Letesenbet Gidey Smashes World Half-marathon Record

ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey stuns athletics world in Valencia, Spain, as she becomes fastest woman in history over half-Marathon.

The stunning win in her half-marathon debut has increased the number of records Letesenbet holds to three.

The 23-year-old athlete finished the Valencia Half Marathon Trinidad Alfonso at 62:52, taking well over a minute off Ruth Chepnegetich’s world record of 64:02, according to World Athletes (WA)

“I’m so happy to break the world record in my first half marathon and my first race for the NN Running Team! Gracias, Valencia,” the athlete said.

In October last year, Letesenbet set a world 5000m record in the same city of Valencia with 14:06.62, and this summer ran a world 10,000m record of 29:01.03 in Hengelo, although she won ‘only’ bronze in the 10,000m at the Tokyo Olympics.

This weekend, the athletes made a successful debut in half marathon. Behind her, another Ethiopian, Yalemzerf Yehualaw was runner-up in 63:51 as she also finished inside Chepnegetich’s world record, says AW report. Sheila Chepkirui of Kenya finished third in 64:53.