Vivian Cheruiyot shatters course record at Lisbon Half Marathon

Kenya’s Vivian Cheruyiot shattered the course record at the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label Race, on Sunday.

On an almost perfect day with just some slight winds for the runners to contend with, Cheruyiot, the 2016 Olympic 5,000m champion, ran on her own from the 10km point en route to her 1:06:34 victory. The 35-year-old Kenyan improved her personal best, a 1:07:43 performance set at last year’s Great North Run, by more than a minute.

At Friday’s pre-race press conference, Cheruyiot promised to mount an assault on her personal best – and she followed through smashing the previous record of 1:08:22 set by Kenyan Rose Chelimo in 2015.

“It was a good race for me,” she said. “Only the strong wind made me run slower. I raced to beat my personal best, and I’m happy. It was a great test the London Marathon, next month.”

Ethiopian Zeineba Yimer was second, more than a minute after the winner in 01:08:07 as debutant Sandrafelis Tuei rounded out the podium in 1:08.14 with countrywoman Linet Masai further back, clocking 1:08:51 for fourth, as another Kenyan debutant, Caroline Chepkemoi finished sixth in 1:09:13.

The men’s race was different, with a strong group of 14 still in contention until the 15km mark after which Geremew broke away and took the lead for good en route to his victory in 59:37, not far off of his personal best of 59:11 he set in 2014.

“I’m not in the best shape and I didn’t run well,” Geremew offered. “Even so I’m happy with this win, a perfect test for my race in the London Marathon in April.

Geremew’s compatriot Berehanu Wendim Tsegu was second in 59:42, an impressive debut as Kenyan Isaac Temoi settling for the third spot in a personal best of 59:44.

Jepkosgei to NYC Half win

World Half Marathon record holder Joyciline Jepkosgei won her first-ever race in the United States on a solo run to the finish the 2019 United Airlines NYC Half in a time of 1:10:07.

The world championship silver medallist in the distance became the sixth woman from Kenya to win the event, and the first to do so since 2014.

“This season I am preparing to debut in the marathon, and this was a great half marathon to see how my body feels,” Jepkosgei said.

Another Kenyan Mary Ngugi came through the finish line one minute later in 1:11:07 to take second place, Ethiopia’s Buze Diriba finished third.

In the men category, Tilahun, a 24-year-old member of West Side Runners, recorded his surprise victory in a time of 1:02:10 with an exciting kick through the final two miles.

“I was feeling quite cold at the beginning, but as I was warming up, I began to feel better. After about 15km, I was confident that I could win. So, I used the finishing kick that I had to win,” Tilahun said.

Eritrea’s Daniel Mesfun finished second in 1:02:16 after leading for the majority of the race, while U.S. Olympic silver medallist Paul Chelimo took third in 1:02:19 in his half-marathon debut.

Additional reporting by Gilbert Kiprotich