Ethiopian Zeineba Yimer set Valencia course record

Ethiopia’s Zeineba Yimer Kenya’s Abel Kipchumba, were overwhelming winners at the Valencia 15km Banco Mediolanum, beating quality fields at the IAAF Bronze Label event.
Ethiopia’s Zeineba Yimer and Kenya’s Dorcas Jepchumba, both paced by Morocco’s Hassane Ahouchar, were the early leaders in the women’s race, which was held alongside the men’s event.
The opening and slightly uphill first 5km of 15:26 suggested that the top contenders could challenge the Spanish 15km all-comers’ record of 46:14 set by Florence Kiplagat en route to breaking the then world half marathon record in Barcelona four years ago.
However, the speed decreased in the following kilometers as the leaders covered the second 5km in 15:52, bringing them to 10km in 31:18. By then, the third-placed runner, Jebesa Zenebu Fikadu of Ethiopia, was some way behind the leaders with 32:45.
The key move came shortly after the 12th kilometre when – still paced by Ahouchar – Zeineba managed to break away from a tiring Kimeli and then upped her pace over the closing stages to finish inside 47 minutes with a course record of 46:52. Kimeli followed 40 seconds later while Fikadu secured the third spot in 49:15.
The 20-year-old victor is one of the 20 quickest ever women over the half marathon courtesy of her 1:05:46 career best set in Ras Al Khaimah last February to take third. More than 10,000 runners took part in the event.