Jepkosgei sets the fastest time in four sections at Prague

Kenya's Joyciline Jepkosgei broke four world (course section) records at the Sportisimo Prague half marathon winning the IAAF Gold Label Road Race in 1:04:52 yesterday.

The 23-year-old, competing in just her fifth half marathon international race, also smashed the world records for 10km, 15km and 20km en route to victory.

Having covered the opening five kilometres in 14:53, Jepkosgei had defending champion Violah Jepchumba for company in the first half of the race as they passed through 10km in 30:05 and 30:06 respectively, both well inside the previous 10km world record of 30:21 set by Paula Radcliffe in 2003.

Jepchumba couldn't quite keep up with Jepkosgei's relentless pace, though, and the gap between the pair grew to three seconds at 15km. Once again their respective splits of 45:37 and 45:40 surpassed the world record of 46:14 set by Florence Kiplagat in 2015.

Jepkosgei continued to pull away from her compatriot over the course of the final few kilometers. After passing through 20km in yet another world record, 1:01:25, she went on to cross the finish line in 1:04:52, taking 14 seconds off the world record set earlier this year by Peres Jepchirchir.

"The conditions were good for me because I'm used to training at this time of day, in the morning."

Jepchumba finished second in 1:05:22, 29 seconds quicker than her winning time from last year.

Olympic 10,000m bronze medallist Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia won the men's race in 59:37.

Meanwhile, James Kwambai, the 2016 champion, will return to the Daegu International Marathon today in a bid to become the first two-time men's winner at the IAAF Silver Label Road Race.

The former Kenyan record-holder, whose PB of 2:04:27 is now eight years old, has a strong record in Korea. He has won the Seoul Marathon on three occasions and triumphed in Daegu last year in 2:10:46.

Compatriot Peter Some could be his toughest opponent. The 26-year-old set his personal best of 2:05:58 when winning the 2013 Paris Marathon and he heads to Daegu off the back of a victory at the Macau Marathon in December.

Like Kwambai and Some, Chele Dechasa's 2:06:33 PB is several years old now but the Ethiopian has remained competitive in international marathons. He finished third in Seoul last year in 2:09:19 and was eighth at the Dubai Marathon earlier this year, running 2:10:24. The last time he raced in Daegu was at the 2011 IAAF World Championships when he failed to finish, so he will be aiming to banish those demons this weekend.

The versatile Mathew Kisorio ran a promising 2:06:33 in Valencia in 2015, but he finished ninth in both of his marathons last year, running 2:14:13 and 2:13:27. A recent 1:01:30 victory at the Gronollers Half Marathon suggests the Kenyan is back in good form.

Popular Japanese runner Yuki Kawauchi will be contesting his 11th race and second marathon of 2017. He won the Ehime Marathon in February with a course record of 2:09:54 and will be buoyed by his recent selection for the IAAF World Championships London 2017.

Like Dechasa, Kawauchi also raced in Daegu at the 2011 World Championships and was somewhat more successful, placing 17th.