Lisbon – British distance-running great Mo Farah won the Lisbon half marathon in European record time on Sunday.
Farah clocked 59 minutes 32 seconds on the eve of his 32nd birthday, taking 20 seconds of the previous mark from 2001 by Fabian Rocero of Spain. The world record from Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadese, at the same race in 2010, stands at 58:23 minutes.
“It feels amazing,” Farah said. “To win here was hard but it’s my birthday is tomorrow so it’s a good birthday present. I feel so happy to break the British record and European record.”
The 5 000m and 10 000m Olympic, world and European champion Farah edged Kenyan Micah Kogo by one second while third-placed Stephen Kibet, also of Kenya, trailed the winner by 26 seconds.
Kenya did better on the women’s side with Rose Chelimo winning in 1 hour 8 minutes 22 seconds, almost a minute clear of Portugal’s Sara Moreira (1:09:18) and Kenyan Priscah Jeptoo (1:09:21). – Sapa-dpa