L. MathekaNew Personal Best for Obiri on RAK debut
Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 19.02.22. | 11:58
The two-time Olympic silver medalist improved her half marathon PB by 29 secs to 64:22 to become the fifth fastest woman ever at the distance.
Girmawit Gebrzihair put in a big move late in the Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) half marathon to take the win in 1:04:14 ahead of Hellen Obiri who clocked 1:04:22 for silver while compatriot Sheila Chepkirui was third in new Persoal Best time of 1:04:36.
Gebrzihair who was making her debut in the distance made a statement, moving to fourth place in the all-time list in the distance.
"Finishing second on my debut here is a good achievement. I came ready for a PB and I got it so I am happy," said Obiri in an interview with Leah Gitonga, a UAE-based journalist, after her race.
The lead women went through 5km in 15:12, about 1:04:05 pace, with Ababel Yeshaneh leading the way.
Girmawit Gebrzihair 🇪🇹 wins Rak Half Marathon women's race with 1:04:14. Hellen Obiri 🇰🇪 1:04:22 and Sheila Chepkirui 🇰🇪 1:04:36 finished second and third respectively.
— Bizuayehu Wagaw (@buzi2011) February 19, 2022
Jacob Kiplimo 🇺🇬 took the men's victory in 57:56. pic.twitter.com/3YQKMTPXgF
The two-time world 5000m champion, Obiri, assumed lead few kilometres on and led a pack of six women through 10km in 30:28, in the fast paced race.
As the race got to the 13km mark, three women led by the two Kenyans and the eventual winner broke away as defending champion Ababel Yeshaneh found the going tough and dropped back to sixth. The three cleared the 15km mark in 45:50.51 which was on about 1:04:28 pace.
With about 2.5 km to go, Chepkirui dropped back off the women's lead pack by a couple seconds as Gebrzihair led the way, with Obiri right behind. The Kenyan never recovered as she went on to pick silver.
Judith Cheptum pipped Ethiopia’s Bosena Mulate for fourth place clocking 1:05.28 while the later completed the top five finishes in 1:05.46. Both women recorded their PB's in the distance.
Kenya's Daisy Cherotich and Pauline Esikon made the top ten in seventh and ninth place respectively.
Meawhile, Eilish McColgan finished in sixth, running a 1:06:26 to break Paula Radcliffe's British record of 1:06:47.
Select results
1. Girmawit Gebrzihair Gebru 01:04:14
2. Hellen Onsando Obiri 01:04:22
3. Sheila Chepkirui 01:04:36
4. Judith Jeptum Korir 01:05:28
5. Bosena Mulatie Mogesie 01:05:46
6. Eilish Mccolgan 01:06:26
7. Daisy Cherotich 01:06:33
8. Eunice Chebichii Chumba 01:07:22
9. Pauline Nagoroi Esikon 01:07:50
10. Jackline Sakilu 01:15:38
