Gemechu beats world record-holder in half-marathon debut

Debutante Tsehay Gemechu clocks 1:06:50 course record at Delhi Half Marathon. Report: https://t.co/cXsYS9DzA2 pic.twitter.com/qhWfTTwg9e

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) October 21, 2018

In her half-marathon debut, Tsehay Gemechu of Ethiopia took four seconds off the course record at the Airtel Delhi Half-Marathon. The race was billed as a contest between Tirunesh Dibaba and mixed half-marathon world record holder Joyciline Jepkosgogei, but Gemechu surprised the crowd, taking the win. It’s a good race to perform well at, as Delhi is arguably the richest race in the world.

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Gemechu ran 1:06:50 to take the win and the $37,000 USD in prize money. The men’s and women’s winner each get $27,000 USD for the win, and an additional $10,000 USD for the record. Second place went to world record holder Jepkosgogei in 1:06:56, and third place to Zeineba Yimer in 1:06:59. Dibaba ended up sixth in 1:08:36.

Post-race Gemechu told race organizers, “To be honest I hadn’t changed my training to do this race so I’m pretty surprised that I won and ran so fast.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpM3jbUg5Fp/?hl=en&taken-by=runadhm

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In the men’s race, Andamlak Belihu won in 59:18, second place went to Amdework Walelegn in 59:22, and third place was Daniel Kipchumba in 59:48. 

Prize money is awarded to the top 10 male and female finishers overall, as well as top 10 Indian male and female finishers. Overall, the race has roughly $215,000 USD in prizes to award, and that’s excluding bonuses. 

Awards for overall finishers in USD:

• 1st: $27,000
• 2nd: $20,000
• 3rd: $13,000
• 4th: $8,000
• 5th: $6,000
• 6th: $5,000
• 7th: $4,000
• 8th: $3,000
• 9th: $2,000
• 10th: $1,000

Awards for Indian finishers in Rupee:

• 1st: 4,00,000
• 2nd: 3,00,000
• 3rd: 2,00,000
• 4th: 100,000
• 5th: 75,000
• 6th: 60,000
• 7th: 50,000
• 8th: 40,000
• 9th: 40,000
• 10th: 40,000