Copenhagen, Denmark, September 16—We always knew Sifan Hassan had range, with marks like 1:56.81 at 800 to 14:22.34 at 5000. Fresh off her world-leading 8:27.50 for 3000 at the Continental Cup, the Flying Dutchwoman really stretched her limits, tackling the half-marathon in Copenhagen and destroying the European Record.
Hassan’s 65:15 took 70 seconds off the best of 66:25 that Lornah Kiplagat set in ’07. It also made her the No. 8 performer ever. She followed prerace favorite Joan Chelimo on a planned World Record pace through 5K splits of 15:06, 30:36 and 46:09. Though she fell behind on occasion, Hassan always pulled herself back to Chelimo and nearing the end took off for good. Ababel Yashaneh took 2nd in an Ethiopian Record 65:46 that moved her to No. 10 on the all-time world list.
Said Hassan, “I often thought I was going to die. The pace was so hard, but I just kept coming back.” Her imposing set of PRs now reads like this: 1:56.81, 3:56.05, 4:14.71y, 8:27.50, 14:22.34 & 65:15. Is there a speedy time for the 10K somewhere there in the future?
There was WR talk before the men’s race but the event quickly distilled into a tactical affair. Daniel Kipchumba gradually pulled away from the pack in the final kilos, beating fellow Kenyan Abraham Kiptum, 59:06–59:09 as six others ducked under the hour mark. As the 21-year-old winner explained his race, “I wanted to push the pace at 15K, but I found the conditions to be too windy, and so I stayed in the group.”
COPENHAGEN MEN’S RESULTS
Copenhagen, Denmark, September 16—
Half-Mar: 1. Daniel Kipchumba (Ken) 59:06 =PR; 2. Abraham Kiptum (Ken) 59:09 PR; 3. Jemal Yimer (Eth) 59:14; 4. Yomif Kejelcha (Eth) 59:17 PR; 5. Felix Kibitok (Ken) 59:21 PR; 6. Edwin Kiptoo (Ken) 59:28; 7. Lelisa Desisa (Eth) 59:52; 8. Dominic Kiptarus (Ken) 59:55 PR; 9. Asefa Mengistu (Eth) 60:01; 10. Alexander Mutiso (Ken) 60:11 PR; 11. Betesfa Getahun (Eth) 60:26 PR; 12. Jorum Okombo (Ken) 60:36; 13. Amdework Walelegn (Eth) 60:37; 14. James Rungaru (Ken) 60:40; 15. Abayneh Degu (Eth) 61:01 PR; 16. Andrew Mangata (Ken) 61:14 PR; 17. Teshome Mekonen (Eth) 61:23; 18. Meshack Koech (Ken) 61:25; 19. Japheth Korir (Ken) 61:27; 20. Morris Munene (Ken) 62:09.
COPENHAGEN WOMEN’S RESULTS
Half-Mar: 1. Sifan Hassan (Neth) 65:15 NR (8, x W); 2. Yeshaneh Ababel (Eth) 65:46 NR (10, x W);
3. Joan Chelimo (Ken) 66:15; 4. Zeineba Yimer (Eth) 66:21 PR; 5. Ruth Chepngetich (Ken) 67:02; 6. Gudeta Bekelech (Eth) 67:03 PR; 7. Hiwot Gebrekidan (Eth) 67:36 PR;
8. Meseret Belete Tola (Eth) 67:51 PR (WJL);
9. Meskerem Assefa (Eth) 68:34; 10. Belaynesh Oljira (Eth) 68:36; 11. Monicah Wanjuhi (Ken) 68:38 PR; 12. Visiline Jepkesho (Ken) 70:35; 13. Rahma Tusa (Eth) 70:58; 14. Lilian Jelagat (Ken) 71:16; 15. Nina Lauwaert (Bel) 71:50 PR; 16. Alemtsehay Asefa (Eth) 72:28 PR; 17. Truphena Chepchirchir (Ken) 72:51; 18. Bertha Chikanga (Zim) 73:00 PR; 19. Sylvia Medugu (Ken) 74:08; 20. Mikaela Larsson (Swe) 74:18 PR.
