Tadese smashes world half-marathon record in Lisbon

By Steven Mills, March 21st 2010

Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadese romped to victory at the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon in a world record of 58:23



ZERSENAY TADESE continued to establish his dominance on the road-racing circuit as the 28-year-old smashed Sammy Wanjiru’s world half-marathon record of 58:33 at the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon.

The four-time world half-marathon champion blasted to victory in a new world record of 58:23 which corresponds to a ten-second revision on Wanjiru’s three-year-old world record and as well as this feat, Tadese also lowered Haile Gebrselassie’s world 20km record en route to victory.

The Eritrean passed through the 20km point in 55:21, which was 27 seconds faster than Gebrselassie’s world record.

Tadese will now finalise his preparations for next month’s Virgin London Marathon and despite failing to complete the distance on his debut last year, Tadese was not perturbed by this as the world 10,000m silver medallist said he wants to attack the world record.

Sammy Kitwara from Kenya took second in 59:47 while world marathon silver medallist Emmanuel Mutai completed the podium in third in 60:03.

Olympic silver medallist Jaouad Gharib from Morocco placed sixth in 60:33.