Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich smashed the women’s half marathon world record on Sunday in a time of one hour four minutes and two seconds in Istanbul.
The marathon world champion from Doha 2019 sliced almost half a minute off the previous mark of 1hr 4:31 set by Ethiopia’s Ababel Yeshaneh in February 2020 in the United Arab Emirates.
Chepngetich, 26, was followed across the line in Turkey by Ethiopian Yalemzerf Yehualaw (1hr 4:40) with Kenya’s two-time world 5000m champion Hellen Obiri third in 1hr 4:51.
This was the first time three women have finished inside 65 minutes in one half marathon.
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Chepngetich pulled clear of Yehualaw in the final stages to seal her place in the record books and win the race for a third time, following 2017 and 2019.
A strong early pace was set chiefly by Brigid Kosgei, the Kenyan marathon record holder, who eventually came in fifth, almost two minutes adrift.
Chepngetich covered the first 10km in 30:21, maintaining her rhythm to the line despite the wet conditions. Her compatriot and world record-holder Kibiwott Kandie won the men’s race in a course record of 59min 35sec.
This was well short of his world best mark of 57:32 established in Valencia in December.
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