Kenya’s Chepngetich smashes half marathon world record

Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich smashed the women’s half marathon world record on Sunday in a time of one hour four minutes and two seconds in Istanbul.

The marathon world champion sliced almost half a minute off the previous best mark of 1hr 4:31 set by Ethiopia’s Ababel Yeshaneh in February 2020 in the United Arab Emirates.

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Chepngetich, 26, was followed across the line in Turkey by Ethiopian Yalemzerf Yehualaw (1hr 4:40) with Kenya’s Hellen Obiri third in 1hr 4:51.

Winning the race for a third time after 2017 and 2019 she pulled clear of Yehualaw in the final stages to seal her place in the record books.