Eleven years is quite a long time to own a world record.
To run, sleep and freely bask in the glory of a world record for over a decade in the current athletics era, is quite a feat.
The world record of 1.06.11 by athletics icon Lornah Kiplagat is gone. Gone and taken over one of the race favourites Ethiopia’s Netsanet Gudeta Kebedi (1.04:51), last night in the Spanish city of Valencia during the IAAF World Half Marathon Championship.
Kebede did it! She reduced Kiplagat’s world and championship record, which had stood since the 2007 edition, by 14 seconds. That is besides shaving 1:15 off her personal best set in Delhi last November.
The Kenyan born Dutch citizen was in Valencia to personally witness her record going away. She took to twitter account to congratulate Kebede.
“Congratulations Kebede for breaking my world record with 15 sec ! It took 11 years but I’m happy we have a new record. You never “own” a record, you keep it for some time and pass it to next generation !” Kiplagat tweeted
This ultimately brought that nostalgia of the athletic model, Kiplagat, battling out with the likes of legendary British Paula Radcliffe (3 time winner) and Elena Meyer in late 90s.
Most vivid is youthful Kiplagat’s half marathon debut in Uster, Switzerland in 1998. She toppled Meyer’s 8 year old record.
This was a decade when another Kenyan icon Tegla Loroupe was calling the shots. Kiplagat was indeed following the heels of a trailblazing Loroupe who had then given Kenya the first hat-trick in the women event.
Loroupe, who is a household name in athletics, had masterfully lifted the crown 3 times from (1997,98 & 99). Like Kiplagat, selfless Loroupe still continues earning herself accolades the world over.
And why not? She can pat her chest and freely boast herself of anchoring Kenya’s dominance in this event, with “a la decima” team competition titles since 1992.
