Samuel Wanjiru Kamau wins the Fortis Rotterdam Half Marathon (© c)
Samuel Wanjiru of Kenya set a new World Half Marathon record* of 59:16 at the second edition of the Fortis Half Marathon Rotterdam today.
The only 18-year-old Kenyan, who is based in Japan clocked a time of 59:16 bettering the seven-year-old World Record of compatriot Paul Tergat by just one second. On a nearly windless but warm humid day the young African runner was alone after two-thirds of the race.
Wanjiru who came third at 10,000m on the track in Brussels, Belgium on 26 August in the TDK Golden League meeting, there by reducing the World Junior record* from 27:04.00 to 26:41.75 for that distance, is based in Japan where he moved in 2002 aged 15. He lives in Fukuoka and runs for the Toyota Yushu Company.
He already held the world season’s fastest time when clocking 59:43 in Sendai, Japan on 10 July, and after his race in Brussels, yesterday’s run in Rotterdam was only his second race in Europe.
Wim Van Hemert for the IAAF
*subject to ratification.
Men
1. Samuel Wanjiru (Ken) 59:16 World record (old 59.17, Paul Tergat, Kenya 59:17, Milan April 4th 1998)
(splittimes: 14:24 -28:07 -42:08 -56:18)
2. Patrick Ivuti (Ken) 59:47
3. Paul Kimayo Kimugul (Ken) 1:00:15
4. Rodgers Rop (Ken) 1:00:56
5. Luke Kibet (Ken) 1:00:59
6. Fabian Joseph Naasi (Tan) 1:01:07
7. Benson Cherono (Ken) 1:01.37
8. Wilson Kiprotich (Ken) 1:02:08
9. Wilson Busienei Kipkemei(Uga) 1:02:21
10.John Yuda Msuri (Tan) 1:02:57
11. Jimmy Muindi (Ken) 1:03:44
12. Joseph Ngolepus (Ken) 1:03:55
13. Saniel Ndyrytu Gatheru (Ken)1:03:57
14. Sammy Chumba (Ken) 1:04:11
15. Jeroen van Damme (Ned) 1:04.14
16. Sammy Korir (Ken) 1:05:23
17. Philip Kipkemboi (Ken) 1:05:57
18. Nicholas Mukutu Muindi (Ken)1:06:05
19. Koen Raymaekers (Ned) 1:07:56
20. Stefan VandenBroeck (Bel) 1:09:29
Women
1. Bizunesh Bekele (Eth) 1:11.54
2. Tegla Loroupe (Ken) 1:12:34
3. Ayako Suzuki (Jpn) 1:13:44
4. Kristyna Loonen (Ned) 1:14:27
5. Miho Notagashira (Jpn) 1:15:05
6. Nadja Wijenberg (Ned) 1:15:49
7. Sue Harrison (Gbr) 1:16:08
8. Wilma van Onna (Ned) 1:16:35
