Kejelcha sets new world half-marathon record

Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha has set a new world record on his way to winning the Valencia Half Marathon.

Kejelcha, who also holds the indoor mile world record, set in Boston in 2019, finished in 57 minutes 30 seconds in wet conditions in the Spanish city.

The 27-year-old’s time was one second quicker than Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo’s mark from Lisbon three years ago.

The women’s race was won by Agnes Ngetich of Kenya, who moved to second in the world all-time rankings with a time 63:04.

In only his sixth half marathon, Kejelcha settled in behind the pacemakers from the start, making his move around the three-kilometre mark and eventually breaking away from Kenyans Daniel Mateiko and Isaia Kipkoech for victory.

Kejelcha is a two-time world indoor 3000m champion but could only finish sixth in the 10,000m final at the Paris Olympics earlier this year.