Berihu Aregawi to make half-marathon debut in Lisbon

Berihu Aregawi, the Olympic 10,000m silver medallist from Paris, will make his a lot anticipated half-marathon debut in Lisbon subsequent month (March 9).

The Ethiopian, who has a private better of 26:31.13 within the 10,000m, is at present fifth on the worldwide all-time record over 25 laps.

Given Aregawi can also be the world 5km record-holder – he ran 12:49 in Barcelona 4 years in the past – it’ll be intriguing to see how fast he can go within the half-marathon.

A few of the 23-year-old’s rivals on the observe have already gained expertise over 13.1 miles, together with Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei, who beat Aregawi to the Olympic 10,000m gold medal final summer season.

Cheptegei’s one and solely half-marathon happened 5 years in the past, when he ran 59:21 in Gdynia, Poland.

Though the world 10,000m record-holder hasn’t but fairly mastered the half-marathon/marathon, different distance operating athletes which have gained main observe medals have carried out effectively on the roads.

The latest instance is Cheptegei’s compatriot Jacob Kiplimo, who set a world half-marathon file of 56:42 on the Barcelona Half (February 16).

Not solely did Kiplimo take an unimaginable 48 seconds off Yomif Kejelcha’s world file, he additionally grew to become the primary human in historical past to run a sub-57 minute half-marathon.

Kiplimo and Kejelcha have respective 10km bests of 26:48 and 26:37, compared to Aregawi’s 26:33.

Given Kiplimo and Kejelcha have excelled within the half-marathon, Aregawi ought to subsequently be assured of recording a fast time when he makes his debut over 13.1 miles.

Jacob Kiplimo (Daniel Meumann for Sportmedia.es)

If Aregawi has any ambition of difficult Kiplimo’s 56:42, then he should first beat the Ugandan’s course file in Lisbon, which stands at 57:31 from 2021.

That mark remains to be the third quickest half-marathon time in historical past, emphasising that Lisbon can also be a remarkably fast course and one the place data will be damaged.

The pair have additionally competed in opposition to one another on a number of events, together with in final yr’s Olympic 10,000m ultimate, the place Aregawi and Kiplimo positioned second and eighth respectively.

Extra lately, Aregawi beat Kiplimo ultimately December’s San Silvestre Vallecana 10km, edging out his rival by only a second in Madrid.

Additionally they completed first and second within the senior race ultimately yr’s World Cross Nation Championships in Belgrade, with Kiplimo popping out on prime by three seconds.

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