Five Runners Go Under 60 Minutes In The Hague

The winner clocked the fastest half marathon this year.

There were some blazing times in the Netherlands last Sunday. At the the 38th edition of the ABN-AMRO City-Pier-City Half Marathon, five runners dipped under the 60-minute mark.

Stephen Kosgei Kibet of Kenya was the fastest with a personal best of 58 minutes and 45 seconds–nearly a 30-second improvement over his previous personal best

Kibet made his move in the last kilometer, surging ahead of pre-race favorite, Jonathan Maiyo (59:02).Kenneth Kipkemoi took third place in 59:11.

The men’s race went out fast with a pack of 13 (including 2 pacemakers) going under 14 minutes in the first 5K.

The group was narrowed down to nine with Stephen Kibet, Jonathan Maiyo, Kenneth Kipkemoi, Victor Kipchirchir, Bernard Koech,pace Jacob Cheshari (all from Kenya) and the Ethiopians Merkebu Birke and Andualem Belay. They reached 10K in 27:51.

“It is fantastic to win a great and famous race like this,” said Kibet afterwards. “I bettered my personal best with over a minute. Now I am looking forward to my next race in this country. On April 15 I will run the Rotterdam Marathon. I hope to better my personal best in that race too.”

Josephine Chepkoech of Kenya prevailed in the women’s race in 1:11:20.

Susanne Hahn of Germany came in second a minute and a half later. Merel de Kengt was third in 1:14:31.

For More: IAAF