Delhi Half Marathon: Yehualaw, Walelegn Win In Record Time

The Airtel Delhi Half Marathon took place in Delhi on Sunday.

Amdework Walelegn out-sprinted two-time defending champion Andamlak Belihu for the men’s title.

(Photo: ADHM)

Ethiopia's Yalemzerf Yehualaw produced a stunning run over in the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon 2020 held to clock the second fastest women's time ever over the distance when she crossed the line in 64:46 in the race held in a bio-secure environment amid the Covid-19 pandemic on Sunday.

"My training since the world championships told me that maybe I could break the course record as I ran 65:19 there, but this was more than I expected, and I hoped for a win here after just losing by a second a year ago," said 21-year-old Yehualaw.

Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw produced a stunning run to win the women’s title at the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon.(Photo: ADHM)

"My plan was to push hard with two kilometres to go and that helped my fast time, and it was also very nice weather," she added.

Yehualaw won in 64:46 but Chepngetich also ran the race of her life to finish in a personal best of 65:06 and move up to equal-sixth on the world all-time list.

In the men's race, the event record -- with the course having been changed from previous years -- also fell when Amdework Walelegn out-sprinted his Ethiopian compatriot and two-time defending champion Andamlak Belihu to win in 58:53, the latter coming home in 58:54.

“I had a few bad patches but in the final kilometre I felt strong. I was second in Delhi in 2018 and this is a much faster course which has less sharp turns,” said Walelegn.

"I have to be happy as I ran a personal best. After the pacemaker dropped out I pushed the pace but I think this might have left me with a bit less energy when we sprinted in the last kilometre," reflected Belihu, who just fell short in his bid to be the first three-time winner in Delhi.

India's 3000 metres steeplechase national record holder Avinash Sable smashed the event record as well. The Olympic-bound athlete raced to the first position in the Indian elite men's category in 1:00:30, beating the previous national record of 1:03.46 held by Kalidas Nirave.

Parul Chaudhary clinched the first position with a timing of 01:12:18 in the Indian elite women's category, while Sanjivani Jadhav (01:13:00) and Komal Jagadale (01:14:04) finished second and third respectively.