Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey smashed the women’s world best for 15km at the Zevenheuvelenloop (Seven Hills Run) in Nijmegen, Netherlands, on Sunday.
Gidey, this year’s World Championships 10,000m silver medallist, clocked 44:21, more than a minute better than the previous world best of 45:37 Joyciline Jepkosgei set in Prague two years ago en route to her first world record in the half marathon.
Covering the first five kilometres in a quick 15:09, the 21-year-old upped the pace over the next five kilometres, closing that stretch with a stunning 2:44 10th kilometre, to reach the 10km point in a remarkable 29:44. She slowed over the next two kilometres but shifted gears again in the waning stages, closing with kilometre splits of 2:49, 2:52 and 2:50. She covered the last 10km in a stunning 29:12, the fastest 10-kilometre stretch ever produced under any conditions.
“I felt I was in good form in preparation for the (race) and my legs felt good all through the race,” said Gidey, who rose to prominence in the Under-20 ranks after taking back-to-back world Under-20 cross country titles in 2015 and 2017.
“I was quite surprised to see how much time I was able to get off the previous world (best) to be honest but I had great legs and it was a really nice race.”
Stephen Kissa of Uganda won the men’s race in 41:49 to become the seventh fastest ever over the distance.
In partnership with ANA and Sports Leo
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