Kiplimo with the win as Kwemoi bags silver at RAK

World half marathon record holder Jacob Kiplimo added to his growing list of wins as he raced to victory at the Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Half Marathon in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Kiplimo clocked 57:56 to finish ahead of Kenya's Rodgers Kwemoi and Kenneth Kiprop who finished second and third respectively. Kwemoi posted 58:30 while Kiprop posted 58:35 for bronze. 

"I had a good race from the onset, the conditions were perfect. I had come here with my focus on running a course record, which I have managed to do do I am happy with the results," said Kiplimo. 

This is the Ugandan's third win in a row in all competitions including a world record 57:31 finish at the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon last year in November. 

In a rather fast-paced race, Kiplimo went through the 5km mark in 13:23. He maintained a steady pace to clock 26:56 at 10 km which was faster than his World Record run where he covered 10km in 27:05. 

Kwemoi, on his part, went through 10km at in 27:12 which was a 57:23 pace. He had completed the first 5km in 13:26. He closed the 15km mark in 41:09 heading for the second place finish. 

From 10km to 15km, Kiplimo covered the segment in 13:47 to hit 15km in 40:43, slower than his 40:27 in his WR in Lisbon and could not recover in the remaining distance to attack the World Record. 

Heading to the race,  Kiplimo was a clear favourite despite making his debut in RAK. This was the first race for him since setting his world record of 57:31 in Lisbon in November. That performance came towards the end of a year in which he also finished third in the 10,000m and fifth in the 5000m at the Tokyo Olympics.

Kiplimo led a field featuring 18 men to have dipped under an hour for the distance and nine to have gone sub-59:00, including Kenya’s 2021 Valencia Half Marathon winner Abel Kipchumba who finished eighth and Alexander Mutiso, who finished second in Ras Al Khaimah in 2020 but only managed seventh place in Saturday's race.

Daniel Kibet and Kennedy Kimutai are the other Kenyans who placed in the top ten at sixth and tenth place respectively. Tanzania's Felix Simbu also made the top ten in ninth place.

Select results

1. Jacob KIPLIMO -57:56

2. Rodgers KWEMOI -58:30

3. Kenneth Kiprop -58:35

4. Seifu TURA -58:36

5. Amedework WALELEGN -58:40

6. Daniel KIBET -58:45

7. Alexander MUTISO -58:48

8. Abel KIPCHUMBA -59:47

9. Alphonce Felix SIMBU - 1:00:03

10. Kennedy KIMUTAI - 1:00:10