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The Nairobian

Spectacular show: Joyce Chepkirui breaks course record in Prague, Peter Kirui tops

Weird News

By -GILBERT KOECH AND IAAF | Apr 06, 2014

GILBERT KOECH AND IAAF

Peter Kirui during Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon on Saturday. RIGHT: Women’s winner Joyce Chepkirui. [Photos: IAAF]

(IAAF) Dominating the race from the start, her winning time was the fifth-fastest time ever run on a record-eligible course. Fellow Kenyan Emily Chebet took second in 1:08.28 and Ethiopia’s Wude Ayalew followed in third with 1:09.23.

The men’s race also produced fast times in fine weather conditions. Kenya’s Peter Kirui dominated the race and was rewarded with a personal best of 59:22, the sixth fastest in the world this year.

Mosinet Geremew of Ethiopia was second with 59:54 and Kenya’s Daniel Wanjiru followed in 59:59 as all three set personal bests.

Chasing a sub-66-minute time, Chepkirui burst away from her rivals at the start. Guided by her pacemaker Erick Kibet, who is both her husband and coach, Chepkirui produced splits of 15:16 for 5km and 30:56 for 10km, which suggested she might even threaten the world record of 1:05.12, set earlier this year by Chepkirui’s training partner, Florence Kiplagat.

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Feeling fine

“I was feeling fine at 5km, 10km and 15km,” said the 25-year-old. But she slowed in the third 5km section and it became clear the world record was out of reach when she passed the 15km mark in 46:49.

But there was no question as to who would win the race. With 5km to go, Chepkirui was about 90 seconds ahead of two-time world cross-country champion Chebet and 2009 world 10,000m bronze medallist Ayalew.

“I hoped to run under 66 minutes, but the last kilometre was very tough. But I am of course very happy to have won this race with a course record and a personal best,” said Chepkirui, who earned Euros 34,000 in total, including time and course record bonuses, for her 1:06:19 performance.

Set record

Chepkirui had already set a course record and a PB in Prague two years ago with 1:07:03, but it was broken one year later by Gladys Cherono, the Kenyan who won this year’s IAAF World Half Marathon Championships.

The men also set out fast and were always on course for a time of about 59 minutes.

A group of eight athletes passed the 10km mark in 28:07 behind Kenyan pacemaker Hillary Kipchumba. When Peter Kirui moved away in the 14th kilometre, he was soon all on his own.

“It was a strong field, so I was surprised that no one went with me,” said the 26-year-old, who had entered the race with a personal best of 59:39.

At the 15km mark, which he passed in 42:01, Kirui was already 15 seconds ahead of a chasing group of four runners. His advantage over Ethiopia’s Mosinet Geremew, Daniel Wanjiru — the latter no relation to the late, great Sammy – Nicholas Kipkemboi and Henry Kiplagat was growing. And in the end he was 32 seconds clear of his nearest rival.

“I tried hard to run a personal best, because the conditions were very good,” said Kirui.