Sheila Chepkirui powered her way to a world lead while Rodrigue Kwizera surged to a new Spanish national record on Sunday at the Valencia Half Marathon.
One of the fastest courses in road racing delivered another batch of quick times as Chepkirui needed a late kick to take the women’s race in 1:03:51, putting her in a tie for fifth-fastest all time at the distance alongside Yalemzerf Yehualaw who clocked the same time in Valencia in 2021.
Chepkirui was deep in a showdown with fellow Kenyan Diana Wanza, in a battle that unfolded with the finish line tape clearly in view.
At the 5km mark in 15:19, Chepkirui was part of a lead pack that included Wanza, Daisilah Jerono, Mizan Alem, Senayet Getachew and Caroline Gitonga. That group would remain locked in until Chepkirui, Wanza and Jerono picked up the pace and pulled away at the 15km point at 45:31 as the race began to take shape.
But by 20km at just over an hour at 1:00:30, Chepkirui and Wanza refused to fade after dropping Jerono, with the closing moments set to be decided with the final sprint, with both working their way through finishers from the men’s field.
With just a few steps remaining, Chepkirui, the 2024 New York City Marathon winner, slipped past Wanza and posted one of the top performances ever in the half marathon.
Wanza finished second in 1:03:52 while Jerono took third in 1:04:11 to complete the all-Kenyan podium.
In the men’s race, Kwizera made his mark on home soil as he bolted to a 58:03 Spanish record after dictating the pace for the lead group through most of the course.
Kwizera crossed the 15km mark in 41:31 with Thierry Ndikumwenayo and Victor Ndikumwenayo staying close as the pack of eight competitors showed signs of fading. By 20km, the trio had pulled ahead as the podium order was still undecided.
But with little road left ahead of him, Kwizera made his decisive move and ensured that he would not leave the fate of the race up to chance as he crossed the finish line in celebration of his new record.
Ndikumwenayo was the runner-up and just six seconds behind in 58:09 and Kipruto finished third in 58:12.
Men’s Top Finishers
1. Rodrigue Kwizera (Spain) – 58:03
2. Thierry Ndikumwenayo (Spain) – 58:09
3. Victor Kipruto (Kenya) – 58:12
4. Tadese Worku (Ethiopia) – 58:33
5. Owen Kapkama (Kenya) – 58:42
6. Jemal Yimer (Ethiopia) – 59:01
7. James Kipkosgei (Kenya) – 59:03
8. Yaseen Abdalla (Sudan) – 59:12
9. Daniel Ebenyo (Kenya) – 59:20
10. Melkeneh Azize (Ethiopia) – 59:20
11. Emmanuel Roudolff (France) – 59:23
12. Maxime Chaumeton (South Africa) – 59:44
13. Aaron de las Heras Ruperez (Spain) – 1:00:08
14. Tomoya Ogikubo (Japan) – 1:00:20
15. Jacob Simonsen (Denmark) – 1:00:42
16. Pasquale Selvarolo (Italy) – 1:00:42
17. Duarte Gomes (Portugal) – 1:00:43
18. Adel Mechaal Mechaal (Spain) – 1:01:00
19. Jack O’Leary (Ireland) – 1:01:06
20. Rui Pinto (Portugal) – 1:01:22
Women’s Top Finishers
1. Sheila Chepkirui (Kenya) – 1:03:51
2. Diana Wanza (Kenya) – 1:03:52
3. Daisilah Jerono (Kenya) – 1:04:11
4. Mizan Alem (Ethiopia) – 1:04:54
5. Senayet Getachew (Ethiopia) – 1:04:57
6. Caroline Gitonga (Kenya) – 1:04:59
7. Gladys Kwamboka (Kenya) – 1:05:02
8. Jesca Chelangat (Kenya) – 1:05:29
9. Miriam Chebet (Kenya) – 1:05:39
10. Aynadis Mebratu (Ethiopia) – 1:05:40
11. Purity Gitonga (Kenya) – 1:05:56
12. Faith Cherono (Kenya) – 1:06:13
13. Tsigie Gebreselama (Ethiopia) – 1:06:20
14. Ftaw Zeray (Ethiopia) – 1:06:41
15. Axumawit Embaye (Ethiopia) – 1:06:43
16. Yalemzerf Yehualaw (Ethiopia) – 1:07:21
17. Emily Venters (USA), 1:07:37
18. Jana Van Lent (Belgium) – 1:07:39
19. Lauren Ryan (Australia) – 1:08:25
20. Laura Luengo Caselles (Spain) – 1:08:28
