American Galen Rupp ran a big personal best to win the 44th edition of the Roma-Ostia Half Marathon on Sunday (March 11).

The US distance runner won the Rome race in 59:47 as he went sub 60 minutes for the first time and takes 43 seconds off his 2011 best.

Rupp, who won the Chicago Marathon in 2017, said before the race he had Ryan Hall’s 2007 US record in his sights and came very close only missing Hall’s time by four seconds.

However, if he had of dipped under the 59:43 mark it would not have stood as an American record however because the course is a point to point race and not record-eligible.

The 31-year-old made the decisive break around the 16km mark and increased the pace to stretch ahead of Kenyan duo Moses Kemei and Justus Kangogo.

Rupp crossed the line 57 seconds ahead of Kemei in 60:44, with second placed at last year’s race Kemei settling for third in 61:02.

Next up the double Olympic medalist is a return to the Boston Marathon, where he finished second last year, on April 16.

Ethiopian Hftamenesh Haylu won the women’s race in 69.02 ahead of compatriot Dera Dida in 69:21. Third place was Kenya’s Rebecca Chesir in 71:04.