ETHIOPIAN Letesenbert Gidey has set a new world record for the women’s half marathon, completing the event in Valencia this morning in a time of 1:02:51.
At the Valencia Trinidad Alfonso EDP Half Marathon 2021, Gidey cut 71 seconds off the previous world record set by Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich last April.
Gidey was unable to attend the Valencia event last year, however on this, the 30th anniversary of the event, the 23-year-old ran into the record books.
In second place came Gidey’s fellow Ethiopian, Yalemzerf Yehualaw, with 1:03:51 and in third place Sheila Chepkirui with 1:03:51.
The men’s race was won by the Kenyan, Abel Kipchumba, with a time of 58:07. He was followed by Rhonex Kipruto, who crossed the finish line with a time of 58:09 just two seconds behind Kipchumba, following a sprint finish. In third place was Daniel Mateiko, with 58:26.
The Valencia Half Marathon is now the only race to hold the world records for both the men’s and women’s events for the same distance, as the record for the men’s half marathon is still held by Kibiwott Kandie, 57:32 (Elite Edition 2020).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOa0F8uJ3tQ
Return of the popular race
A total of 8920 runners took to the streets on Sunday morning in the return of the popular running event, following its cancellation last year, and of those, 8806 crossed the finish line.
It was precisely that amount, 8806, which was donated in euros by the main sponsor of the event, Fundación Trinidad Alfonso, to this year’s charity, Payasospital, as part of the “1 Euro per runner” initiative which rewarded the effort of each and every one of the people who crossed the finishing line.
The Valencia Report 