Confidence and good race tactics were key for Sebastian Sawe as Team Kenya ruled the half marathon at the inaugural World Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia on Sunday.
Speaking after leading a Kenyan sweep of the podium, alongside Daniel Simiu and Samuel Mailu, Sawe said he noticed run-away leader Simiu was tiring away with 200m to go and decided to close in.
Simiu offered no resistance as he saluted Sawe and ushered him to the front.
“I always have confidence in the last kilometre,” said Sawe. “After approaching him, I saw he wasn’t pushing much and I had enough strength and after that, I never stopped.”
Sawe snatched the lead from Simiu with 80 metres to go to clock 59:10. Simiu settled for silver in 59:14 as Mailu took the bronze medal in 59:19.
The Berlin Half Marathon champion ran a tactful race, coming from behind to put on a strong finish when at one point it looked like Simiu was destined for gold.
"I was very far behind at one point but I kept pushing myself and once I had passed the Ethiopians and could see Simiu, I knew this was my chance," said Sawe.
Simiu ran blistering four kilometres from 16km mark which saw Ethiopian rival Yimer Mekonene take him on only to drop out two kilometres later.
It was just the second time in 25 editions that a nation swept the men’s world half marathon podium, the last one occurring in 1997 when Kenya’s Moses Tanui, Paul Yego and Charles Tangus went 1-2-3.
It meant Kenya claimed the team title for the 17th time, with a cumulative time for their top three of 2:57:43, well clear of Ethiopia (2:59:54). South Africa, led by Thabang Mosiako in sixth, took bronze in 3:01:17.
Team Kenya also claimed a clean sweep in the women's category with Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir leading Margaret Chelimo and Reline Amanangole to the tape.
Chelimo looked destined for the title but the experienced Jepchirchir breezed past to win it in 1:07:25. Chelimo was a second slower in 1:07:26 with Amanangole sealing the podium places in 1:07:34.
Jepchirchir, who turned 30 this week, was delighted with the victory.
"I wanted to win three times and make history, and thank God I have made it,” said Jepchirchir, who is a two-time world half marathon champion (2016 and 2020).
“It was my birthday this week and I told my husband I would work extra hard to get the win.”
Jepchirchir led Kenya to a decisive victory in the team title, their first since 2016, when they also swept the medal positions.
Their top three had a cumulative time of 3:22:25, with Ethiopia second with 3:27:55 and Great Britain and Northern Ireland claiming bronze with 3:29:15.
“I am so happy for team Kenya,” said Jepchirchir. “I knew we would sweep this as a team because I trust my colleagues so much.”
Medallists
Gold: Beatrice Chebet (5k), Sabastian Sawe (21km), Peres Jepchirchir (21km)
Silver: Lilian Kasait (5km), Daniel Simiu (21km), Margaret Chelimo (21km)
Bronze: Nicholas Kipkorir (5k), Faith Kipyegon (Mile), Samwel Mailu (21km), Catherine Reline (21km),
