2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
Encyclopedia
The 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
was held in Birmingham
, United Kingdom
on 11 October 2009. It was the final event of the International Association of Athletics Federations
' 2009 World Athletics Series.
and the Birmingham City Council
. It was the third time the championships were held in Great Britain, after the 1992 event
on Tyneside
and the 2001 edition
in Bristol
. A number of events were scheduled to coincide with the Championships: a three day convention for Association of International Marathons and Distance Races
, as well as an IAAF press conference to discuss the future and progression of the sport.
In addition to the main World Championship races, the Birmingham Half Marathon started thirty minutes after the women's World Championship race. Organised by Birmingham City Council
and sponsored by EDF Energy
, it was the second edition of the mass race which attracted over 9000 runners in 2008. A total of 12,068 people signed up to run the Birmingham Half Marathon.
A total of 47 IAAF member federations sent athletes to the championships, the highest number since the 2002 edition
.
9.00 am and 9:30 am, respectively. The course passed through Birmingham city centre
and the city's southern suburbs, Centenary Square
acting as the start and end point of the race. Highlights along the route included Cannon Hill Park
, Cadbury World
and the Bournville
model village
, Edgbaston Cricket Ground
, Victoria Square
and the Bull Ring. The course is largely straight and flat, although there is an abrupt descent and ascent at the start and finish of the route, and slight rises and falls between the 10 and 16 km marks around Selly Park
.
n runner Zersenay Tadese, who had won the last two World Half Marathons as well as the 20 km race in 2006, announced that he would attempt to defend his title and his chances improved after world leader Patrick Makau Musyoki
was not listed from the Kenyan squad. The defending women's champion Lornah Kiplagat
did not attempt to defend her title due to a knee injury, and three time champion Paula Radcliffe
filled the void, aiming for a record fourth title. However, she too withdrew from the event due to tonsillitis
, dealing a blow to the host nation's chances.
Tadese was the outright favourite of the men's race, with his greatest challenge coming from Kenyans Sammy Kitwara
, Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich
and Bernard Kiprop Kipyego, Ethiopians Tilahun Regassa and Dereje Tesfaye. Dathan Ritzenhein
, Fabiano Joseph Naasi and Marilson dos Santos were other outside chances. The Kenyan and Eritrean men's teams were favoured for the gold and silver team medals, while the team's from Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda were suggested as possible bronze medallists. Unusually, Qatar
(whose team placed third in 2008) did not send any runners to the competition.
In the women's race, Kenyan Mary Jepkosgei Keitany
was the favourite in the absence of Kiplagat and Radcliffe. Keitany went into the championships as the world's leading half marathon runner, having run 1:07:00 seconds earlier in the season, and the race was seen as a chance for her to make her mark over the distance. The next fastest runner that season was her compatriot Philes Ongori
, although her time of 1:07:50 was some way off Keitany's. Two more possible medallists, Filomena Cheyech and Caroline Cheptanui Kilel rounded out a strong Kenyan squad. The Ethiopian team was missing two of their best runners (Dire Tune
and Aselefech Mergia
), but Abebu Gelan and Aberu Kebede
were still in medal contention. The Japanese athletes, Yukiko Akaba
and Yurika Nakamura
, looked to maintain Japan's past podium form in the team competition. New Zealand's Kimberley Smith was regarded as an unknown quantity, as she was moving to the road competitions after much success on the track.
At the pre-race press conference the IAAF General Secretary, Pierre Weiss, lamented the relative lack of interest in the competition, vocalising the IAAF's dissatisfaction with the number of competing athletes and federations. He acknowledged that the competition's prize money was not at parity with other top level marathons. Wilson Kipketer
, the 800 metres world record holder, pointed out that the standard of Europe's long-distance runners had been largely surpassed by other region's athletes, most notably by Africa. Kipketer argued that Europeans were not making the most of their sporting facilities and were "not training properly or timing and planning their seasons properly". Ed Warner, chairman of UK Athletics
, agreed that a rethink was needed in terms of training and mindset.
IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
The IAAF World Half Marathon Championships is an annual half marathon competition organised by the International Association of Athletics Federations. It was contested from 1992 to 2005, and replaced by the IAAF World Road Running Championships, a 20 kilometres race which had its inaugural...
was held in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on 11 October 2009. It was the final event of the International Association of Athletics Federations
International Association of Athletics Federations
The International Association of Athletics Federations is the international governing body for the sport of athletics. It was founded in 1912 at its first congress in Stockholm, Sweden by representatives from 17 national athletics federations as the International Amateur Athletics Federation...
' 2009 World Athletics Series.
Organisation
The city of Birmingham was selected by the IAAF Council after a presentation by UK AthleticsUK Athletics
UK Athletics is the governing body for the sport of athletics in the United Kingdom. It is responsible for overseeing the governance of athletics events in the UK as well as athletes, their development, and athletics officials....
and the Birmingham City Council
Birmingham City Council
The Birmingham City Council is the body responsible for the governance of the City of Birmingham in England, which has been a metropolitan district since 1974. It is the most populated local authority in the United Kingdom with, following a reorganisation of boundaries in June 2004, 120 Birmingham...
. It was the third time the championships were held in Great Britain, after the 1992 event
1992 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
The 1st IAAF World Half Marathon Championships was held on September 19 and 20, 2001 in Tyneside, UK, and was run simultaneously with that year's Great North Run. A total of 204 athletes, 97 men, 83 women and 24 juniors, from 36 countries took part....
on Tyneside
Tyneside
Tyneside is a conurbation in North East England, defined by the Office of National Statistics, which is home to over 80% of the population of Tyne and Wear. It includes the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and the Metropolitan Boroughs of Gateshead, North Tyneside and South Tyneside — all settlements on...
and the 2001 edition
2001 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
The 10th IAAF World Half Marathon Championships was held on October 7, 2001 in the city of Bristol, UK, and was run simultaneously with that year's Bristol Half Marathon. A total of 200 athletes, 125 men and 75 women, from 52 countries took part.-Individual:...
in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
. A number of events were scheduled to coincide with the Championships: a three day convention for Association of International Marathons and Distance Races
Association of International Marathons and Distance Races
The Association of International Marathons and Distance Races, also known as AIMS, is an association of long-distance running races. Originally founded in 1982 at a meeting in London of marathon race directors, its membership was extended in 1986 to include all road races...
, as well as an IAAF press conference to discuss the future and progression of the sport.
In addition to the main World Championship races, the Birmingham Half Marathon started thirty minutes after the women's World Championship race. Organised by Birmingham City Council
Birmingham City Council
The Birmingham City Council is the body responsible for the governance of the City of Birmingham in England, which has been a metropolitan district since 1974. It is the most populated local authority in the United Kingdom with, following a reorganisation of boundaries in June 2004, 120 Birmingham...
and sponsored by EDF Energy
EDF Energy
EDF Energy is an integrated energy company in the United Kingdom, with operations spanning electricity generation and the sale of gas and electricity to homes and businesses throughout the United Kingdom...
, it was the second edition of the mass race which attracted over 9000 runners in 2008. A total of 12,068 people signed up to run the Birmingham Half Marathon.
A total of 47 IAAF member federations sent athletes to the championships, the highest number since the 2002 edition
2002 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
The 11th IAAF World Half Marathon Championships was held on May 5, 2002 in the city of Brussels, Belgium. A total of 201 athletes, 123 men and 78 women, from 60 countries took part.-Individual:-Team:-Individual:-Team:...
.
Course
The men's race and women's race started at BSTBritish Summer Time
Western European Summer Time is a summer daylight saving time scheme, 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. It is used in the following places:* the Canary Islands* Portugal * Ireland...
9.00 am and 9:30 am, respectively. The course passed through Birmingham city centre
Birmingham City Centre
Birmingham city centre is the business, retail and leisure hub of Birmingham, England. Following the removal of the Inner Ring Road, the city centre is newly defined as being the area within the Middle Ring Road. Birmingham city centre is undergoing massive redevelopment with the Big City Plan...
and the city's southern suburbs, Centenary Square
Centenary Square
Centenary Square is a public square on Broad Street in central Birmingham, England, named in 1989 in celebration of the centenary of Birmingham achieving city status in 1889....
acting as the start and end point of the race. Highlights along the route included Cannon Hill Park
Cannon Hill Park
Cannon Hill Park is a park located in south Birmingham, England. It is the most popular park in the city, covering consisting of formal, conservation, woodland and sports areas...
