Policeman wins world half marathon for the third time

Kamworor AKA Land Cruiser or 4x4,

Determination and confidence - that aptly decribes Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor’s drive to strike a third win at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships on Saturday night.

Kamworor, a police officer, said his tactics worked out well and that the shoes he borrowed from Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge did the trick again, as happened in Kampala, Uganda, last year.

“Eliud Kipchoge is the best athlete every other sportsman would love to emulate. I draw inspiration from him and I want to follow in his footsteps.

“I keep running in the shoes I borrowed from him. In the Kampala World Cross Country, I borrowed Eliud Kipchoge’s shoes and secured my second win. He has excelled in track, cross country, and marathon and I want to be like him,” said Kamworor.

Not bad for a 25-year-old policeman who earlier lacked confidence, always afraid that people in his rural home would mock if they saw him training, prompting him to take too long to engage in full-time training.

At Leboinet High School in Keiyo South, he would win the inter-class competitions, but take a low profile afterwards.

Kamworor would sneak from home during weekends to go to the nearby Kapkenda Girls High School to watch through the fence as world-beaters trained.

Former Olympic 1,500m champion Nancy Jebet Lagat, former world 3,000m champion Veronica Nyaruai, and former world cross-country silver medallist Prisca Jepleting are among the stars who studied at the school.

At the finish line on Saturday, Kamworor proved he was unbeatable.

“I had prepared well for the championships. I wanted to retain my title. I will now get back home and sit down with my coach and decide on my next race,” said Kamworor.

Ethiopia’s Netsanet Kebede set a women-only world 21km record of 66.11, reducing Lornah Kiplagat’s 11-year-old record by 14 seconds.

Joyciline Jepkosgei, who owns the mixed-race standard world record of 64:51, settled for silver in 66:54 as Pauline Kaveke bagged bronze in 66:56.

It was a spectacular sight to watch as Kebede blasted off near the Valencia landmark of the Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe still looking strong before winning the Sh5.05 million ($50,000) world record bonus.

The Kenyan team arrives home today. It surrendered the overall title to Ethiopia after ruling the roost in the contests in Copenhagen (2014) and Cardiff in 2016.

Netsanet Gudeta (gold), Zeinaba Yimer (fifth place), and Meseret Belete in sixth spot were enough for Ethiopia to wear the women’s team title even as Belech Gudeta and Zinash Mekonnen finished in eighth and 11th places respectively.

Ethiopia won the men’s overall title after Jemal Yimer (fourth), Getaneh Molla (fifth), and Betesfa Getahiun (sixth) while Leul Gebresilase and Jiksa Tolosa returned 10th and 23rd.

Kenya settled for silver with Kamworor (gold), Leonard Barsoton (12th), and Barselius Kipyego (15th).

Jorum Lumbasi finished 18th while late entrant Alex Oloitiptip did not finish.

Eritrea, Bahrain, Uganda, South Africa, and USA came third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh respectively.