Kenya’s Mathew Kimeli Breaks another record at Adidas Running

• Kimeli who holds a personal best of 58:43 recorded a time record of 59:31 to claim the victory.
• Ethiopia’s Fentaye Azale won the women’s 10km race with a time frame of 30:24 ahead of Kenya’s Joyce Chepkemoi who finished in the second position clocking 30:33 while Sheila Chepkirui clocked 30:35 finishing in the third position.
• As an act of honor, a moment of silence was observed in the memory of the late Agnes Tirop before the women’s 10km race started.

Kenya’s Mathew Kimeli on Saturday 30^th  April 2022 won the men’s half marathon race at the second edition of Adizero, Road to Records Adidas race that was held in Herzogenaurach in Germany.

Kimeli who holds a personal best of 58:43 recorded a time record of 59:31 ahead of Benard Kimeli who finished in the second position clocking 59:32 while Alfred Barkach clocked 59:36 finishing in the third position.

Mathew in a statement said the victory resulted from competing in last year’s event which helped him to master the course, especially the hilly section.

“The race was good but I had to do the good calculation and that is why I went for the finish in the last few meters. I had preserved my energy because I knew that the race would be tough in the end,” said Mathew.

The women’s 10km race was won by Ethiopia’s Fentaye Azale recording a time frame of 30:24 ahead of Kenya’s Joyce Chepkemoi who finished in the second position clocking 30:33 while Sheila Chepkirui clocked 30:35 finishing in the third position.

Tigist Assefa sets the pace in the half marathon, clocking in at 1:07:28 to secure a personal record and the women’s-only world lead time.

Sarah Chelangat became the Uganda’s fastest woman over 10km, crossing the finish line in 0:31:11.

Sarah Chelangat  after a race where she crossed the finish line in 0:31:11 to become woman over 10km

In other categories, Kenya’s Kibiwott Kandie won the men’s 10km in 26:43 ahead of his compatriot Sebastian Sawe who clocked 26:54, the fastest losing time in the 10km road race, while Burundi’s Rodrigue Kwizera was third.

Through a statement Kibiwott said his target was to run sub 27.

“I knew this race would be tough and that is why I ran from behind because everybody looked good. I’m happy to have won the race,” said Kandie in a statement.

Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa ensured the Kenyan runners won’t have their way as the case in the men’s half marathon, outsprinting Rosemary Wanjiru in the last two kilometers to triumph in 1:07:28. Wanjiru timed 1:07:36 for second place while Ethiopian’s Ftaw Zeray settled third in 1:07:42.

Tigist Assefa sets the pace in the half marathon, clocking in at 1:07:28 to secure a personal record and the women’s-only world lead time.
Photo/Adidas Running {twiter}

The men’s 5km race was won by Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha in 12:53, Kenya’s Nicholas Kimeli was second in 12:55 while Levy Kibet (13:02) settled for third place.

Ethiopia’s Senbere Teferi won the women’s 5km after clocking 14:37 ahead of her compatriot Medina Eisa (14:53) while Kenya’s Mercy Cherono settled for third place in 14:56.

Act of honor

As an act of honor, a moment of silence was observed in the memory of the late Agnes Tirop before the women’s 10km race started.

The 10km race has also been named after the former record holder and it will now be known as the “Agnes Jebet Tirop 10km race.”

Tirop was found dead in her house in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet on October 13 last year.

Organizers showed their honor by playing the video of her when she broke the women’s only 10km world record last year before the women’s 10km race started.

A video was also played of Tirop’s Angels Foundation chairperson, Viola Lagat, highlighting the organization’s short and long-term plans in their fight to eradicate Gender-Based Violence.