Men’s Half Marathon
It was a podium sweep for Kenyan in the men’s half-marathon at the 2023 Riga World Athletics Road Running Championships on Sunday. Six men finished under 60 minutes.
The winner was Sabastian Kimaru Sawe in a course record 59:10. The 28-year-old Kenyan holds a best of 58:58 from Manama, Bahrain last year.
Magnificent day in Riga for our first ever World Athletics Road Running Championships 👏
— Seb Coe (@sebcoe) October 1, 2023
Beautiful city, fantastic atmosphere, and thrilling races.
Excited to see this event grow. pic.twitter.com/kTlg0cNGgw
Taking second place was fellow Kenyan Daniel Simiu Ebenyo clocking in four seconds slower to record a season-best performance. Completing the podium sweep in the inaugural championships was Sambel Nyami Mailu another five seconds back.
Simiu, a world 10,000m silver medallist let Sawe take gold in the spirit of sportsmanship.
“It is not that I was not strong, I wanted to tell the world that there are good people out there and it’s not always about winning. I wanted Sawe to win because I have been in the world stage so I wanted him to also win.”
The top Latvian was Jānis VIŠĶERS in 1:06:01.
Women’s Half Marathon
It was another Kenyan sweep in the women’s half-marathon event. Thirteen ran sub-1:10:00 led by Peres Jepchirchir in an impressive comeback from injury. She set a new course record of 1:07:25, taking the win by one second over Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi. Catherine Reline Amanang’ole took third in 1:07:50.
The top Latvian Jelena Abele finished 57th out of 70 finishers in the time of 1:18:13.
Peres Jepchirchir becomes only the 4th woman in history to win 3 world half marathon golds as she leads Kenya to a podium sweep 🙌#WorldRunningChamps pic.twitter.com/3cYLfhUclQ
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) October 1, 2023
Jepchirchir, who dedicated the win to her husband will be competing in the New York Marathon on November 5. Then she will begin training specifically for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games marathon.
“I am going to prepare for next month’s New York Marathon and later start preps for next year’s Olympics and my prayer is to be able to defend my titles,” Jepchirchir said.
Je[chirchir won gold at the Tokyo Olympic Games marathon over the world record holder at the time fellow Kenyan Brigid Kosgei and American Molly Seidel.
Women’s Half Marathon
| POS | ATHLETE | NAT | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peres JEPCHIRCHIR | KEN | 1:07:25 CR |
| 2 | Margaret Chelimo KIPKEMBOI | KEN | 1:07:26 |
| 3 | Catherine Reline AMANANG’OLE | KEN | 1:07:34 |
| 4 | Tsigie GEBRESELAMA | ETH | 1:07:50 |
| 5 | Irine Jepchumba KIMAIS | KEN | 1:08:02 |
| 6 | Ftaw ZERAY | ETH | 1:08:31 |
| 7 | Calli THACKERY | GBR | 1:08:56 PB |
| 8 | Rahma TAHIRI | MAR | 1:09:19 PB |
| 9 | Samantha HARRISON | GBR | 1:09:26 |
| 10 | Cacisile SOSIBO | RSA | 1:09:31 PB |
| 11 | Sofiia YAREMCHUK | ITA | 1:09:37 SB |
| 12 | Glenrose XABA | RSA | 1:09:47 |
| 13 | Molly GRABILL | USA | 1:09:53 PB |
| 14 | Isobel BATT-DOYLE | AUS | 1:10:08 |
| 15 | Cian OLDKNOW | RSA | 1:10:08 PB |
| 16 | Annet Chemengich CHELANGAT | UGA | 1:10:16 PB |
