Kenyans shine in Ras Al-Khaimah Half Marathon

Kenyans Bedan Karoki and Fancy Chemutai warmed up to the World Half Marathon Championships with course-breaking wins at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon on Friday in United Arab Emirates.

It’s Japan-based Karoki, who shattered his personal best by 28 seconds, retaining the men’s race title in 58:42 seconds, beating Ethiopian Jemal Yimer by 18 seconds.

Karoki’s compatriot Alex Kibet sealed the last podium place in 59:06 as eight Kenyans finished in the top 10 vanguard with their rivals from Ethiopia claiming two places.

Karoki’s course-record time is now the fourth fastest time in the history of half marathon behind World record holder Zersenay Tadese (Eritrea) 58:23, the late Samuel Wanjiru (Kenya) 58:33 and Kenya-born Bahraini Abraham Cheroben 58:40.

Karoki’s time erased the previous course record of 58:52 set by compatriot Patrick Makau in 2009.

Chemutai stunned the rich field that included World half marathon record holder Joyciline Jepkosgei and former World Half marathon record-holder Mary Keitany, winning in 1:04:53.

Chemutai's time was enough to erase compatriot’s Peres Jepchirchir course record of 1:05:06 set last year, which also counted for a world record at the time. It’s also the now the second fastest time ever, just two seconds shy of Joyciline's world record.

Interestingly, Jepchirchir’s world record didn’t last long before Joyciline Jepkosgei broke it twice; at Prague Half Marathon (1:04:52) and Valencia Half Marathon (1:04:51).

Chemutai edged out Keitany to second place but also in a personal best of 1:04:55, beating her previous time of 1:05:13 set at the same course last year when she finished second behind Jepchirchir.

Caroline Kipkirui also from Kenya claimed the last possum place in 1:05:07 and was followed by Joan Chelimo (1:05:37) and Jepkosgei (1:06:46) as Kenyans scooped the first five places.

The men’s race was quite fast with splits of 13:53 at 5km, 27:48 at 10km and, even more impressively, there were an astonishing 10 men still together in the lead pack at 10km. Almost halfway through the race, 10 men were on pace to run 58:36.

By 13km, the race had begun to string out with Kibet pushing the pace. Behind him, four men ran in single-file; Karoki, Edwin Kiptoo, Jorum Okombo and Yimer.

It’s Karoki who powered away just before approaching 17km mark to win in a course record.

Jepkosgei and Chemutai had requested for a fast pace, and the race was fast, with the leaders hitting 5km in 15:13 and 10km in 30:33. At that point, the top group was down to four women; Jepkosgei, Chemutai, Keitany, and Caroline Kipkirui, who was second at the Houston Half Marathon on January 14.