Kenya s Jepkosgei betters own half marathon world record

Valencia (Spain) Oct 22 (IANS) Kenyan female long-distance runner Joyciline Jepkosgei on Sunday broke her own half marathon world record at the Valencia Trinidad Alfonso event where her compatriot Abraham Cheroben won the men s title.

Jepkosgei clocked one hour and 4 minutes and 15 seconds one second faster than her previous world record to win a race in which more than 14 000 runners took part reports Efe.

"It was my first race in Valencia I enjoyed a lot the weather is nice the circuit is perfect to run fast. I hope to come back in March for the World Half Marathon Championships " Jepkosgei said after the race.

The 23-year-old was expected to break the record after smashing her own world 10-km record of 30:04 minutes in September with a time of 29:43 minutes.

At Jepkosgei s heels came her compatriots Fancy Chemutai clocking one hour and 5.36 minutes and Lucy Cheruiyot (one hour 7 minutes and 30 seconds).

Ethiopian-born Spaniard Trihas Gebre clocked one hour and 9.57 minutes to break the 20-year Spanish women s half marathon record held by Rocio Rios.

In the men s race Cheroben crossed the finish line first with a time of 59 minutes and 11 seconds ahead of Ethiopians Leul Gebresilase (59 minutes and 19 seconds) and Tsadik Fikadu Moen (59 minutes and 22 seconds).

--IANS
pur/mr