, Cadbury World
Cadbury World
Cadbury World is a visitor attraction created and run by the Cadbury chocolate company. Two locations exist: Birmingham, United Kingdom and Dunedin, New Zealand.-Birmingham:- Overview :Cadbury World is a one-way self-guided tour....
and the Bournville
Bournville
Bournville is a model village on the south side of Birmingham, England, best known for its connections with the Cadbury family and chocolate – including a dark chocolate bar branded "Bournville". It is also a ward within the council constituency of Selly Oak and home to the Bournville Centre...
model village
Model village
A model village is a type of mostly self-contained community, in most cases built from the late eighteenth century onwards by industrialists to house their workers...
, Edgbaston Cricket Ground
Edgbaston Cricket Ground
Edgbaston Cricket Ground, also known as the County Ground or Edgbaston Stadium, is a cricket ground in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham, England...
, Victoria Square
Victoria Square, Birmingham
Victoria Square is a pedestrianised public square in Birmingham, England. It is home to both the Town Hall and the Council House, and directly adjacent to Chamberlain Square....
and the Bull Ring. The course is largely straight and flat, although there is an abrupt descent and ascent at the start and finish of the route, and slight rises and falls between the 10 and 16 km marks around Selly Park
Selly Park
Selly Park is a residential suburban district in south-west Birmingham, England. The suburb of Selly Park is located between the Bristol Road and the Pershore Road .-Toponymy:...
.
Pre-race
EritreaEritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
n runner Zersenay Tadese, who had won the last two World Half Marathons as well as the 20 km race in 2006, announced that he would attempt to defend his title and his chances improved after world leader Patrick Makau Musyoki
Patrick Makau Musyoki
Patrick Makau Musyoki is a runner from Kenya. He holds the world record in the marathon with a time of 2:03:38, set at the 2011 Berlin Marathon. He is also notable for his half marathon performances, having won a number of prominent competitions in Europe...
was not listed from the Kenyan squad. The defending women's champion Lornah Kiplagat
Lornah Kiplagat
Lornah Kiplagat is a Dutch long-distance runner. She was born in Kabiemit, Rift Valley Province, Kenya and came to the Netherlands in 1999. She gained Dutch citizenship in 2003 and has competed for the Netherlands since...
did not attempt to defend her title due to a knee injury, and three time champion Paula Radcliffe
Paula Radcliffe
Paula Jane Radcliffe, MBE is an English long-distance runner. She is the current women's world record holder in the marathon with her time of 2:15:25 hours...
filled the void, aiming for a record fourth title. However, she too withdrew from the event due to tonsillitis
Tonsillitis
Tonsillitis is an inflammation of the tonsils most commonly caused by viral or bacterial infection. Symptoms of tonsillitis include sore throat and fever. While no treatment has been found to shorten the duration of viral tonsillitis, bacterial causes are treatable with antibiotics...
, dealing a blow to the host nation's chances.
Tadese was the outright favourite of the men's race, with his greatest challenge coming from Kenyans Sammy Kitwara
Sammy Kitwara
Sammy Kirop Kitwara is a Kenyan long-distance runner who specialises in road running events. He is coached by Moses Kiptanui....
, Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich
Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich
Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich is a Kenyan athlete who specialises in long distance running, competing in events ranging from 10 km to full marathon races.He holds the sixth fastest time over the half marathon distance...
and Bernard Kiprop Kipyego, Ethiopians Tilahun Regassa and Dereje Tesfaye. Dathan Ritzenhein
Dathan Ritzenhein
Dathan Ritzenhein is an American long-distance runner. He held the American record in the 5,000 metres from 2009–10, when it was broken by Bernard Lagat...
, Fabiano Joseph Naasi and Marilson dos Santos were other outside chances. The Kenyan and Eritrean men's teams were favoured for the gold and silver team medals, while the team's from Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda were suggested as possible bronze medallists. Unusually, Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
(whose team placed third in 2008) did not send any runners to the competition.
