Kenya’s Abel Kipchumba stormed to victory at the 18th edition of the New York City Half Marathon on Sunday (17) in New York City.
The 30 year-old who came to this race with the fastest time on paper of 58:07 that he got three years ago at the Valencia half marathon, where he took the honors, lived to the race expectations as he fought off a strong elite field that included United States Conner Mantz and Clayton Young, fresh off finishing first and second, respectively, at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, two-time U.S. Olympian Hillary Bor who was making a debut over the distance and the world’s most-decorated distance runner, Kenenisa Bekele,who making his second return at NYRR.
Kipchumba played rabbit as the lead group made of Bor of the USA, Zouhair Talbi of Morocco,went through the 5k mark in 14:23.
The lead of three later dropped Bor at the 15k mark as they sailed through in 42:52 with Bor tailing back in 43:05.
Talbi and Kipchumba went head to head as they approached the 17km mark where Kipchumba engaged his gear, dropping the Moraccan as Bor was also passed by former world U20 3000m steeplechase silver medallist, Yemane Haileselassie of Eritrea.
The chase pack was never changed but Kipchumba blew the field in the last 4km totake his first season win in 1:00.25 with Talbi forced to settle in second place 16 seconds later with Haileselassie closing the podium three finishes in 1:01.37.
“I am very happy to win today in New York City. In Times Square I set my mind on, I must go, I must win,” said Kipchumba.
Four time United States National champion, Bor, and Reed Fischer finished in fourth and fifth in respective time of 1:01.47 and 1:03.06.
Bekele who is regarded as the greatest distance runners in history, finished in seventh place in 1:03.59.
The race course record of 59:24 set 17 years ago by the greatest long distance runner in history, Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia remains standing
John Vaselyne is the founder of Athletics News. Africa’s only Independent Athletics News website. He has covered World U18 and U20 Championships, World Cross Country Championships, Four Continental Tour Gold Series, Wanda Diamond League. He has passion for the Sport and has over seven years experience in this area of sport. He is also the Leading Athletics Pundit in the Country, having been hosted in ALL leading TV stations in Kenya
