Joyciline Jepkosgei and Belay Tilahun Win United Airlines NYC Half - DyeStat Road Race Round-Up - 3/17/19

By Adam Kopet of DyeStat

On a cold Sunday morning in New York City, Joyciline Jepkosgei and Belay Tilahun won the United Airlines NYC Half.

RESULTS

Jepkosgei, the half marathon world record holder from Kenya, entered the NYC Half to prepare for next month’s Hamburg Marathon. Jepkosgei broke away from the pack just before 10 kilometers to win in 1:10:07.

Finishing a minute back was Kenya’s Mary Ngugi in 1:11:07. Ethiopia’s Buze Diriba, the defending champion, finished third after crossing the line within a second of Ngugi.

The Americans were led by Emma Bates, a former Boise State All-American, who finished fourth in 1:11:13. Desiree Linden was fifth in 1:11:22. Five U.S. women finished in the top 10.

Throughout much of the men’s race, it appeared Daniel Mesfun of Eritrea would win. He built an early lead and held it until the closing stages near Central Park. That was when Tilahun of Ethiopia caught him and surged past to win in 1:02:10. Mesfun finished six seconds back6.

Tilahun was not as part of the elite field, but he was part of the first wave to leave the starting line.

Much of the pre-race talk centered around the half marathon debut of Olympic silver medalist (5,000 meters) Paul Chelimo. He made his presence known early in the race, chasing down an early break away and then going after Mesfun. Chelimo grew closer but he came up just short, finishing third in 1:02:19.

Behind Chelimo were seven more Americans, including 2016 Olympian Jared Ward, who finished fourth in 1:02:33. Noah Droddy rounded out the top five, running 1:02:39.

Rich Sands has more on the United Airlines NYC Half for Race Results Weekly.

Lisbon Half Marathon

Vivian Cheruiyot broke the course record at the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon Sunday. Mosinet Geremew won the men’s race.

RESULTS

Cheruiyot of Kenya, the 2018 London Marathon winner, improved on her personal best by more than a minute and took almost two minutes off the course record. She left the lead pack at 10 kilometers and ran solo for the final half of the race.

Zeineba Yimer of Ethiopia finished second in 1:08:07. Kenya’s Sandra Tuei Felis was third, another seven seconds back.

Making her half marathon debut, Meraf Bahta of Sweden finished sixth in 1:12:09, out-sprinting Portugal’s Sara Moreira, who finished in an identical time. Bahta has medaled in the 5,000 or 10,000 meters at each of the last three European Athletics Outdoor Championships.

In the men’s race, Ethiopia’s Geremew led five other men under the hour barrier with his winning time of 59:37. Fellow compatriot, Berehanu Wendemu Tsegu, earned a runner-up finish in 59:42. Kenya’s Isaac Kipsang Temoi finished another two seconds back for third.

Seoul Marathon

It was a Kenyan sweep for the men at the Seoul Marathon Sunday with Thomas Kiplagat getting the victory and an almost two-minute personal best. Bahrain’s Desi Jisa Mokonin won the women’s race.

RESULTS

Kiplagat, in his third career marathon win, ran 2:06:00, beating Elisha Kipchirchir Rotich by 12 seconds. Mike Kiptum Boit rounded out the podium in 2:06:24. Three more seconds back was Ethiopia’s Fikre Bekele. The top four men all set personal bests.

Mokonin, who finished seventh at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships last year, won convincingly in 2:23:45. This was the first victory in four tries at the marathon.

Hirut Tibebu Damte of Ethiopia was second in 2:24:10. Kenya’s Celestine Chepchirchir finished third in a personal best 2:24:49.

Shamrock Run - Portland

One week after her sixth place finish at the Roma-Ostia Half Marathon, Jordan Hasay was back racing on the roads, winning the Shamrock Run - Portland 15K race. She ran 51:32 as a second rust-buster as she returns from injuries that kept her from racing for a year. She reportedly ran 23 miles on the day as she continues to get ready for the Boston Marathon.

RESULTS

The half marathon winners were familiar names. Lauren Fleshman, who has retired from professional racing and now coaches the Oiselle Little Wing training group in Bend, Ore, won the women’s race in 1:21:45. Her husband, former Stanford runner and professional triathlete, Jesse Thomas won the men’s race in 1:08:08.

Gdynia Half Marathon

The Gdynia Half Marathon in Poland makes this week’s round-up as it is the host of the 2020 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships. Sondre Nordstad Moen of Norway dominated the IAAF Bronze Label race with a time of 1:01:18. Genet Gashie of Ethiopia won the women’s race iin 1:12:05.

RESULTS

Gdynia is on the Baltic coast of Poland, about six miles north of Sopot, where the 2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships were held. The city is home to about 250,000 people. This year’s Gdynia Half Marathon course is the same course that will be used at next year’s event. The race finishes at the city’s main municipal beach.

Bahrain Night Half Marathon

Abadi Hadis of Ethiopia and Brigid Kosgei of Kenya won the inaugural Bahrain Night Half Marathon, an event that suffered from logistical issues despite having a prize purse bigger than many top marathons. They ran 59:42 and 1:05:28, respectively.

RESULTS

Read the full Dyestat recap from Friday’s event.