In the women's race, Kenyan Mary Jepkosgei Keitany
Mary Jepkosgei Keitany
Mary Jepkosgei Keitany is a runner from Kenya who specialises in the long distance events. She won silver at the 2007 IAAF World Road Running Championships and became the World Half Marathon champion two years later...
was the favourite in the absence of Kiplagat and Radcliffe. Keitany went into the championships as the world's leading half marathon runner, having run 1:07:00 seconds earlier in the season, and the race was seen as a chance for her to make her mark over the distance. The next fastest runner that season was her compatriot Philes Ongori
Philes Ongori
Philes Moora Ongori is a Kenyan long-distance runner who competes in half marathon and marathon events....
, although her time of 1:07:50 was some way off Keitany's. Two more possible medallists, Filomena Cheyech and Caroline Cheptanui Kilel rounded out a strong Kenyan squad. The Ethiopian team was missing two of their best runners (Dire Tune
Dire Tune
Dire Tune is an Ethiopian long-distance runner.Tune competed in the marathon at the 2005 World Championships. At the 2006 World Road Running Championships she finished fourth in the individual competition. This was good enough to help Ethiopia win a silver medal in the team competition.On April 21,...
and Aselefech Mergia
Aselefech Mergia
Aselefech Mergia Medessa is an Ethiopian long-distance runner.She began taking part in professional road races in 2006, starting with a seventh place finish at the Delhi Half Marathon....
), but Abebu Gelan and Aberu Kebede
Aberu Kebede
Aberu Kebede Shewaye is an Ethiopian long distance runner who specialises in road running competitions. Her half marathon best of 1:07:39 is one of the fastest ever by an Ethiopian woman...
were still in medal contention. The Japanese athletes, Yukiko Akaba
Yukiko Akaba
is a Japanese long-distance runner who specializes in the 10,000 metres, half marathon and marathon events.She won the silver medal in half marathon at the 1999 Summer Universiade. At the 2001 Summer Universiade she finished eighth in the 5000 metres and won the bronze medal in the 10,000 metres...
and Yurika Nakamura
Yurika Nakamura
is a Japanese long-distance runner. Nakamura grew up in the Hyōgo Prefecture.She finished seventh at the 2006 World Road Running Championships, helping the Japanese team win the bronze medal in the team competition. In 2008, she won the Nagoya Marathon in her marathon debut. In the 2008 Summer...
, looked to maintain Japan's past podium form in the team competition. New Zealand's Kimberley Smith was regarded as an unknown quantity, as she was moving to the road competitions after much success on the track.
At the pre-race press conference the IAAF General Secretary, Pierre Weiss, lamented the relative lack of interest in the competition, vocalising the IAAF's dissatisfaction with the number of competing athletes and federations. He acknowledged that the competition's prize money was not at parity with other top level marathons. Wilson Kipketer
Wilson Kipketer
Wilson Kosgei Kipketer is a Kenyan born Danish former middle distance runner. He holds the current indoor world records at the 1000 and 800 metres distance. While dominating the 800 m distance for a decade, remaining undefeated for a three-year period and running 8 of the 17 currently all-time...
, the 800 metres world record holder, pointed out that the standard of Europe's long-distance runners had been largely surpassed by other region's athletes, most notably by Africa. Kipketer argued that Europeans were not making the most of their sporting facilities and were "not training properly or timing and planning their seasons properly". Ed Warner, chairman of UK Athletics
UK Athletics
UK Athletics is the governing body for the sport of athletics in the United Kingdom. It is responsible for overseeing the governance of athletics events in the UK as well as athletes, their development, and athletics officials....
, agreed that a rethink was needed in terms of training and mindset.
