Jepchirchir runs 1:05:34, smashes women-only world record in Prague
Peres Jepchirchir clocked a 1:05:34 on Saturday morning at the Prague Half-Marathon to claim the women-only world record
On Saturday morning, Peres Jepchirchir smashed the women-only half-marathon world record in Prague at the RunCzech event. The Kenyan runner crossed the line in 1:05:34, beating the previous record by nearly 40 seconds.
Official Results – Prague 21.1 KM women – #praguerestart pic.twitter.com/WJEVUAzfly
— David Monti (@d9monti) September 5, 2020
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The field of nine women set out with pacemakers to break the world record, and they were successful. The course ran short loops of Prague, making the events very spectator-friendly. Jepchirchir told World Athletics after the race that she thought she could run 1:04, but is happy with her 1:05. “The last five kilometres I was really tired,” she said. “My plan was to run good, because I was well prepared.”
WORLD RECORD – 1:05:35 (women-only, unofficial) for Peres Jepchirchir at Prague 21.1 km. pic.twitter.com/WCm3kr1mKq
— David Monti (@d9monti) September 5, 2020
Jepchirchir was the mixed-gender half-marathon record holder for two months in 2017, when she ran a 1:05:06 in Ras Al Khaimah. Her time on Saturday is one of the top-ten fastest in history. The current mixed-gender world record stands one minute faster, at 1:04:31.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CEvn7R7HVqg/
There are two different women’s world records due to the debate about whether or not racing alongside the men provides an unfair advantage. On the track, women are not allowed to have male pacers.
In the men’s race, Kibiwott Kandie ran, essentially, a solo 58:38. He told World Athletics that it’s difficult to run alone, but despite this, he still managed the sixth-best mark of all time.
Full results can be found here.
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