New Delhi: Reigning Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya expectedly won the men’s title at the Delhi Half Marathon (DHM) here Sunday in a fast time but below the course record while Ethiopia’s Worknesh Degefa clinched the women’s title.
Kipchoge clocked 59 minute and 44 seconds to cover the 21.097km distance and win the race at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium ahead of Ethiopia’s Yigrem Demelash, who clocked his personal best of 59:48s. Another Kenyan Augustine Choge was third in 60:01s.
Many had thought Kipchoge would lower the course record of 59:06s set by Guye Adola of Ethiopia in 2014. But, neither did he lower the course record nor could do better his personal best of 59.25s
In the women’s even, Degefa clocked one hour, seven minutes and 42 seconds to clinch the title ahead of fellow Ethiopian Ababel Yeshaneh (1:07:52s) and Helah Kiprop (1:08:11s) of Kenya. Reigning half marathon World Champion Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya was fifth with a timing of 1:08:28s.
Both the men’s and women’s elite winners pocketed $27,000 for their victories.
The 32-year-old Kipchoge said he was happy to be in India for the second time. “I am happy to come to India and I came here in the capacity of an old runner (six years after 2010). The conditions were good,” he told reporters after the race. I have no issue with my time though I could not break the course record.”
PTI
