Kenyan Shatters Mark Set in 2015 By Three Seconds

By Scott Bush, DyeStat Editor

Reigning World Half Marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir set a new world record over the half marathon distance at the RAK Half Marathon Friday morning in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.

Jepchirchir ran away from one of the strongest fields in history, clocking 1 hour, 5 minutes, 6 seconds to best runner-up Mary Keitany by seven seconds. 

Jepchirchir's performance took down the record set last year in Barcelona, when Florence Kiplgat ran 1:05:09. Keitany's 1:05:13 performance ranks her as the third-fastest runner ever over the distance and her time is the fourth-fastest in history, while third place Joyciline Jepkosgei's 1:06:08 performance ranks her as the seventh-fastest runner in history with the 10th-fastest time.

Adding to the excitement, five women broke the 67-minute barrier, while the RAK Half Marathon now owns 10 of the fastest 13 times in half marathon history. 

Women's Top Eight Results - RAK Half Marathon

1:05:06 - Peres Jepchirchir (KEN)
1:05:13 - Mary Keitany (KEN)
1:06:08 - Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN)
1:06:43 - Jemima Sumgong (KEN)
1:06:50 - Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH)
1:07:48 - Helah Kiprop (KEN)
1:08:37 - Rose Chelimo (BRN)
1:09:33 - Veronicah Nyaruai (KEN)