Cheroben, Chebet fastest in Valencia Half Marathon

Kenya's Emily Chebet (cener) competes in the final of the women's 10,000m athletics event at Hampden Park during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, on July 29, 2014. Abraham Cheroben and two-times Word Cross Country reigning champion Emily Chebet are winners of this year’s Valencia Half Marathon in Italy. FILE PHOTO | AFP

By  COPPERFIELD LAGAT  &  AYUMBA AYODI

What you need to know:

  • Fresh from losing the Berlin 10km race after a photo-finish with Joyce Chepkirui, Chebet had her act in place this time around, as she claimed revenge, winning the women’s race in a course record of 1:08:01.
  • His compatriot Kenneth Kipkemoi finished second in a personal best of 59:01 as Matthew Kisorio, who was competing in his first international race in two years, was third in 59:50 and Titus Mbishei fourth a big personal best of 59:55.

Kenya’s Abraham Cheroben and two-times Word Cross Country reigning champion Emily Chebet are winners of this year’s Valencia Half Marathon in Italy.

Cheroben, who turned in a sparkling performance, missed breaking the World record by 25 seconds when he stopped the clock in 58min,48sec on Sunday.

Fresh from losing the Berlin 10km race after a photo-finish with Joyce Chepkirui, Chebet had her act in place this time around, as she claimed revenge, winning the women’s race in a course record of 1:08:01.

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In the men’s race, it was a personal best for the 21-year-old Cheroben, the fastest time in the world for more than two years, just 25 seconds shy of Zersenay Tadese’s 2010 world record and a Spanish all-comers best.

Cheroben’s feat was enough to smash the latter mark set by another Kenyan, the late Samuel Wanjiru, who ran 59:26 in Granollers in 2008.

PERSONAL BEST

His compatriot Kenneth Kipkemoi finished second in a personal best of 59:01 as Matthew Kisorio, who was competing in his first international race in two years, was third in 59:50 and Titus Mbishei fourth a big personal best of 59:55.

Cheroben and Kipkemoi move up to equal fifth and 13th on the world all-time list.

“I’m satisfied with my win but I was targeting a world record. I’m convinced I can break the 58-minute barrier for the distance,” reflected Cheroben.

Meanwhile, Kenya’s Laban Korir braved punishing temperatures and tough headwinds to win the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, an IAAF Silver Label Road Race on Sunday.

BRILLIANT RUN
Korir concluded a brilliant weekend where Kenyan runners reigned supreme in the marathon after Bernard Kipyego, Lucas Rotich and John Mwangangi swept medal slots in Amsterdam Marathon earlier in the day.

Kenyan runners also reigned supreme in Bank of America Chicago Marathon eight days ago, sweeping all the podium positions.

For the 29-year-old Korir, who hails from Uasin Gishu County, it was one of the few big city marathon victories in his career so far when he came home first in 2hours, 08.15minutes.

The 2011 Amsterdam Marathon silver medalist won approximately Sh1.6 million ($20,000) in prize money.

With only three kilometers left, the 2009 Setúbal half Marathon champion sprang back into action, taking the lead to claim honours ahead of Ethiopia’s Tariku Jufar and Shami Abdulahi who finished second and third in 2.08.36 and 2.08.41 respectively.

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