Valencia Half Marathon: Keyelcha breaks World record, debutant Ngetich’s second fastest ever

Just a little over a year after running 57:41 to move to third in the all-time list of performances in the half marathon, Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha retunred to the same venue on Sunday to move from third to first, running a new 57:30 lifetime best to break the 57:30 Ugandan, Jacob Kiplimo ran in Lisbon, Portugal three years ago.

Kejelcha achieved this world record breaking feat in pouring rain.

Kejelcha, leading a pack of five athletes which also included Geechu Dida, Selemon Berega, Vincent Langat, and Isaias Kipkoech reached the 5km point in 13:38 world record pace.

At the 10km mark, Kejelcha, Dida, and Langat have become the frontrunners and the leading time of 27:12 was still at a world record pace.

Kejelcha however broke away from the other two after passing the 15km point and increased his speed, eventually finishing in 57:30, one second faster than Kiplimo did in Lisobon in 2021.

Interestingly, the duo of Dida and Langat faded badly, allowing Mateiko Daniel (58:17 PB) and Kipkoech Lasoi Isaia (58:21) to finish second and third respectively.

In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey who ran 1:02:52 to become the only woman to break 1:03 in the event incidentally in Valencia in 2021.

Three women viz Ngetich, Tesfay Fotyen (1:03:21) and Kasait Llian (1:03:32) broke 1:04 at the event.