Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe delivered a spectacular performance at the Prague Half Marathon, breaking the 14-year-old race record to claim victory in impressive fashion.
The World Half Marathon champion showcased his exceptional form by clocking a world-leading personal best of 58 minutes and 24 seconds on Saturday.
Despite competing just a week after helping Kenya secure gold at the World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, Sawe exhibited remarkable resilience and strength throughout the race.
Taking charge in warm conditions in Prague, Sawe dictated the pace and dominated the field, running the second half of the race solo and maintaining his speed to cross the finish line in record-breaking time.
Sawe’s commanding performance not only secured him victory but also saw him improve his personal best by five seconds, finishing ahead of his fellow Kenyan athletes Geofry Toroitich Kipchumba (1:00:01) and Patrick Mosin (1:00:15), who claimed the second and third spots on the podium respectively.
In the women’s category, the battle for supremacy was intense as Ethiopian runner Gete Alemayehu emerged victorious after a closely contested race. Alemayehu engaged in a fierce duel with Kenya’s Jesca Chelangat, with the lead changing hands several times over the course of the race.
The Ethiopian and Kenyan athletes were neck-and-neck until Alemayehu made a decisive move in the latter stages of the race, ultimately pulling away from Chelangat to secure the win in a time of 1 hour, 8 minutes, and 10 seconds. Chelangat put up a valiant effort, finishing just three seconds behind the winner. Ethiopia’s Nigsti Haftu claimed the third spot on the podium with a time of 1:09:30.
In the men’s race, Sawe took control early on, leading through the 5-kilometer mark in 13:48 before distancing himself further from the competition by the 10-kilometer point, which he passed in 27:32. With a commanding 45-second lead by the 15-kilometer mark (reached in 41:25), Sawe continued to push the pace en route to his record-breaking finish.
Sawe’s exceptional performance not only secured his victory in Prague but also propelled him to 12th place on the world all-time list for the half marathon.
Behind Sawe, a strong contingent of Kenyan runners dominated the top positions, with Geofry Toroitich Kipchumba and Patrick Mosin securing podium finishes alongside their compatriot.
The Prague Half Marathon showcased outstanding athleticism and determination from both the men’s and women’s elite fields, with Sawe’s record-breaking run and Alemayehu’s strategic prowess highlighting the thrilling nature of the event. Despite the challenging conditions, these athletes demonstrated exceptional skill and endurance, setting the stage for further excitement in the world of distance running.
Leading results
Women
1 Gete Alemayehu (ETH) 1:08:10
2 Jesca Chelangat (KEN) 1:08:13
3 Nigsti Haftu (ETH) 1:09:30
4 Vivian Jepkemei Melly (KEN) 1:09:33
5 Sultan Haydar (TUR) 1:09:48
Men
1 Sabastian Sawe (KEN) 58:24
2 Geofry Toroitich Kipchumba (KEN) 1:00:01
3 Patrick Mosin (KEN) 1:00:15
4 Gideon Kiprotich Rop (KEN) 1:00:45
5 Jackson Muema (KEN) 1:02:01
PHOTO: World Athletics
