Obiri smashes NYC Half Marathon record

Obiri was locked in a duel with Ethiopia’s 2015 world silver medallist Senbere Teferi for much of the race but broke away from the just before 15km to triumph in a course record of 1:07:21

Teferi settled for second place after clocking 1:07:55 while European cross-country champion Karoline Bjerkeli Grovdal came through for third place in 1:09:53.

“I’m so grateful to have won this race,” said Obiri, the 2019 world cross-country champion. “There was a lot of wind, but I tried to push the pace after 15km.

“My mind was just on winning and not the time, because it is a hard course. I still wanted to run sub-70, so I’m happy to have done that and to have won today.”

World cross-country champion Jacob Kiplimo reigned supreme in the men’s race after timing 1:01:31 ahead of his compatriot two-time world 10,000m champion Cheptegei who finished second in 1:02:09.

Meanwhile, Betty Chepkwony smashed her personal best by seven minutes after clocking 2:23:02 to win the women's race at the Rome Marathon. Kenya’s Wilfred Kigen finished second in the men’s after timing 2:08:45 behind winner Taoufik Allam of Morocco who crossed the finish line in 2:07:43.

Elsewhere, Africa 10,000m champion Caroline Nyaga took victory over the 5km race in Lille where she clocked 14:35, finishing micro seconds ahead of second place Mekides Abebe.

In the corresponding men’s race, world under-20 1500m champion Reynold Kipkorir placed second in 13:04 behind Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha who missed the world record by a whisker after timing 12:50