Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich Smashes Half Marathon World Record

Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich on Sunday smashed the women’s half marathon world record in a time of one hour four minutes and two seconds in Istanbul.

The marathon world champion took out almost half a minute off the previous best mark of 1hr 4:31 set by Ethiopia’s Ababel Yeshaneh in February 2020 in the United Arab Emirates.

Chepngetich, aged 26, and who won the race for a third time after 2017 and 2019, was followed across the line in Turkey by Ethiopian Yalemzerf Yehualaw (1hr 4:40) with Kenya’s Hellen Obiri third in 1hr 4:51.

Another Ethiopian, Ababel Yeshaneh, was the previous world record holder after clocking 1:04:31 at the RAK Half Marathon in Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates in February last year.

Third place went to two-time world 5,000 metres champion Hellen Obiri, with the Kenyan Olympic silver medallist finishing in 1:04:51 in her first half marathon.

This was the quickest debut time ever over the distance, while the race was also the first to see three women finishing inside 65 minutes.

Chepngetich’s winning time was quicker than the 1:04:28 run by Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei at the Great North Run in England in 2019.

Also, World record-holder Kibiwott Kandie won the men’s race in a course record of 59min 35sec.