Former Tokyo marathon champion Helah Kiprop on Sunday smashed the course record at the 43rd edition of the Copenhagen Marathon in Denmark. 

Kiprop who came to the race with the fastest time on paper of 2:21.27 that she got at the 2016 Tokyo Marathon where she took the honours, destroyed the old course record of 2:29.29 set in 2019 by Ethiopia’s Etalemahu Habtewold by 5:19 minutes and setting a new course record of 2:24.10.

Muluhabt Tsega of Ethiopia was second with a big-time personal best (PB) of 2:24.23, taking more than two minutes off her previous lifetime best, while Agnes Keino of Kenya also improved significantly on her previous PB and came third with a time of 2:25.08, competing in only her second competitive marathon race.

“I am very happy to win the race and, of course, to set a new race record. It is good to be back after the birth and then the pandemic. But right now, I don’t know what my next goal will be,” Kiprop said. Kiprop said she had missed competition having last appeared in the Tokyo Marathon in 2018 where she emerged fifth.

Thereafter, she took a maternity break.

The athlete said that in 2020 she was in great shape to participate in the Boston Marathon, but the race was cancelled due to the pandemic. Kiprop who trains in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County under head coach David Marus boasts a PB of 2:27:29 which she set at the Seoul Marathon in 2014. 

In the corresponding men’s category, Eritrea’s Berhane Tsegay Tekle won at a time of 2:08.23. Tekle took the men’s title after breaking the tape at a new personal best time to finish ahead of his fellow countryman Henok Tesfay who also ended with a PB of 2:08.39.

Kenya’s Daniel Kipchumba also collected a lifetime best of 2:08:55 to round out the podium places, while Eretria’s Samuel Russom (2:09:36) and Kenya’s Edwin Kimaiyo (2:09:44) completed the top five finishers. Despite improving his personal best by four minutes, Tsegay didn’t seem surprised by his victory.

 “I knew I was in a good shape, so I am not surprised. It was a fine a race and a good course,” he said.