Delhi Half Marathon: Ethiopia's Regasa,Kenya's Cheptai claim men's and women's titles; Sable fastest Indian

New Delhi: Chala Regasa of Ethiopia and Kenya’s Irine Cheptai produced impressive performances to claim the men’s and women’s titles respectively in elite races at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon in New Delhi on Sunday.

Regasa won the race with a time of 1 hour 30 seconds, while Cheptai came up with a personal best of 1:06:42 to top the women’s event.

In the Indian elite men’s category, it was an incredible photo finish as defending champion Avinash Sable and Kartik Kumar took the first two positions respectively, receiving tremendous applause from the spectators.

The duo clocked an identical 64 minutes, but it was the top-billed Sable who was declared the winner by the technical officials of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) after going through the footage.

There were no surprises in the Indian women’s elite race with Sanjivani Jadhav bagging the crown after two previous podium finishes, with a timing of 1:17:53.

No words, just emotions at the #VedantaDHM22!#RangDeDilli pic.twitter.com/y937Xa3fub

— Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon (@DelhiHM_) October 16, 2022

Monika Athara and Priti Lamba were second and third with 1:18:39 and 1:19:06 respectively.

Regasa, 25, came out on top of a thrilling three-man battle over the final kilometre, sprinting away from Kenya’s Felix Kipkoech and fellow Ethiopian Boki Diriba with 400 metres to take the $27,000 first prize cheque.

Kipkeoch finished second in 60:33, while the debutant Diriba, the Ethiopian U20 5000m champion on the track and still just 18, was third in 60:34.

The leading trio passed 20km in 57:31 and duelled almost all the way to the finish line at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

Chala Regasa with an incredible late burst came out on top to win the #VedantaDHM22 International Elite Men's race! 🤩🏃🏽‍

Delhi, you have a new winner! 🥇#RangDeDilli pic.twitter.com/WRXapHNZ5F

— Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon (@DelhiHM_) October 16, 2022

“The final two kilometres were tough, but I knew I had the speed to come out in front as I have a good background at shorter distances on the track,” said Regasa.

The international women’s race, however, was a one-woman show from just after halfway. Cheptai made a decisive move just after 12 kilometres and was never challenged before reducing her personal best by one second to 66:42.

Cheptai, who was in fourth place the last time, finished more than a minute in front of Ethiopia’s 2022 World Athletics Championships 5000m bronze medallist Dawit Seyaum, who was second in 68:02.

Stella Chesang set a Ugandan record of 68:11 in third place.

Returning to the venue where he became the first Indian to complete the half marathon in under 61 minutes in 2020, Sable said his plan was a little different this year.

“It was overall a good race. We got off to a good start and stayed with the Elite group for the first 7-8 kilometres. Their pace wasn’t that fast and my plan was to stay together with Karthik, who maintained his pace with me through the race,” the Commonwealth Games steeplechase silver medallist said.

Since my practice also wasn’t specific to the half marathon this year, my focus was more on placing than timing. In 2020, I trained well for the half marathon and back then I wanted to go for the record."

Srinu Bugatha, a regular marathoner, finished third at 01:05:25. He was in a challenge with Man Singh (01:05:43) after Sable and Karthik broke away early.

Sanjivani was well ahead of the Indian pack right from the start and was hardly challenged by Monika and Priti.

“Soon after the first 2-3 kms, I went ahead and had to pace my own race. If I had a pacer I could have gone faster but I am still happy to finish first,” Sanjivani said.

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