| 17 | Rigbe Habteslasie TESFAMARIAM | ERI | 1:10:27 PB |
| 18 | Méline ROLLIN | FRA | 1:10:35 PB |
| 19 | Belinda CHEMUTAI | UGA | 1:10:40 PB |
| 20 | Kaoutar FARKOUSSI | MAR | 1:10:40 PB |
| 21 | Rkia EL MOUKIM | MAR | 1:10:49 PB |
| 22 | Clara EVANS | GBR | 1:10:53 SB |
| 23 | Carolina WIKSTRÖM | SWE | 1:10:56 PB |
| 24 | Shona HEASLIP | IRL | 1:11:07 |
| 25 | Abbie DONNELLY | GBR | 1:11:08 |
| 26 | Mekdes WOLDU | FRA | 1:11:12 SB |
| 27 | Clementine MUKANDANGA | RWA | 1:11:31 SB |
| 28 | Yalemget YAREGAL | ETH | 1:11:34 |
| 29 | Sarah PAGANO | USA | 1:11:37 |
| 30 | Manon TRAPP | FRA | 1:11:44 |
| 31 | Margaux SIERACKI | FRA | 1:12:07 SB |
| 32 | Amber ZIMMERMAN | USA | 1:12:26 |
| 33 | Julia MAYER | AUT | 1:12:30 |
| 34 | Hanane QALLOUJ | MAR | 1:12:30 SB |
| 35 | Silvia Patricia ORTIZ MOROCHO | ECU | 1:12:44 SB |
| 36 | Hanne Mjøen MARIDAL | NOR | 1:13:14 SB |
| 37 | Maria Sagnes WÅGAN | NOR | 1:13:16 SB |
| 38 | Emeline IMANIZABAYO | RWA | 1:13:19 PB |
| 39 | Isabel OROPEZA VAZQUEZ | MEX | 1:14:11 |
| 40 | Maor TIYOURI | ISR | 1:14:31 |
| 41 | Fionnuala ROSS | IRL | 1:14:40 SB |
| 42 | Valdilene DOS SANTOS SILVA | BRA | 1:14:54 SB |
| 43 | Rosa Alva CHACHA CHACHA | ECU | 1:14:54 |
| 44 | Loreta KANČYTĖ | LTU | 1:15:12 SB |
| 45 | Kesa MOLOTSANE | RSA | 1:15:19 |
| 46 | Sinead NOONAN | AUS | 1:15:29 |
| 47 | Vaida ŽŪSINAITĖ-NEKRIOŠIENĖ | LTU | 1:15:35 PB |
| 48 | Tara PALM | AUS | 1:16:18 |
| 49 | Sara Schou KRISTENSEN | DEN | 1:16:20 |
| 50 | Karen EHRENREICH | DEN | 1:16:39 SB |
| 51 | Laura MAASIK | EST | 1:16:47 PB |
| 52 | Annie SAUGSTRUP | DEN | 1:16:54 |
| 53 | Anna YUSUPOVA | AZE | 1:17:05 NR |
| 54 | Katherine TISALEMA PURUNCAJA | ECU | 1:17:14 SB |
| 55 | Katherine CAMP | NZL | 1:17:35 |
| 56 | Aline DE FREITAS | BRA | 1:17:51 PB |
| 57 | Jelena ABELE | LAT | 1:18:13 SB |
| 58 | Somaya BOUSAID | TUN | 1:18:20 SB |
| 59 | Debbie DONALD | NZL | 1:18:35 PB |
| 60 | Larissa Marcelle MOREIRA QUINTÃO | BRA | 1:18:54 SB |
| 61 | Sasha GOLLISH | CAN | 1:19:25 |
| 62 | Ying Chu LO | HKG | 1:20:42 SB |
| 63 | Joelle CORTIS | MLT | 1:20:47 SB |
| 64 | Ilona MARHELE | LAT | 1:21:28 |
| 65 | Anna KLUCNIKA | LAT | 1:21:52 PB |
| 66 | Lisa BEZZINA | MLT | 1:25:10 SB |
| 67 | Fang Yu Sharon TAN | SGP | 1:25:22 PB |
| 68 | Agata STRAUSA | LAT | 1:26:28 |
| 69 | Verna Shilei GOH | SGP | 1:31:54 PB |
| 70 | Yangyang WU | MAC | 1:33:53 SB |
| Jenifer DO NASCIMENTO SILVA | BRA | DNF | |
| Sarah LAHTI | SWE | DNF |
| POS | ATHLETE | NAT | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sabastian Kimaru SAWE | KEN | 59:10 CR |
| 2 | Daniel Simiu EBENYO | KEN | 59:14 SB |
| 3 | Samwel Nyamai MAILU | KEN | 59:19 PB |
| 4 | Jemal Yimer MEKONNEN | ETH | 59:22 |
| 5 | Jimmy GRESSIER | FRA | 59:46 PB |
| 6 | Thabang MOSIAKO | RSA | 59:52 PB |
| 7 | Nibret MELAK | ETH | 1:00:11 |
| 8 | Benard KIBET | KEN | 1:00:13 |
| 9 | Samsom AMARE | ERI | 1:00:19 SB |
| 10 | Tsegay KIDANU | ETH | 1:00:21 |
| 11 | Stephen MOKOKA | RSA | 1:00:29 SB |
| 12 | Tomoki OTA | JPN | 1:00:43 |
| 13 | Elroy GELANT | RSA | 1:00:56 PB |
| 14 | Mohamed Reda EL AARABY | MAR | 1:01:03 |
| 15 | Djamal Abdi DIREH | DJI | 1:01:05 |
| 16 | Ibrahim HASSAN | DJI | 1:01:06 SB |
| 17 | Pietro RIVA | ITA | 1:01:06 SB |
