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Jacob Kiplimo crosses the finish line of the World Athletics Half Marathon Championships held in Gdynia, Poland on October 17 (image from World Athletics official website)
Kiplimo’s victory gives Uganda the historic first individual medal at the World Championships in Athletics Half Marathon.
GDYNIA, Poland, Oct.17 (Xinhua) – Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo won the World Championships in Athletics Half Marathon in Gdynia, Poland on Saturday, breaking the event record with a time of 58.49 minutes.
Kenyan Kibiwott Kandie finished second, five seconds behind the winner, while Ethiopia’s Amedework Walelegn came in third.
“I feel very good, it was my first time in the World Half Marathon Championship and I won. It is difficult to explain because I am full of emotion. Incredible. The weather was really good. I am very grateful to all who have supported me” Kiplimo said right after the competition in an interview for World Athletics.
For Kiplimo it was a great victory, as no Ugandan athlete had won an individual medal in 23 previous editions of the event. The event turned out to be special, with the first 10 athletes breaking 60 minutes, the first time it happened at the event.
Kenyan Peres Jepchirchir was the best in the women’s competition. She broke the women’s world record with the result of 1: 05.16. Germany’s Melat Yisak Kejeta came in second and Ethiopian Yalemzerf Yehualaw also took the podium.
Peres Jepchirchir celebrates in front of the finish line of the World Athletics Half Marathon Championships held in Gdynia, Poland on October 17 (picture from World Athletics official website)
“It’s unbelievable. My goal was to win this race. I wasn’t expecting to break the world record, but I realized that it could happen when we passed 20km. It was a bit windy, but the course was good for me.” “Jepchirchir stated.
This competition was scheduled to be played on March 29, but was moved to October due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, the massive race that accompanied the professional contest, to which more than 27,000 people applied, was held virtually.
The next edition of the World Championships in Athletics Half Marathon will be held in Yangzhou, China. The competition is scheduled for March 2022. ■
