Cáceres, Spain - Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadesse was the convincing victor at the inaugural “Medio Maratón Cáceres 2016” held today on a warm (21ºC) and slightly windy day.

But the recently-minted World Cross Country champion fell well short of his intention to break the World record in the half Marathon, settling for a 1:01:26 clocking. Zimbabwe’s Cuthbert Nyasango and Eritrea’s Yared Asmeron fought hard over the last metres for second with the former prevailing; both athletes were credited with 1:02:04.

Right from the start the pace making duties were far from ideal as the first kilometres were covered at an quite uneven pace (2:39, 2:52, 2:45) which defeated the purpose of a serious attack on the still-pending World record of 58:35 set by Sammy Wanjiru. By the seventh kilometre – three before the scheduled tenth - all the three pacesetters had already dropped out and so Tadesse was forced to run in solitude for no less than fourteen kilometres.

He went through the 10km point in a reasonable time of 28:22 – 32 seconds outside the required pace – but it was in the second half of the event when his rhythm abated dramatically while annoying bursts of wind also hampered his brave attempt.

“I found today a very tough circuit with some very tight bends which didn’t allow me to set an even pace,” Tadesse said. “It made me uneasy and I didn’t comfortable at any moment as a consequence.” However the Eritrean star is still convinced he is capable to lower the World record. “Of course, there is no hurry but sooner or later I’ll try again it.”

“Today’s outcome has been my fault, something in the training schedule I thought for Tadesse after Mombasa has failed” reflected Tadesse’s coach, Jerónimo Bravo.

“On this particular occasion I was also in charge of the design of the circuit and the race has proved that I was wrong in that task, as definitely it was difficult to negotiate several bends over the circuit.

“Probably today’s has not been Tadesse’s best day,” Bravo continued, “but that’s precisely my task: to get Tadesse’s peak when it really matters. Although obviously I prefer a World Cross Country championship rather than a World Half marathon record”.

Tadesse’s next appearance will take place on 20 May at the BUPA Great Manchester Run in Manchester where he will be contesting a 10km event as defending champion. He won last year’s event in 27:36.

Emeterio Valiente for the IAAF

Leading Results
 1. Zersenay Tadesse (Eri) 1:01:26
 2. Cuthbert Nyasango (Zim) 1:02:04
 3. Yared  Asmeron (Eri) 1:02:04
 4. Joseph Maregu (Ken) 1:02:17
 5. Wilson Kiprotich Kebenei (Ken) 1:03:44