Kenya’s Geoffrey Kamworor runs 13:01 5K in the middle of a half-marathon

Love this photo by @NotAfraid2Fail.

Geoffrey Kamworor cheesin’ after throwing down a 13:01 5K split from 15K to 20K in his half marathon win at @Valencia2018.

Three straight world half marathon titles for the 25-year-old. pic.twitter.com/AGk4z7W5Rt

— Chris Chavez (@ChrisChavez) March 24, 2018

With the help of a tailwind, Kenya’s Geoffrey Kamworor produced one of the most astonishing splits ever record within a distance race at the 2018 IAAF World Half-Marathon Championships.

Between 15-20K, the 25-year-old covered 5K in 13:01 (2:36 per kilometre pace). For perspective, the Canadian men’s 5,000m track record is 13:01. The second place finisher in the men’s race covered that same distance in 13:14, incredible in and of itself. (Kamworor’s 15-20K split translates to a pace of 54:55 for a half-marathon, granted even splits, while the world record is 58:23.)

Kamworor was able to split such a fast time because of the relatively slow first 15K of the race, held in Valencia, Spain on Saturday. LetsRun.com reports that winds were as gusty as 48 km/h.

tfw you split 13:01 for 5k at the end of a half marathon #GeoffreyKamworor #IAAFWorlds #IAAFvalencia2018 pic.twitter.com/EbKgMmYALD

— Johanna Gretschel (@jojo_shea) March 24, 2018

According to Steven Mills, Kamworor posted the following splits to win in 60:02 in what was his third world half-marathon title. Plus, he was able to smile down the homestretch, celebrating his victory.

Geoffrey Kamworor's splits at the World HM Champs.

5km 14:32
10km 29:28 (14:56)
15km 44:13 (14:45)
20km 57:14 (13:01)

Finish 60:02

— Steven Mills (@srmills90) March 24, 2018

Hat trick of world half marathon titles for Geoffrey Kamworor.

More from #IAAFworlds: https://t.co/2aLlCLatAQ pic.twitter.com/l1XJYdv1qY

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) March 25, 2018

Kamworor won the 2017 TCS New York City Marathon, his first career marathon win, back in November.