Ethiopian Guye Adola shattered the course record to win the men's race as Kenyan woman Florence Kiplagat successfully defended her title in the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon here Sunday.
Adola bettered compatriot Atsedu Tsegay's course record of 59.12 minutes by six seconds. Adola pocketed $27,000 for the win and $7,500 for the course record. Reigning World Champion Geoffrey Kamworor of Kenya took second place with a time of 59.07 minutes. Ethiopian Mosinet Geremew clocked 59.11 to finish third.
"My race was smooth from the beginning though the competition was very stiff due to the early morning cold. I started the race with the intention of doing my best but I am very happy that I won with a new course record," Adola, who won the 2014 World Championship bronze, said. This was Adola's fourth international half marathon.
Another Kenyan, Cybrian Kotut claimed fourth position after finishing the race in 59.12 minutes. Abraham Cheroben, this year's fastest half marathoner, with a time of 58.48 minutes, had to be content with eighth, clocking 59.21.
Among the women, two-time World Champion Florence completed the race in an hour and 10.04 minutes. Reigning World Champion Gladys Cherono came second in an hour and 10.05 minutes, which was two seconds faster than Worknesh Defega's effort.
"I did my best to overcome a highly competitive field. Our group remained together and I surged ahead 200 metres from the finish. When Gladys and Defenga also picked up speed, I just had the belief to finish the race properly. It feels great to successfully defend the title," Florence said, who also took home $27,000 for the win.
Former champion Lucy Kabuu of Kenya took sixth place with a timing of an hour and 10.10 minutes as Ethiopia's Belaynesh Olijira and Kenyan Cynthia Limo earned fourth and fifth positions, respectively.
