Kenya's Jackson Kiprono Kirwa set a course record and a personal best in the Corriferrara Half Marathon, held today (18 Feb) in Ferrara, the Northern Italy city which on April 7 will host the 10,000m European Cup.
Kirwa, 21, clocked a stunning 1:01:34, nine seconds faster than Eliud Lagat in 2000. His previous PB was 1:03:13, from last year in Rubiera ehen he finished 5th in the Italian Club Championships.
Kirwa reached 10km with a not so fast 29:40, but increased his speed in the second part of the race. He dropped his fellow Kenyan James Kosgei, who closed out as runner-up with a time of 1:02:24, while Morocco's Abdelkedir Lamachi was third (1:02:49). The first Italian at the finish line was Giovanni Ruggiero, 6th (1:04:07).
Slovenia's Helena Javornik repeated the victory that she took in 2005, when running a very fast 1:09:53. Javornik, who will turn 41 on 26 March, started fast (33:24 at 10km) and at the end of a solo run, she beat Italy's Ivana Iozzia and Maria Cocchetti.
Alberto Zorzi for the IAAF
Selected results (21.097km)
Men's race
1. Jackson Kiprono Kirwa (Ken) 1:01:34
2. James Cheptuiyon Kosgei (Ken) 1:02:24
3. Abdelkedir Lamachi (Mar) 1:02:49
4. Philemon Kipkering (Ken) 1:03:25
5. Solomon Rotich (Ken) 1:03:28
6. Giovanni Ruggiero (Ita) 1:04:07
Women's race
1. Helena Javornik (Slo) 1:10:57
2. Ivana Iozzia (Ita) 1:13:44
3. Maria Cocchetti (Ita) 1:15:40
