Pre-favourite Tsehay Gemechu lowers the course record in this year’s CPH Half, seeing also four men dip under the 1 hour limit.
With all COVID-19 restrictions lifted in Denmark, the Copenhagen Half Marathon – with close to 20.000 participants – on Sunday again produced a string of top results.
In a very tight finish, Amdework Walalegn of Ethiopia managed to keep Kenya’s Kenneth Renju behind, winning in 59:10 minutes with Renju dipping under one hour for the first time with a massive personal best of 59:12.
Another Kenyan, Daniel Mateiko, was the big surprise keeping up with the other two runners until the last kilometer. He as well was rewarded with a huge personal best of 59:25.
In near perfect conditions in the Danish capital, sunny and 14 degrees, the Ugandan pacemaker Abel Sikowa did an excellent job leading a group of nine runners through the first 15K in 42:15 min. before dropping out. Just one kilometer on, the group suddenly had diminished to a trio that would go on and take the top-3 spots.
Event photography from the 2021 Copenhagen Half Marathon
Sifan Hassan’s race record broken
Back in Copenhagen in 2018, Sifan Hassan triumphed with a European Record of 65:15 minutes. That race record now is in the hands of Tsehay Gemechu who cut off seven seconds of the time crossing the finish line in 65:08.
The 22-year-old Ethiopian – 4th at the 2019 World Championships at 5000 meters – thereby improved her personal best with almost a minute.
“I was hoping to break my personal best and run close to 65 minutes, and beating Sifan Hassan’s race record of course is something special. I am very happy. It was a bit windy, so I had to work hard. But I look forward to coming back to Copenhagen next year,” Gemechu said.
Hawi Feysa secured an Ethiopian double victory taking second spot In a PB of 65:41 with Vivian Kiplagat of Kenya in third.
Top 5 women
- Tsehay Gemechu (ETH) – 1:05:08 (race record)
- Hawi Feysa (ETH) – 1:05:41
- Vivian Kiplagat (KEN) – 1:06:07
- Beyenu Degefa (ETH) – 1:08:15
- Yitayish Mekonene (ETH) – 1:08:53
Top 5 men
- Amdework Walalegn (ETH) – 59:10
- Keneth Renju (KEN) – 59:12
- Daniel Mateiko (KEN) – 59:25
- Abe Tilahun (ETH) – 59:46
- Zerei Kbrom (NOR) – 1:00:07
See all results from the Copenhagen Half Marathon ’21 here
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