Mary Keitany annihilates the Vodafone RTP Portugal Half Marathon record – IAAF Gold Label Road Race
Leading the field right from the gun, May Keitany, the 29-year-old long distance runner from Kenya, while running at the Vodafone RTP Portugal Half-Marathon, marked a new race record. The previous record also belonged to the World Half-Marathon gold medallist
of 2009. On the Men’s side, Silas Sang dominated the IAAF Gold Label Race in Lisbon, Portugal.
Keitany had come back to Lisbon as a pre-favourite runner for the traditional event, as the world record holder for the distance never got challenged by any of her rivals on the field as she smashed the previous record by breasting the tape in one hour,
seven minutes and 54 seconds. Her previous record stood at one hour, eight minutes and 50 seconds.
Interestingly, the Kenyan claimed a new world record under unfavourable weather conditions. The temperature, throughout the race, remained at about 26 ºC, while the air was experiencing about 60 percent humidity. However, all that just could not hinder her
from going for the target she already had in her mind before coming to the race.
Dwelling on her future plans, Keitany, who had dominated the London marathon in April where she clocked two hours, 19 minutes and 19 seconds, said that her focus was now on claiming the New York Marathon title. The winner of the Portugal Half-Marathon said,
“in New York, where I will try to win”.
The race in Lisbon turned out to be a Kenyan matter only as behind Keitany, the closest duo was also from Kenya. Helena Kiprop, the winner of the 2009’s event, who had finished-off the race in one hour, ten minutes and twenty six seconds, took one minute
and three seconds more than Keitany in crossing the finishing line.
Second in the run was Caroline Kilel, the Kenyan runner who is the winner of the Boston Marathon where she clocked two hours, 22 minutes and 36 seconds. The girl rounded out the podium in one hour and 10.03 seconds. Among local runners, it was Ana Dulce
Felix who could finish-off her race in one hour and 13.34 seconds. Analia Rosa managed to hit the finishing line among the top-ten finishers as the girl took one hour and 14.44 seconds to end the race.
On the Men’s side, Silas Sang claimed third success in the fourth race of his career. However, it was definitely not an easy win as the runner had to encounter Silas Kipruto, who tried to pull out a lead right from the gun. However, Kipruto could not carry
on with his earlier pace and succumbed to the title winner about five km ahead of the finishing line.
On the other hand, Sang, who had been rather slow in the beginning, started to lead the charge as the race lingered on. By the time he reached the finishing line, he was the only dominator who prevailed against all odds.
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