Kimais, Langat complete Kenyan double in Barcelona

Irine Kimais and Joyciline Jepkosgei both dipped under 65 minutes with two of the fastest women’s half marathon performances of all time, while Charles Langat completed a Kenyan double at the Edreams Mitja Zurich Marato Barcelona, a World Athletics Gold Label road race, on Sunday 19 February.

Both winners set course records, Langat winning the men’s race in 58:53 and Kimais beating Jepkosgei, 1:04:37 to 1:04:46.

The women’s event was billed as a thrilling encounter between Kenya’s former world record-holder Jepkosgei and Ethiopia’s world 1500m record-holder Genzebe Dibaba, with the common goal of breaking Florence Kiplagat’s course record of 1:05:09, which was a world record when it was set in 2015.

The pacemaker set a steady 3:04/km tempo to lead a quintet featuring Kimais and Jepkosgei together with their Kenyan compatriots Catherine Relin and Gladys Chepkurui plus Dibaba, passing 5km in 15:19.

The rhythm remained brisk over the second 5km section and the leading group went through the 10km mark in 30:37. Once the pacemaker stepped off, it was Kimais who took charge of the race to leave Chepkurui and Dibaba behind by the 15km point.

Kimais’ relentless pace paid off and she dropped Jepkosgei just before the 20km point. By then, Kimais had built a three-second margin on Jepkosgei and she extended her lead over the final kilometre to romp home in a massive career best and course record of 1:04:37.

Jepkosgei was second in 1:04:46, a PB that improves her previous best of 1:04:51 that was a world record when she achieved it in Valencia in 2017. Those performances put Kimais and Jepkosgei eighth and ninth respectively on the world all-time list.

Relin and Chepkurui completed a Kenyan top four, clocking 1:05:39 and 1:05:46, respectively. Dibaba had to settle for fifth place, recording the same time as Chepkurui.

“When I was given the chance to compete in Barcelona I didn’t hesitate, as I knew it was a very quick circuit,” said Kimais. “For me, it’s incredible to beat my compatriot Florence Kiplagat’s course record, which has stood unbeaten for many years.”

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Meanwhile, Langat unleashed a powerful change of speed to break away from his rival in the closing stages of the men’s race. At the tape, the Kenyan clocked a course record of 58:53, bettering his lifetime best by almost two minutes, while Birhanu Legese also dipped under the 59-minute barrier for the first time thanks to a 58:59 clocking.

Solomon Yego completed the podium in 59:29 and finishing behind Josphat Boit and Gebrie Erikhun was Germany’s European marathon champion Richard Ringer who ran 1:01:09 for sixth.

“It is my first time here,” said Langat. “Honestly, I didn’t expect to break my PB by that much and dipping under 59 minutes has been a nice surprise for me.”

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Leading results

Women

1 Irine Jepchumba Kimais (KEN) 1:04:37

2 Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN) 1:04:46

3 Catherine Relin (KEN) 1:05:39

4 Gladys Chepkurui (KEN) 1:05:46

5 Genzebe Dibaba (ETH) 1:05:46

Men

1 Charles Kipkurui Langat (KEN) 58:53

2 Birhanu Legese (ETH) 58:59

3 Solomon Kirwa Yego (KEN) 59:29

4 Josphat Boit (KEN) 59:51

5 Gebrie Erikhun (ETH) 1:00:41