Peres Jepchirchir broke the world record* in the women's half marathon today, clocking 1:05:06 at the RAK Half half marathon in Ras al-Khaimah, UAE.
The 23-year-old Kenyan, who won the world title over the distance in 2016, knocked three seconds from the previous record set by her compatriot Florence Kiplagat in Barcelona two years ago.
On the way to this unexpected mark –she suffered from pneumonia for two months at the end of 2016- Jepchirchir also clocked the 1:01:40 at 20km, the fastest ever in a mixed race, 14 seconds faster than Kiplagat's performance, also set in Barcelona.
Behind her, three-time RAK champion Mary Keitany smashed her own best, and very nearly the old world record, with a 1:05:13 clocking, while Joyciline Jepkosgei ensured a Kenyan clean sweep, crossing the newly positioned finish line in 1:06:08, a personal best by almost three minutes.
*subject to the usual ratification procedures
