Daniel Simiu led a Kenyan sweep at the Berlin Half Marathon winning impressively but fell short of breaking the course record.
World Half Marathon silver medalist Daniel Simiu clocked an impressive 59:30 to lead a Kenyan top-five sweep at the Berlin Half Marathon this Sunday morning.
The event saw fellow Kenyans Amos Kurgat and Isaiah Kipkoech securing the second and third spots with times of 59:42 and 59:47, respectively, showcasing Kenya's depth in long-distance running in the heart of the German capital.
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Benard Biwott and Bravin Kiprop rounded out the top five, finishing in 60:21 and 60:29, leaving the sixth position to the United States' Diego Estrada.
However, the Kenyan dominance was further underscored by Robert Kiprop and Vincent Kiptoo, who completed the race in seventh and eighth places with times of 61:27 and 61:29, respectively.
The race was tightly contested up to its midway point, with Simiu part of a leading pack that included Kiptoo, Kipkoech, Biwott, Kurgat, and Kiprop.
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However, the dynamics shifted with 8km left when Simiu and Kurgat pulled ahead, turning the competition into a thrilling duel between the two athletes.
As the finish line approached, Kurgat appeared to lose momentum, allowing Simiu to surge ahead with a powerful finish.
Despite his victory, Simiu was aiming to break the course record of 58:42 set by Eric Kiptanui in 2018 but fell short.
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Nonetheless, his unbeaten streak this season remains intact, with notable wins at the 67th Campaccio-International Cross Country and the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country earlier in the year.
Speaking after the race, Simiu expressed his determination to continue improving.
"Every race is a learning experience, and today was no different. I'm proud of what we achieved as a team and what I achieved personally. The record was on my mind, but it's all about the win today. We'll look forward to breaking more barriers in the future," said Simiu.
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At 28, Simiu has yet to run sub 59:00, with his personal best standing at 59:04, a mark he is keen to surpass in upcoming races.
His performance in Berlin further cements his status as one of the premier distance runners on the global stage, following a world-best time of 1:11:13 at the Kalkutta 25k race last season.
The Berlin Half Marathon has once again highlighted the exceptional talent and dominance of Kenyan runners in long-distance events with Simiu leading the charge.
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