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More news articles Hall smashes American half-marathon record
Ryan Hall storms to Houston victory in a scorching 59:43
UNKNOWN to the vast majority of track and field fans, American Ryan Hall shattered the North American half-marathon record in Houston and dipped under the magical one-hour barrier to propel himself into world class with a time of 59:43.
Hall only clocked 13:59.69 for 5000m at Crystal Palace in the summer but began to show some promise in Debrecen when he placed 11th among a brace of Africans, but the miler-turned-road runner will now surely be a huge threat on the roads this season.
At the three-mile point, Hall had left a field which included Dan Browne and Olympic silver medallist and London bound Meb Keflezighi in his wake as he poured on the pace passing through 20km in 57:06, quicker than his American record of 57:54 set in Debrecen.
A jubilant Hall crossed the finish line in a 59:43 and the impressive fact was this was his debut at the half-marathon distance!
The race for second place was really on between Fasil Bizuneh and Keflezighi and in a sprint finish Bizuneh prevailed, ahead of the Olympic medallist who was returning from a disappointing performance at the New York marathon. The duo finished almost three minutes behind the victor.
After making her debut at the marathon last season, Elva Dryer was the impressive winner in the women’s competition, beating the much younger Kate O’Neill by five seconds.
Men
1. Ryan Hall 59:43
2. Fasil Bizuneh 1:02:20
3. Meb Keflezighi 1:02:22
Women
1. Elva Dryer 1:11:41
2. Kate O’Neill 1:11:46
3. Michelle Lilienthal 1:12:44
As well as the half-marathon distance being contested, the full distance produced a fast time in the women’s race, as Ethiopian Dire Tune broke Ingrid Kristiansen’s course record. The young Ethiopian sprung to most people’s notice when she finished fourth at the World Road Running Championships in Debrecen, a far cry from her previous performance on the major scene, when she finished down in 37th place in the marathon at the 2005 World Championships.
Tune was never challenged, as she crossed the finish line in 2:26:52, comfortably ahead of Hungarian Beata Rakonczai.
At the age of 21, Tune wasn’t even born when the legendary Ingrid Kristiansen set the previous course record 23 years ago!
In the men’s race, Feyisa Tusse won in 2:11:39.
Men
1. Feyisa Tusse 2:11:39
2. Mikhail Khobotov 2:13:56
3. Benson Cheruiyot 2:14:03
Women
1. Dire Tune 2:26:52
2. Beata Rakonczai 2:30:14
3. Firiya Sultanova-Zhdanova 2:39:06
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