Kenya's Sabastian Sawe breaks course record to win Prague Half-Marathon

Kenya's Sabastian Sawe breaks course record to win Prague Half-Marathon

Festus Chuma 13:22 - 06.04.2024

World Half Marathon champion Sabastian Sawe wins Prague Half-Marathon showcasing resilience after a tough World Cross Country Championships

Kenyan long-distance runner Sabastian Sawe has clinched victory at the Prague Half-Marathon in the Czech Republic smashing the course record with a sensational time of 58 minutes and 24 seconds.

The reigning World Half Marathon champion outpaced a competitive field to secure his triumph improving his personal best and setting a new benchmark in the event's history.

Sawe, 29, entered the race on the back of a seventh-place finish at the recent World Athletics Cross Country Championships.

Despite this, he arrived in Prague with confidence, buoyed by a previous personal best of 58:29 from his victory at the 2022 Bahrain Royal Night Half Marathon.

His performance in Prague not only surpassed his own expectations but also broke the course record of 58:47 set by Ethiopia's Atsedu Tsegay.

The race saw Sawe taking a decisive lead from his compatriots, Geoffrey Toroitich Kipchumba and Patrick Kabirech Mosin, at the 10km mark.

Kipchumba and Mosin, known for their performances in previous marathons, could not match Sawe's pace, finishing second and third with times of 60:02 and 60:15 respectively, securing a Kenyan 1-2-3 finish.

Before the race, Carlo Capalbo, president of the RunCzech organizing committee expressed his anticipation stating to Athletics Weekly.

"Every year, star endurance athletes come to Prague, but this year, it is an absolute running extravaganza. We are very pleased and believe that Sawe’s performance will be one of the highlights of this year’s event," he said.

At the World Cross Country Championships, Sawe was among the favorites but faced challenges, as Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda defended his title successfully.

Nevertheless, Sawe’s seventh-place finish contributed significantly to Kenya’s team gold, underscoring his resilience and skill as a long-distance runner.

Despite not setting a new course record, Sawe's victory in Prague is a testament to his extraordinary talent and determination.

His performance in Prague adds to his growing list of achievements and sets the stage for more successes in the future.

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