Girmawit Gebrzihair sets new Ras Al Khaimah Rak Half Marathon course record

Girmawit Gebrzihair sets new Ras Al Khaimah Rak Half Marathon course record

Girmawit Gebrzihair Gebru of Ethiopia had a strong start to her half marathon career in the women’s race, setting a course record of 1:04:14, which was second fastest ever for a women’s debut behind Letesenbet Gidey’s world record of 1:02:52 set in Valencia in October.

The time beats Ababel Yeshaneh’s 1:04:31 course record, which was then a world record, set the last time the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon was contested in 2020.

The 20-year-old Gebrzihair, who claimed world U20 5000m bronze in 2018 and recently finished second in the Great Ethiopian Run 10km, was joined by athletes including Kenya’s two-time world 5000m champion Hellen Obiri and Sheila Chepkirui as well as Ethiopia’s Bosena Mulate in an eight-strong group which went through 5km in 15:12. That pack was down to five athletes by the 10km point, which Gebrzihair, Obiri, Mulate, Chepkirui and Kenya’s Judith Jeptum passed in 30:28.

Obiri, Gebrzihair, and Chepkirui then split out and ran 15 kilometers in 45:50, before Chepkirui was dropped and the leaders ran 20 kilometers in 1:01:04. Gebrzihair kicked in the final stages to earn victory on her debut, winning by eight seconds in 1:04:14 to 1:04:22 for Obiri. Chepkirui finished third in 1:04:36, putting Ras Al Khaimah’s top three runners in fourth, fifth, and seventh place on the global all-time list, respectively.

Mulate was fifth in 1:05:46, and Jeptum was fourth in 1:05:28. Eilish McColgan of the United Kingdom finished sixth in 1:06:26, breaking Paula Radcliffe’s national mark in 1:06:47, which she had held since 2001.

Daisy Cherotich of Kenya, Eunice Chebichii Chumba of Bahrain, and Pauline Esikon of Kenya were all under 68 minutes with speeds of 1:06:33, 1:07:22, and 1:07:50, respectively. Yeshaneh was also in action, but the former world record-holder did not finish the race after passing 15 kilometers in 46:08.

By World Athletics

Top 10

1. Girmawit Gebrzihair Gebru – 01:04:14
2. Hellen Osando Obiri – 01:04:22
3. Sheila Chepkirui – 01:04:36
4. Judith Jeptum Korir – 01:05:28
5. Bosena Mulatie Mogesie – 01:05:46
6. Eilish Mccolgan – 01:06:26
7. Daisy Cherotich – 01:06:33
8. Eunice Chebichii Chumba – 01:07:22
9. Pauline Nagoroi Easikon – 01:07:50
10. Jackline Sakilu – 01:15:38

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