Joyciline Jepkosgei lowers course record, PB in Barcelona

Kenya’s long-distance runner Joyciline Jepkosgei on Sunday 16 February lowered her half marathon course record after claiming victory at the eDreams Mitja Marató Barcelona by Brooks in Spain.

The 32-year-old defended her title in a winning time of 1:04:32, which was 16 seconds better than her previous career best.

The feat saw her also move inside the top 10 on the all time top-list, where she now sits seventh.

Jepkosgei, competing in her third consecutive half marathon in Barcelona said she was “more than satisfied” to get her second win there, even cueing a chance for a three-peat.

She told World Athletics: “It’s my third year in a row competing here in Barcelona. I managed a runner-up place and two wins, so I’m more than satisfied.

In addition, I have bettered my PB which was not easy, so I can’t ask for more and hope to return next year.”

Straight off a fifth-placed finish at the Kenyan Cross Country Championships last weekend, Jepkosgei took command of events early on, and was the lonesome leader by the 5km point which she reached in 15:25.

Behind her was the duo of Gladys Chepkurui and Addise Kebede, who crossed the mark at 15:30.

Taking advantage of the slightly downhill 5-10km section, Jepkosgei stepped up her rhythm to go through 10km in 30:08, a massive 37 seconds clear of Chepkurui, who herself was well ahead of the Ethiopian duo of Alemtsehay Zerihun (31:27) and Kebede (31:46).

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The leader continued her relentless campaign over the second half, averaging 3:04 for the third 5km section to clock 45:27 for 15km some 1:14 clear of Chepkurui, who was more than a minute ahead of Zerihun and Kebede.

As she reached the tape, Jepkosgei managed a career best by 16 seconds to take back-to-back titles in Barcelona in 1:04:32, while Chepkurui was a distant second in 1:06:23 to Zerihun’s third place in 1:08:19.

There was also a double-podium finish in the men’s race as Geoffrey Kamworor and Samuel Mailu finished behind Jacob Kiplimo’s world half marathon record time of 56:42.

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