Sheila Chepkirui won the Valencia Half Marathon in a world-leading 1 hour 3 minutes 51 seconds, beating Diana Wanza by one second. Rodrigue Kwizera took the men’s race in 58 minutes 3 seconds. His time was faster than the European record but cannot receive that status while his sporting transfer remains incomplete.
Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui won the Valencia Half Marathon in Spain with a world-leading 1 hour 3 minutes 51 seconds. She edged compatriot Diana Wanza by one second, moving to equal fifth on the all-time list. Wanza’s 1 hour 3 minutes 52 seconds placed her sixth. The two had broken clear with fellow Kenyan Daisilah Jerono, passing 15 kilometres in 45 minutes 31 seconds, 24 seconds ahead of the chasers.[1], [2]
Jerono then lost contact. Chepkirui and Wanza reached 20 kilometres in 1 hour 0 minutes 30 seconds, seven seconds clear. Jerono placed third in 1 hour 4 minutes 11 seconds. Mizan Alem, Senayet Getachew and Caroline Gitonga also finished below 65 minutes. It was the first race in which six women had broken that barrier. Laura Luengo set a Spanish record of 1 hour 8 minutes 28 seconds.[1]
Rodrigue Kwizera won the men’s race in 58 minutes 3 seconds, ahead of training partner Thierry Ndikumwenayo in 58 minutes 9 seconds and Victor Kipruto in 58 minutes 12 seconds. The leading trio had passed 20 kilometres in 55 minutes 13 seconds. Kwizera’s winning time was a Spanish record. Although faster than the European record, it will not be recognised as such because his sporting transfer from Burundi to Spain has not yet been formalised.[1]
