Kenya: Kiptum Broke World Half Marathon Record in Valencia With 58:18

Kenya’s Abraham Kiptum broke the men’s world record* at the IAAF Gold Label road race on Sunday October 28, clocking 58:18.

Kiptum’s performance was a five-second improvement on the previous world record set by Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadese in Lisbon in 2010. The 29-year-old claimed the Valencia title over runner-up Jemal Yimer, and Abadi Hadi.

“I can’t believe it, I’m over the moon,” said 29-year-old Kiptum. “Obviously I knew I was in good shape because I set a PB last month in Copenhagen, but I was eager to run in Valencia because it’s one of the flattest circuits I’ve ever run and I was confident of improving on my best. “I realised the race slowed down between the ninth and 10th kilometre so I decided to step up the pace and go for everything.”

Kiptum’s performance came a month and a half after another Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge beat the former 2014 World Marathon record in the last Berlin marathon, by running the distance in two hours, one minute and 39 seconds.

Last year, Kiptum ran his career best marathon when he finished third in 2:05:26 at the Amsterdam Marathon. His next race will be the Abu Dhabi Marathon on December 7. “I would like to reach the midway in 1:02:30 and finish under 2:05,” he said of his plans for that race.

Prior to Sunday, Kiptum held a personal best record of 59:09 on September 16, 2018 at the Copenhagen Half Marathon. The victory highlights a breakthrough season in which Kiptum also won the Daegu Marathon in a season’s best of 2:06:29.

Men Leading Results in Valencia

1 Abraham Kiptum (KEN) 58:18
2 Jemal Yimer (ETH) 58:33
3 Abadi Hadis (ETH) 58:44
4 Amdamlak Belihu Berta (ETH) 59:19
5 Stephen Kiprop (KEN) 59:21
6 Bernard Kipkorir Ngeno (KEN) 59:22
7 El Hassan Elabassi (MAR) 59:27
8 Simon Cheprot (KEN) 59:28
9 Abel Kipchumba (KEN) 59:29
10 Josphat Boit (KEN) 59:42

Sources: IAAF & Runnersword