Mathew Kimeli wins Bangsaen21 Half Marathon

Mathew Kimeli was the winner of the Men’s Bangsaen21 Half Marathon World Athletics Platinum Label road race held in the Thai city of Chonburi on Sunday.

Kimeli formed part of an eight-strong pack that reached 5km in 15:27 and 10km in 31:01.

Mathew Kimeli performance

Only Kimeli and his Kenyan compatriot Amos Kipruto, last year’s London Marathon champion, managed to stay with Getachew when the Ethiopian put in a surge after leading through 15km in 45:57.

The race unfolded with Kimeli hitting the 5km mark in an impressive time of 15 minutes and 28 seconds, maintaining an incredible pace of 3:05 minutes per kilometre. He continued to dominate, reaching the 10K mark at 31 minutes and 1 second, holding a consistent pace of 3:06 minutes per kilometre.

A key moment in the race occurred at the 10.3km U-Turn, where Kimeli, clocked an impressive time of 31 minutes and 44 seconds, with a mind-boggling pace of 2:23 minutes per kilometre.

As the race progressed to the 15K mark, Kimeli remained a force to be reckoned with, completing the segment in 45 minutes and 58 seconds, maintaining a stellar pace of 3:01 minutes per kilometre.

The 20km mark witnessed another surge of speed, with Kimeli crossing the finish line in a remarkable 1 hour, 3 minutes, and 37 seconds, averaging an astonishing pace of 2:46 minutes per kilometre.

Mathew Kimeli lead

Getachew and Kipruto dropped Kimeli but gradually he covered the move and soon he was the one heading the three-strong lead pack.

Getachew, who won last year’s Amsterdam Marathon, glanced over his shoulder with around 1km remaining but Kimeli strode past on his other side. The Kenyan couldn’t be caught and he won in 1:03:39, six seconds ahead of Getachew.

Kipruto, the world marathon bronze medallist in 2019, was third in 1:03:52 and Kenya’s Nobert Kipkoech Kigen was fourth in 1:04:35.

Men
1 Mathew Kimeli (KEN) 1:03:39
2 Tsegaye Getachew (ETH) 1:03:45
3 Amos Kipruto (KEN) 1:03:52
4 Nobert Kipkoech Kigen (KEN) 1:04:35
5 Enock Onchari (KEN) 1:05:58

Men
1 Mathew Kimeli (KEN) 1:03:39
2 Tsegaye Getachew (ETH) 1:03:45
3 Amos Kipruto (KEN) 1:03:52
4 Nobert Kipkoech Kigen (KEN) 1:04:35
5 Enock Onchari (KEN) 1:05:58