| 18 | Abel CHEBET | UGA | 1:01:09 SB |
| 19 | Precious Lesiba MASHELE | RSA | 1:01:13 |
| 20 | Ali CHEBURES | UGA | 1:01:22 SB |
| 21 | Andrew Rotich KWEMOI | UGA | 1:01:25 SB |
| 22 | Aleksander TEKLEWELD | ERI | 1:01:26 PB |
| 23 | Valentin GONDOUIN | FRA | 1:01:27 PB |
| 24 | Mehdi FRÈRE | FRA | 1:01:27 |
| 25 | Abbabiya SIMBASSA | USA | 1:01:28 SB |
| 26 | Samuel BARATA | POR | 1:01:29 PB |
| 27 | Mahamed MAHAMED | GBR | 1:01:33 |
| 28 | Tadesse GETAHON | ISR | 1:01:34 SB |
| 29 | Yohanes CHIAPPINELLI | ITA | 1:01:37 |
| 30 | Jack ROWE | GBR | 1:01:39 |
| 31 | Simon DEBOGNIES | BEL | 1:01:48 PB |
| 32 | Davor Aaron BIENENFELD | GER | 1:01:49 PB |
| 33 | Futsum ZIENASELLASSIE | USA | 1:01:49 SB |
| 34 | Jonathan MELLOR | GBR | 1:01:59 PB |
| 35 | Hosea KIPLANGAT | UGA | 1:02:02 PB |
| 36 | Jacob THOMSON | USA | 1:02:26 PB |
| 37 | Therence BIZOZA | BDI | 1:02:38 SB |
| 38 | Richard RINGER | GER | 1:02:47 |
| 39 | Hermon HABTEMICAEL | ERI | 1:02:48 PB |
| 40 | Iliass AOUANI | ITA | 1:02:51 SB |
| 41 | Girmaw AMARE | ISR | 1:02:53 SB |
| 42 | Andreas VOJTA | AUT | 1:02:55 |
| 43 | Bukayawe MALEDE | ISR | 1:02:57 SB |
| 44 | Benjamin CHOQUERT | FRA | 1:02:59 |
| 45 | Cameron AVERY | NZL | 1:03:00 |
| 46 | Mohcin OUTALHA | MAR | 1:03:01 |
| 47 | Hamza SAHLI | MAR | 1:03:20 SB |
| 48 | Tim VINCENT | AUS | 1:03:40 |
| 49 | Marcelo LAGUERA | MEX | 1:03:42 |
| 50 | Peter HERZOG | AUT | 1:03:47 |
| 51 | Jean Marie BUKURU | BDI | 1:03:50 PB |
| 52 | Johnatas DE OLIVEIRA | BRA | 1:03:50 |
| 53 | Reed FISCHER | USA | 1:03:56 |
| 54 | Juan Antonio PÉREZ | ESP | 1:04:00 SB |
| 55 | Ryota KONDO | JPN | 1:04:01 |
| 56 | Jean Marie Vianney NIYOMUKIZA | BDI | 1:04:03 SB |
| 57 | Filmon TEKLEBRHAN-BERHE | GER | 1:04:12 |
| 58 | Fabio Jesus CORREIA | BRA | 1:04:12 |
| 59 | Kidane ANDEMIKAEL | ERI | 1:04:12 PB |
| 60 | Hiko Tonosa HASO | IRL | 1:04:14 |
| 61 | Leonid LATSEPOV | EST | 1:04:16 SB |
| 62 | Yitayew ABUHAY | ISR | 1:04:34 SB |
| 63 | Maicon DA SILVA MANCUSO | BRA | 1:04:45 PB |
| 64 | Oska INKSTER-BAYNES | NZL | 1:04:52 |
| 65 | Ruben Erick ARANDO QUISPE | BOL | 1:04:53 PB |
| 66 | Mohammadreza ABOOTORABI | SWE | 1:04:54 SB |
| 67 | Rafael Vicente LOZA BEJARANO | ECU | 1:05:29 |
| 68 | Diego Patricio ARÉVALO VIZHÑAY | ECU | 1:05:33 PB |
| 69 | Christopher DRYDEN | NZL | 1:05:38 |
| 70 | Edward GODDARD | AUS | 1:05:46 |
| 71 | Jānis VIŠĶERS | LAT | 1:06:01 SB |
| 72 | Jorge Luis CRUZ | MEX | 1:06:47 |
| 73 | Christian Birch OKKELS | DEN | 1:06:54 |
| 74 | Luke MICALLEF | MLT | 1:06:55 SB |
| 75 | Mykola NYZHNYK | UKR | 1:07:31 |
| 76 | Michael VOSS | NZL | 1:07:32 |
| 77 | Altobeli SILVA | BRA | 1:07:58 |
| 78 | Philippe PARROT-MIGAS | CAN | 1:07:59 |
| 79 | Dillon CASSAR | MLT | 1:08:20 |
| 80 | Simon SPITERI | MLT | 1:08:37 PB |
| 81 | Christian Salvador VASCONEZ MANZANO | ECU | 1:08:38 |
| 82 | Iván ZARCO | HON | 1:09:07 SB |
| 83 | Aleksandr SALAKHUDINOV | KGZ | 1:10:46 |
| 84 | Christopher SOOSAI | MAS | 1:11:42 |
| 85 | Arturs BAREIKIS | LAT | 1:11:54 SB |
| 86 | Meng Tak LEONG | MAC | 1:12:26 NR |
| 87 | Aleksandrs RAŠČEVSKIS | LAT | 1:12:41 |
| 88 | Carlos Alejandro GONZALEZ | PAR | 1:14:28 |
| 89 | Wei Xiang Gordon LIM | SGP | 1:15:27 PB |
| 90 | Keane KO | SGP | 1:21:55 |
