“World’s Fastest” Indeed
Top-10 average time in RAK Half Marathon’s history is 59:03 in men, 1:05:56 in women. The race, promoted as the “World’s Fastest Half Marathon”, is now the only half marathon in the world to have a women's Top-10 average under 66 minutes.
The last edition staged on 10 February was won by Bedan Karoki in 59:10 while Peres Jepchirchir finished the women’s race in a world record time of 1:05:56. In the 11th year of the event, men’s Top-10 average became 59:03, two seconds faster than the previous average. Besides Jepchirchir’s world record, Mary Keitany’s second place finishing time 1:05:13 brought the Top-10 average down to 1:05:56.
Top ten performances in the history of RAK Half Marathon is as follows;
Men:
1. Patrick
Makau (KEN) 58:52 / 2009
2. Sammy Wanjiru (KEN) 58:53 / 2007
3. Geoffrey
Kamworor (KEN) 58:54 / 2013
4. Stanley
Biwott (KEN) 58:56 / 2013
5. Geoffrey
Mutai (KEN) 58:58 / 2013
6. Wilson
Kipsang Kiprotich (KEN) 58:59 / 2009
7. Bedan
Karaoki (KEN) 59:10 / 2017
8. Patrick
Makau (KEN) 59:13 / 2007
9. Deriba
Merga (ETH) 59:18 / 2009
10. Yigrem
Demelash (ETH) 59:19 / 2017
Women:
1. Peres
Jepchirchir (KEN) 1:05:06 / 2017
2. Mary
Keitany (KEN) 1:05:13 / 2017
3. Mary Keitany
(KEN) 1:05:50 / 2011
4. Mary
Keitany (KEN) 1:06:02 / 2015
5. Cynthia
Limo (KEN) 1:06:04 / 2016
6. Gladys
Cherono (KEN) 1:06:07 / 2016
7. Joyciline
Jepkosgei (KEN) 1:06:08 / 2017
8. Lucy Kabuu
(KEN) 1:06:09 / 2013
9. Priscah
Jeptoo (KEN) 1:06:11 / 2013
10.
Genet Yalew (ETH) 1:06:26 / 2016
