Press Release – NN Running Team
Letesenbet Gidey produced a jaw-dropping debut for the NN Running Team by obliterating the world half-marathon record, posting a dazzling 1:02:52 on the streets of Valencia.
The Ethiopian, who holds the world 5000m and 10,000m on track, added the half-marathon record with an exhilarating display of distance running to wipe 1:11 from the previous world record.
On a sunny day in “The City of Running” Letesenbet hit the 10km split in an eye-popping 29:45 some 35 seconds on the world record pace of Ruth Chepng’etich.
WORLD RECORD!
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) October 24, 2021
Letesenbet Gidey 🇪🇹 breaks the world half marathon record* in Valencia!
She crosses the @MedioMaratonVLC finish line in 1:02:52 👏
*subject to ratification pic.twitter.com/r4FiPvvCwq
By the 15km mark – which she hit at 44:29 – she was a remarkable 1:01 ahead of the world record pace.
Running with her beautifully rhythmic style, the 23-year-old maintained her astonishing pace to re-write the record books and point to a future on the road of infinite possibilities.
Letesenbet said, “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.”
SHOESTRINGS: EthiopianYalemzerf Yehualaw had the world half-marathon record, which she set at the Antrim Coast Half Marathon this past August at 63:44. She didn’t lose the record due to Gidey’s run. She lost it because the Antrim Coast Half Marathon course was short. The record that Gidey bettered was Kenyan Brigid Kosgei’s from 2019, which was a 64:28 performance from the Great North Run in the UK.
It is believed that Ruth Chepng’etich’s performance of 64:02 is yet to be ratified, which was run in this past August at the Istanbul Half Marathon.
