The Ethiopian athlete stopped the clock in 1:02:52, 70 seconds under the previous best time.
Second-place finisher Yalemzerf Yehualaw also came in under the previous world record with 1:03:51.
The Valencia Half Marathon becomes the only event that currently holds the best women’s and men’s times over the same distance.
Abel Kipchumba wins in the men’s category with a time of 58:07
Ethiopian athlete Letesenbet Gidey broke the half marathon world record today at the 30th Trinidad Alfonso EDP Valencia Half Marathon with a stratospheric time of 1:02:52. This is 70 seconds off the previous record for the distance (1:04:02 by Ruth Chepngetich). Gidey ran a perfect race, leading at all times and delivering a performance to be remembered.
After Gidey’s great performance, the second classified Yalemzerf Yehualaw crossed the finish line with 1:03:51, also below the previous world record. Sheila Chepkirui finished third with 1:04:54.
This way, the Valencia Half Marathon becomes the only race that currently holds the women’s and men’s world record for the same distance, as Kibiwott Kandie’s 57:32 (Elite Edition of 2020) is still the best in history.
Men’s world record
In the men’s race, Kenyan Abel Kipchumba won the race with a time of 58:07, which is the world’s best time for 2021, 41 seconds faster than the previous best (58:48), which was also his.
Kipchumba was followed by Rhonex Kipruto in 58:09 and Daniel Mateiko in 58:26.
Letesenbet Gidey sets women’s world record at Valencia Half Marathon
Kipyegon to grace the 2021 Great Ethiopian Run
TotalEnergies Great Ethiopian Run discloses that Kenyan Athlete Faith Kipyegon is to be VIP guest for its 2021 edition.
Great Ethiopian Run in its website says “Faith Kipyegon, Kenya’s double Olympic champion to be VIP guest at the 2021 TotalEnergies Great Ethiopian Run International 10km.”
It is also indicated that “Kipyegon will appear alongside Haile Gebrselassie at both the pre-race press conference in Addis Ababa and at a special Gala Dinner being staged on the eve of the race in Addis Ababa’s Hyatt Regency Hotel.”
Faith is said to have responded to it as, “I am also very happy to support the Great Ethiopian Run which has inspired so many young athletes and is also helping people to stay active and lead a healthy lifestyle.”
Kipyegon is known to be champion in Rio and Tokyo Olympics in 1,500 meter event.
TotalEnergies Great Ethiopian Run is scheduled to take place on 14 November 2021 in Addis Ababa.
But anyone interested can virtually participate in this race being anywhere in the globe, the organizer has announced.
Information from Great Ethiopian Run indicates that the event here in Addis is set to happen starting from three sites. Some 25, 000 people will take part in it.
Kassaye under pressure following the humiliating 4-1 derby defeat
The 4-1 demolition at the hands of bitter rival St George, Ethiopia Bunna supporters are seriously questioning whether 120,000 Birr a month Kassaye Arage is the right person to bring back the old glory days.
In addition to the aggregate two-leg Confederation Cup defeat to Sudanese side AlHilal, a 3-1City Cup tournament opening defeat to Bahirdar, followed by a 2-1 loss to Sebeta and a 1-0 narrow win over Addis Ababa Ketema, many speculated Ethiopia Bunna has no chance to be among the title contenders.
In the new league season first derby match, Kassaye’s squad was far lower than fans expectations not only in the humiliating defeat but also with nothing to show as a team ready to do battle. Even last season’s most valuable player in the league Abubaker Naser could do nothing except running around to no avail.
A single win in past seven matches including the two leg Confederation Cup qualifications matches, conceding seven goals while scoring only three, Kassaye’s statements to build a strong squad capable of winning the league title appeared a daydream.
A disorganized defense, a sloppy midfield and disarrayed strike force, Kassaye appears just half way into building his squad. “The 4-1 defeat is the beginning of the end of Kassaye’s era at Ethiopia Bunna,” a fan remarked after the humiliating derby defeat. “Kassaye’s game plan of ball possession is nothing but a fake bravado story,” the fan added.
Considering the recent seven matches including the City Cup tournament, Kassaye’s game plan of ball possession is nothing but a fake bravado story.
The 4-1 demolition against St George showed that Ethiopia Bunna is hardly in a class against the title contenders. “It is a physically weak side and hardly functioning as a team. Football is not just about passing balls around but a win,” a much disappointed club supporter suggested.
The club’s patriarch Lieutenant Fekade Mamo is monitoring situations from Kassaye’s strong support base, Ethiopia Bunna Supporters’ Association is said to cook something following this shaky form.
Eight of the ten fastest men’s times in history are in the Valencia Half Marathon
In the women’s category, three of the top 10 times, including first and second fastest, have been set in the city of running, with the two fastest times in history
The Valencia Half Marathon Trinidad Alfonso EDP has the privilege of being the only race that currently holds the men’s and women’s world record at its distance, but that is not all. The 21K organised by the SD Correcaminos holds eight of the 10 best half marathon times in history for men and three in the women’s ranking.
Kibiwott Kandie’s time in the 2020 Elite Edition remains the world record with his unbeaten 57:32. After him, second, third and fourth place go to Jacob Kiplimo (57:37), Rhonex Kipruto (57:49) and Alexander Mutiso (57:59), all achieved in Valencia City of Running in 2020.
In sixth and seventh place are Abel Kipchumba (58:07) and Rhonex Kipruto (58:09), respectively, in eighth place is Philemon Kiplimo (58:11) in the Elite Edition and Daniel Mateiko with his 58:26 on Sunday closes the ranking.
Abel Kipchumba’s time was also the world best time for 2021, bettering the record he himself had held since September in Herzogenaurach, Germany (58:48). In fact, the top seven in Valencia last Sunday improved on that record.
Much more than a women’s world record
In the women’s category, Valencia takes the first two places on the podium thanks to Letesenbet Gidey’s world record in the 30th Valencia Half Marathon and Yalemzerf Yehualaw’s 1:02:52 – who also beat the previous world record – with 1:03:51. In addition, in eighth place we find Joyciline Jepkosgei who set the world record in this race in 2017 with 1:04:51.
Moreover, the combined time of the male and female winner is the best ever obtained in the same race, 2h00:59 (58:07 + 1:02:52), beating the combined time of the 2020 Elite Edition (2h02:50).
