Kenenisa breaks Mo Farah’s course record

Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele broke Mo Farah’s course record in the men’s Vitality Big Half race in London with a time of one hour and 22 seconds.
Kenenisa shaved 1:18 minutes off the record set in 2019 by Briton Farah, who missed out with an Achilles injury. Britain’s Lily Partridge won the elite women’s race for the first time with a time of 1:10:50. Kenenisa’s victory sets up an exciting head-to-battle with Eliud Kipchoge, as the two fastest marathon runners of all time line up for April’s race.
“The new course record is a great bonus. I wasn’t focused on time today, I just wanted to win,” said Kenenisa Bekele. “I’m on schedule in my preparation for the London Marathon in April. There’s no question about the crowds in London being great.
“They were cheering all around the course and it felt like a great place to be.”
Britain’s Christopher Thompson finished second in the men’s race, with Jake Smith in third. The full London marathon will take place on Sunday, 26 April.
Partridge – running in her third London half-marathon – cruised to victory in the women’s race. Her compatriots Samantha Harrison and Stephanie Davis finished second and third respectively. “My coach said to me before the start that the goal was to win,” said Partridge. “It wasn’t about the time today. It’s my fastest ever half marathon during a marathon build-up.”