Lornah Kiplagat produced a staggering performance in perfect conditions at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Brazil. She won in a seasons fastest time of 1:08:37, over one minute faster than the second placed Aselefech Mergia (Ethiopia).

Kiplagat, showing no signs of the knee injury which halted her preparations for the defence of her gold medal, made an early break and held a massive 1min 1sec advantage at 15km, before going on to win in emphatic style.

Kenya’s Pamela Chepchumba fought gallantly for the silver medal but had to settle for the bronze medal just four seconds behind Aselefech Mergia, who set a new PB of 1:09:57.

Britain’s hopefuls, Wendy Nicholls and Michelle Ross Cope finished in 40th and 47th place respectively, someway off their own personal bests.

The team title went to Ethiopia (Aselefech Mergia, Genet Getaneh, Abebu Gelan) with a combined time of 3:30:59 and second, fourth and sixth place finishers.

Danielle Sellwood, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine