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Geoffrey Kamworor breaks world record at Copenhagen Half-Marathon

The Kenyan, who is a three-time half-marathon world champion, ran 58:01 in the Danish capital today. Five others went sub-60

Geoffrey Kamworor

Geoffrey Kamworor of Kenya has broken the half-marathon world record with an astounding 58:01 in Copenhagen on Sunday, bettering Abraham Kiptum’s 58:18 set in Valencia last October by 17 seconds. (Kiptum was suspended for a doping violation in April, but his world record stood.) Five other men had sub-60 finishes in the Danish capital today.

Kamworor has held the title of world half-marathon champion three times–in Copenhagen in 2014, in Cardiff in 2016, and in Valencia in 2018. (The event is held every two years.)

RELATED: Kamworor will skip World Championships, race NYC marathon instead

According to the IAAF, the lead group, which included Kamworor, covered the first 5K in just above world record pace (13:53), but Kamworor surged, covering the first 10K in 27:34, ahead of target pace. He was then alone for the remainder of the race, which included a brief rainstorm, and maintained world record pace with several seconds of cushion.

Kamworor finished a full minute and 15 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Bernard Kipkorir of Kenya, who finished in a nonetheless impressive 59:16. Ethiopia’s Berehanu Wendemu Tsegu was third in 59:22. The remaining sub-60 finishers were Edwin Kiprop Kiptoo (59:27), Amos Kurgat (59:37) and Philemon Kiplimo in 59.57 (all Kenyans).

Kamworor was focussed on the half-marathon world record and decided not to race the 10,000m in the World Championships coming up in Doha at the end of this month. The Kenyan, whom marathon world-record-holder Eliud Kipchoge has said will likely surpass his own achievements in running, won his country’s 10,000m championship earlier this summer. He has contested the world championship at that distance twice before, finishing second in 2015 and sixth in 2017. Kamworor won the TCS New York City Marathon in 2017.

RELATED: Half-marathon world record holder suspended from London Marathon

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