Olympic 5,000 metres champion Vivian Cheruiyot shattered the course record at the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon, on Sunday.
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Olympic 5,000 metres champion Vivian Cheruiyot shattered the course record at the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon, on Sunday.
Cheruiyot posted 1:06:34 while the previous record (on this flat course) was 1:08:22 set by Kenyan Rose Chelimo in 2015.
The former 10,000m world champion improved her personal best by a minute after shattering her 1:07:43 performance she set at last year's Great North Run.
At Friday's pre-race press conference, Cheruiyot had promised to mount an assault on her personal best—and she followed through.
"It was a good race for me," she said. "Only the strong wind made me run slower. I raced to beat my personal best, and I’m happy. It was a great test for the London Marathon, next month.
"Ethiopian Zeineba Yimer was second, more than a minute after the winner in 1:08:07 while debutante Sandra Tuei Felis rounded off the podium in 1:08.14 with countrywoman Linet Masai further back, clocking 1:08:51 for fourth, and another Kenyan debutant, Caroline Chepkemoi, next in 1:09:13.
In a thrilling sprint finish, Swede Meraf Bahta, also making her half-marathon debut, edged Portugal's Sara Moreira, both credited with 1:12:09.
In the men's category, Isaac Kipkemoi was placed third in 59:44 with Kelvin Cheruiyot fifth in 59:54. Kenya's Edward Kiptoo (59:58), John Loitang (1:00:09), Bernard Kimani (1:00:11), Simon Chepot (1:00:12) and Nicholas Kosimbei (1:00.21) completed the top 10 places. The race was won by Ethiopia's Mosinet Geremew in 59:37 with compatriot Berehanu Tsegu (59:420 coming home second.