Geremew breaks Chinese all-comers’ record in Yangzhou

Ethiopia’s Mosinet Geremew recorded the first ever sub-one hour half marathon on Chinese soil by winning the Yangzhou Jianzhen International Half Marathon in 59:52.

Ethiopia’s Mosinet Geremew won the Yangzhou Jianzhen International Half Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race, in a Chinese all-comers’ record of 59:52 on Sunday (19).

Geremew recorded the first ever sub-one hour half marathon on Chinese soil today, and it marked his second big win of the season after winning the prestigious Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in February in 60:05.

“I am happy because I am the winner,” said Geremew. “The competition is very hard and there are a lot of strong runners participating.

In a high quality race, Kenya’s Geoffrey Kirui finished second in 59:55 with Eritrea’s Nguse Amlosom, who won this race last year in a now-beaten Chinese all-comers’ record of 60:08, third in the same time.

The fourth runner to break the one hour-mark was Vincent Yator, who was also timed at 59:55.

Another five runners ducked under the 61-minute mark including one of the pre-race favourites Simon Cheprot from Kenya. He recently finished second in the Rome-Ostia Half Marathon in 59:39 but could only manage ninth today in 60:50.

Kenya did come away with the spoils in the women’s race thanks to a come-from-behind performance from Filomena Cheyech, who overhauled Ethiopia’s Worknesh Degefa in the last 100 metres.

Cheyech’s winning time of 68:36 was the second fastest in race history after Gladys Cherono’s course record of 68:16 from last year.

Degefa, the runner-up last year, had to settle for second again in 68:37 with team-mate Netsanet Gudeta, the bronze medallist from the IAAF World Cross Country Championships last month, third in 68:53.

Source: WordRunning