The Kenyan athlete takes five seconds off the men’s world record at the Valencia Half Marathon.

Abraham Kiptum posted a record breaking time of 58:18 to win the men’s race at the Medio Maratón de Valencia Trinidad Alfonso on Sunday (October 28).

The Kenyan athlete took five seconds off the previous world record of 58:23 set by Zersenay Tadese at the Lisbon Half Marathon in 2010.

It is a 51 seconds personal best for Kiptum, who clocked 59:09 in Copenhagen last month to finish second.

Ethiopia’s Jemal Yimer finished second in 58:33 and moves to joint third on the all-time list, while compatriot Abadi Hadis finished third in 58:44 with eight men finishing under the hour mark.

Great Britain’s Callum Hawkins was the first European male athlete across the line in 16th place in a time 61:00.

It is not the first world record to be broken on the fast Valencia course after Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei broke the women’s world record last year in a time of 64:51.

Ethiopia’s Gelete Burka won the women’s race in 66:11 two seconds ahead of UAE’s Alia Mohammed Saeed, while Kenya’s Edith Chelimo completed the podium in 66:18.

Top 10 men
1) Abraham Kiptum (KEN) 58:18
2) Jemal Yimer (ETH) 58:33
3) Abadi Hadis (ETH) 58:44
4) Amdamlak Belihu Berta (ETH) 59:19
5) Stephen Kiprop (KEN) 59:21
6) Bernard Kipkorir Ngeno (KEN) 59:22
7) Simon Cheprot (KEN) 59:28
8) Abel Kipchumba (KEN) 59:29
9) Mangata Ndiwa (KEN) 60:01
10) Teshome Mekonen (ETH) 60:02

Top 10 women
1) Gelete Burka (ETH) 66:11
2) Alia Mohammed Saeed (UAE) 66:13
3) Edith Chelimo (KEN) 66:18
4) Pauline Korikwiang (KEN) 66:31
5) Diana Chemtai Kipyogei (KEN) 67:07
6) Bekelech Gudeta (ETH) 67:48
7) Yeshi Kalayu Chekole (ERI) 67:58
8) Helen Bekele Tola (ETH) 68:39
9) Risper Chebet (KEN) 70:02
10) Karoline Nadolska (POL) 70:43

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