intact

Athletics

World Half Marathon Record By Yalemzerf Yehualaw Will Not Be Ratified

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Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw world record time of 1:03.43 will not be ratified byWorld Athletics as the World Record due to the course being short by 54 metres.

Through her management the NN Running Team, said during the pre-race elite conference for Valencia Half Marathon that will be held tomorrow.

Yehaulaw took 18 seconds off the previous world record of 1:04.02 set by Ruth Chepngetich from Kenya early this year at the Istanbul Half Marathon.

The 22 year-old got this time when she smashed the race course record at the Antrim Coast Half Marathon in August. She dominated the race, beating the second-place finisher, Jane Nyaboke of Kenya, by six minutes. This race was her third attempt at the half marathon world record, and she will have a fourth this weekend at the Valencia Half Marathon.

She found out her record wasn’t ratified moments before today’s Valencia press conference. “I always focus on what I can influence and accept what comes my way,” said Yehualaw when asked about the World Athletics decision, according to NN Running Team.

Athletics

Letesenbet Gidey and Yalemzerf Yehualaw target world half marathon record in Valencia

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The Valencia Half Marathon Trinidad Alfonso EDP witnessed a men’s world record last year as Kibiwott Kandie ran a stunning 57:32. This time the women’s world record is the target and organisers have assembled a star-studded line-up for the World Athletics Elite Label road race on Sunday (24).

Ethiopians Letesenbet Gidey and Yalemzerf Yehualaw will clash in a long-awaited showdown. Gidey is the world 5000m and 10,000m record-holder, while Yehualaw ran 1:03:44 in August, and although that time will not be ratified as a world half marathon record the two athletes will now go head-to-head in Valencia as they target the 1:04:02 run by Ruth Chepngetich in Istanbul in April, a mark which is pending world record ratification.

The 23-year-old Gidey has competed sparingly this year but managed to set a world 10,000m record by running 29:01.03 in Hengelo before claiming bronze at the Tokyo Olympics.

While the diminutive Yehualaw is an accomplished half marathon specialist, with nine outings over the last three seasons, Gidey will tackle the distance for the first time but her impressive 44:20 world best for the 15km set in Nijmegen in 2019 suggests she might become the first debutante to set a world record for the distance.

Reportedly, each of the Ethiopian aces will be joined by their respective pacemakers – Mebrahtu Kiros and Genetu Molalign – in a battle which promises to be fierce, while the organisers will provide an official pacemaker for the rest of the elite targeting a 1:05 clocking.

That second group looks set to be led by Ethiopia’s Senbere Teferi, the winner in 2019 thanks to a 1:05:32 time; her compatriot Hawi Feysa, fresh from a 1:05:41 PB in Copenhagen last month; Sheila Chepkirui, runner-up last year in a career best of 1:05:39; and her fellow Kenyan Brenda Jepleting, a 1:06:52 performer.

After last year’s climax, when no fewer than four men ran inside the then world record of 58:01, one of them – Rhonex Kipruto – will be the marquee athlete this time.

The Kenyan star, who clocked a 57:49 debut last year, also excelled in Valencia in January 2020 when he set the world 10km record of 26:24. He couldn’t place higher than ninth at the Tokyo Olympics over 10,000m but proved to be in top form in September when he recorded 26:43 at a 10km road race in Herzogenaurach.

While a men’s world record assault is not planned on this occasion, the pacemakers are set to go through the opening 10km in 27:30 on the hunt for a sub-58:00 finish time. In addition to Kipruto, Sunday’s field includes another four Kenyan athletes with PBs under 59 minutes: Philemon Kiplimo, who was fifth last year in Valencia in a career best of 58:11, plus Kelvin Kiptum (58:42), Abel Kipchumba (58:48) and Felix Kipkoech (58:57). Yet Kipruto’s toughest opposition might come from the two-time world 5000m champion Muktar Edris.

The 27-year-old Ethiopian posted a promising debut over the distance last November by clocking 59:04 in New Delhi and should play a key role on Sunday, while the European challenge will be headed by Norway’s Sondre Moen and Spain’s Carlos Mayo.

Weather forecasters predict an ideal morning for running, with a 13ºC temperature and a very slight breeze. After the four records set in Valencia last year – the men’s 10km, half marathon and 10,000m, plus the women’s 5000m – the city could witness another world best on Sunday.

Athletics

Gidey and Dibaba set to attack the world half record in Valencia

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Fresh from winning 10,000m bronze medallist at the Concluded Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, Letesenbet Gidey will be facing off with world 1500m record holder Genzebe Dibaba at the Valencia Half Marathon that will be held on October 24 in Valencia, Spain.

 It will be an all Ethiopian battle, who both enjoys good time on the course. The 5,000m record holder with 14:06.62, also holds the 10,000m record set in Hengelo in 29:01.03 as well as the 15km world record in 44:20.

Dibaba on the other hand, the former Olympic Games 1500m Rio silver medallist, won Valencia title last year 1:05.18 while Senbere Teferi took the honors in 2019 with a time of 1:05.32.

Teferi also holds the 5Km record for women with 14:29. Another Ethiopia Yalemzerf Yehualaw comes with a personal best of 1:04.40 that she got when she finished third in the last World Half Marathon in Gdynia, Poland. She took 19 seconds off the world half marathon record, running a remarkable 1:03.44 at the P&O Ferries Antrim Coast Half Marathon.

Athletics

Rhonex Kipruto to battle Muktar Edris at Valencia Half Marathon

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The world 10km record holder  Rhonex Kipruto will battle for honors with  two time world 5,000m champion Muktar Edris at the Valencia Half Marathon that will be held on October 24 in Valencia, Spain.

 After failing to break his own record at the Herzogenaurach, Germany early this month, Kipruto ran his second fastest time in history of the 10km race cutting the tape in 26:43 as season best.

 Ethiopian Edris carries enjoys a personal best of 59:04 won during his debut at the 2020 Airtel Delhi Half Marathon and hopes to run better in his second 21km race.

 The duohave had good track records and will be joined by several sub 59-minute runners over the distance and some world-class debutants from the track.

Marc Roig, manager of the international elite of the race, said that “Olympic years always have a special atmosphere, but the calendar does not stop and the half marathon (non-Olympic distance) has other crowns to share out. And they want them, both those who triumphed in Tokyo and those who fell short. That’s why dreaming about the world record is possible and desired”. 

The Valencia Half Marathon is working with the teams of the top elite athletes so that their training in the weeks leading up to the event will culminate in an unprecedented peak of performance in Valencia.

Last year’s edition was for only Elite athletes in which a new male world record of 57:32 was set by Kibiwott Kandie from Kenya, and four runners ran under 58 minutes, the Valencia Half Marathon has assembled these fast runners to try and lower the world record.