Ababel Yeshaneh Turns Tables on Brigid Kosgei in World Record Performance

By Adam Kopet

Ethiopia's Ababel Yeshaneh won the women's race Friday morning at the RAK Half Marathon in Ras al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, in a world-record 1:04:31.

RESULTS

Yeshaneh pulled away from Kenya's Brigid Kosgei in the final kilometers to take the victory. Kosgei finished second in 1:04:49, also running under the previous world record.

The women's race was fast from the start. The top women reached five kilometers in 15:03. The women other than Kosgei and Yeshaneh dropped away over the next five kilometers. The pair reached 10K in 30:15 and then 15K in 45:37.

Their pace was slowing, but they had banked so much time early in the race that they continued to run under world-record pace.

The last time these two women raced, it was Kosgei getting the win and a world record at the 2019 Chicago Marathon. Kosgei won in 2:14:04. Yeshaneh was second in 2:20:51. This time, the results were flipped with Yeshaneh getting the win and a world record.

Rosemary Wanjiru of Kenya rounded out the podium at the RAK Half Marathon in 1:05:34.

The men's race was won by Kibiwott Kandie of Kenya in 58:58. Alexander Munyao, also of Kenya, made a bold move for the lead just before 15K. Despite opening a gap of several meters, Kandie fought back and took the lead in the closing stages of the race. Munyao finished second in 59:16.

Ethiopia's Mule Wasihun completed the podium with a third-place finish in 59:47. Five men ran under 60 minutes.