Abraham Kiptum Takes Five Seconds Off Half Marathon World Record in Valencia, Spain

By Adam Kopet

For the second year in a row a world record was broken at the Valencia Half marathon in Spain. Last year it was Joyciline Jepkosgei of Kenya taking one second off her world record.

This year it was her compatriot, Abraham Kiptum, breaking the eight-year-old world record in the Spanish city, running 58:18.

Kiptum brings the half marathon world record back to Kenya after Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea ran 58:23 in 2010. Prior to that, Sammy Wanjiru, the 2008 Olympic marathon champion from Kenya, owned the record at 58:33 from 2007.

The goal of a fast pace in Valencia was no secret. The race organizers announced a plan for pace makers to reach 10 kilometers in 27:50, according to Emeterio Valiente for the IAAF. They ended up missing that mark by 12 seconds, but that mattered little for Kiptum. He covered the next 10 kilometers in a much faster 27:16.

Kiptum passed 20 kilometers in 55:18, breaking the world best at that distance by three seconds. The IAAF no longer recognizes the 20-kilometer distance as a record eligible event. Kiptum pushed on to the finish and won in 58:18.

Ethiopia's Jemal Yimer finished second in 58:33, equaling Wanjiru's 2007 mark and the third fastest time ever run, according to Track and Field News. Abadi Hadis, also of Ethiopia, finished third in 58:44, equaling the eighth fastest half marathon ever run.

Kiptum plans to race the Abu Dhabi Marathon in December. He owns a personal best of 2:05:26 from the 2017 Amsterdam Marathon.

The women's race was won by Ethiopia's Gelete Burka in 1:06:11.