Kenya’s Hellen Obiri Smashes New York City Half Marathon Record
Kenyan runner Hellen Obiri won the New York City Half Marathon title on Sunday, setting an event and course record.
The two-time world 5000m champion clocked 1 hour, 7 minutes, and 21 seconds, eclipsing the standard set by Senbere Teferi of Ethiopia at last year’s race by 14 seconds.
Obiri was locked in a duel with Teferi for the better part of the race but broke away just before 15km mark to triumph in a course record.
Teferi finished second in 1:07:55 while European cross-country champion Karoline Bjerkeli Grovdal settled for third place in 1:09:53.
“I’m so grateful to have won this race. There was a lot of wind, but I tried to push the pace after 15km,” said Obiri.
“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.”
Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo won the men’s race after timing 1:01:31 ahead of his compatriot Joshua Cheptegei, who finished second in 1:02:09. Morocco’s Zouhair Talbi finished third in a time of 1:02:18.
Comments (2)
I think Obiri could arguable be voted as the best female athlete Kenya has ever produced.I say this with trepidation, hoping that no doping scandal would taited her illustrious career.
What Iam curious about is why she is training,and living in USA.Ofcourse she if free to live anywhere,and do whatever she wants,but I was under the impression that Item is the place to be for long distance running?...I guess she and her couch know best. Nonetheless, congratulations. Keep up the good work.
100% agreed