The Ethiopian clocked 57:30 to take a second off Jacob Kiplimo’s mark as Agnes Ngetich clocked 63:04 to win the women’s race.
The self-proclaimed city of running once again set a world record at the Trinidad Alfonso Zurich Half Marathon of Valencia on Sunday (October 27) with Yomif Kejelca clocking 57:30.
Instead of the usual blue sky, on this occasion the spectators dispersed to take shelter from the rain. The weather, however, made no difference as the 27-year-old Ethiopian took a second off Jacob Kiplimo’s 57:31 mark set in Lisbon three years ago.
There was also a stunning time in the women’s race as Agnes Ngetich of Kenya finished second in the all-time world rankings in 63:04.
Kejelča now holds the simultaneous world records for the indoor mile and half marathon, as he ran 3:47.01 in 2019. He first showed his talent on the international stage a decade ago when he won the World Under-18 3000m and the World Under-20 Championships. 5000m titles. Since then, he has won two world indoor 3000m crowns in 2016 and 2018, but has generally disappointed at major championships. For example, he finished sixth in the Olympic 10,000m race this year.
The tall Ethiopian is known for his fast finishes, but he may have a big future in the marathon. In Valencia on Sunday, he sailed 5km in 13:38 and 10km in 27:12 before pulling away from his rivals in the closing stages. With music from the Marvel movie The Avengers: Blasting from a tanno at the end, he slotted home to take a second off Kiplimo’s mark.
Yomif Kejelca (Getty)
Kenya’s Daniel Mateiko was runner-up in 58:17, while Kenya’s Isaiah Kipkoech Lasoi was third in 58:2. Ethiopia’s Gamechu Dida finished fourth in 58:39, followed by Kenya’s Vicente Langat in 58:41, Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega sixth in 58:57 and Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew in 59:4.
The women’s world record of 62:52 was set by Ethiopia’s Letezenbet Gidei over the same course in Valencia three years ago, and Ngetic gave her a scare this weekend, finishing just 12 seconds off her debut distance.
Ngetic has a good history at Valencia. In January of this year, he nominated A 10km world record: 28:46 in a Spanish city.
Agnes Ngetich
On Sunday, the Kenyan covered 5km in 14:39 and 10km in 29:18 before being beaten in the closing stages by Ethiopia’s Fotien Tesfa, who clocked 63:21, and Kenya’s Lilian Kasait Rengeruk, who clocked 63:32. Collectively, the trio ranked Nos. 2, 3 and 4 on the all-time world rankings.
Prior to this weekend, the second fastest women’s half marathon in history was 63:51 by Yalemzerf Yehualav. the Ethiopian who won the Amsterdam Marathon earlier this month.
After Ngetich, Tesfai and Rengeruk, Ethiopia’s Ejgaehu Taye was fourth in 64:14 and Tzigie Gebreselama was fifth in 65:1.
Clara Evans, the best Briton in the Olympic marathonfinished 14th in 69:00 as she took more than a minute off her personal best, with Britain’s Natasha Phillips (70:18), Hannah Irwin (70:49) and Jenny Nesbitt (71:32) also running with PBs.
The home fans were also celebrating Kautar Boulade because he defined a Spanish women’s record From 68:47.
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