Men's
| Rank | Athlete | Nationality | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Zersenay Tadese | 59:35 | CR | |
 |
Bernard Kipyego Bernard Kipyego Bernard Kiprop Kipyego is a Kenyan long-distance runner who competes in the marathon.Kipyego's first international highlight came as a junior at the 2005 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, where he took the silver medal in the junior race to form a Kenyan sweep of the medals, alongside... |
59:59 | ||
 |
Dathan Ritzenhein Dathan Ritzenhein Dathan Ritzenhein is an American long-distance runner. He held the American record in the 5,000 metres from 2009–10, when it was broken by Bernard Lagat... |
1:00:00 | PB | |
| 4 | Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich is a Kenyan athlete who specialises in long distance running, competing in events ranging from 10 km to full marathon races.He holds the sixth fastest time over the half marathon distance... |
1:00:08 | ||
| 5 | Samuel Tsegay Samuel Tsegay Samuel Tsegay is an Eritrean long-distance runner who specializes in the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres. He was born in Kudofelasi. As a junior he competed in the junior races at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, finishing seventeenth in 2005, eighth in 2006 and eighth in 2007... |
1:00:17 | PB | |
| 6 | Wilson Kwambai Chebet | 1:00:59 | ||
| 7 | Kiplimo Kimutai | 1:01:31 | SB | |
| 8 | Stephen Mokoka Stephen Mokoka Stephen Mokoka is a South African long-distance runner who competes in races ranging from 3000 metres to the marathon distance... |
1:01:36 |
Women's
| Rank | Athlete | Nationality | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| |
Mary Jepkosgei Keitany Mary Jepkosgei Keitany Mary Jepkosgei Keitany is a runner from Kenya who specialises in the long distance events. She won silver at the 2007 IAAF World Road Running Championships and became the World Half Marathon champion two years later... |
1:06:36 | CR | |
| |
Philes Ongori Philes Ongori Philes Moora Ongori is a Kenyan long-distance runner who competes in half marathon and marathon events.... |
1:07:38 | PB | |
| |
Aberu Kebede Aberu Kebede Aberu Kebede Shewaye is an Ethiopian long distance runner who specialises in road running competitions. Her half marathon best of 1:07:39 is one of the fastest ever by an Ethiopian woman... |
1:07:39 | PB | |
| 4 | Caroline Cheptanui Kilel | 1:08:16 | PB | |
| 5 | Mestawet Tufa Mestawet Tufa Mestawet Tufa is an Ethiopian long-distance runner. She was the winner of the women's 10,000 metres at the 2007 All-Africa Games and the runner up in the senior women's race at the 2008 World Cross Country Championships.She competed at the Olympic Games, but did not finish her 10,000 metres... |
1:09:11 | PB | |
| 6 | Tirfi Tsegaye | 1:09:24 | PB | |
| 7 | Kimberley Smith | 1:09:35 | NR New Zealand records in athletics The following are the national records in athletics in New Zealand maintained by New Zealand's national athletics federation: Athletics New Zealand .... |
|
| 8 | Filomena Cheyech | 1:09:44 |
Men's
| Rank | Country | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| |
Bernard Kipyego Bernard Kipyego Bernard Kiprop Kipyego is a Kenyan long-distance runner who competes in the marathon.Kipyego's first international highlight came as a junior at the 2005 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, where he took the silver medal in the junior race to form a Kenyan sweep of the medals, alongside... Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich is a Kenyan athlete who specialises in long distance running, competing in events ranging from 10 km to full marathon races.He holds the sixth fastest time over the half marathon distance... Wilson Kwambai Chebet |
3:01:06 | |
| |
Zersenay Tadese Samuel Tsegay Samuel Tsegay Samuel Tsegay is an Eritrean long-distance runner who specializes in the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres. He was born in Kudofelasi. As a junior he competed in the junior races at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, finishing seventeenth in 2005, eighth in 2006 and eighth in 2007... Adhanom Abraha |
3:02:39 | |
| |
Tilahun Regassa Dereje Tesfaye Abebe Negewo |
3:06:42 |
Women's
| Rank | Country | Team | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| |
Mary Keitany Philes Ongori Philes Ongori Philes Moora Ongori is a Kenyan long-distance runner who competes in half marathon and marathon events.... Caroline Cheptanui Kilel |
3:22:30 | CR | |
| |
Aberu Kebede Aberu Kebede Aberu Kebede Shewaye is an Ethiopian long distance runner who specialises in road running competitions. Her half marathon best of 1:07:39 is one of the fastest ever by an Ethiopian woman... Mestawet Tufa Mestawet Tufa Mestawet Tufa is an Ethiopian long-distance runner. She was the winner of the women's 10,000 metres at the 2007 All-Africa Games and the runner up in the senior women's race at the 2008 World Cross Country Championships.She competed at the Olympic Games, but did not finish her 10,000 metres... Tirfi Tsegaye |
3:26:14 | ||
| |
Inga Abitova Inga Abitova Inga Eduardovna Abitova is a Russian long-distance runner, who specializes in the 10,000 metres and the marathon. She was the 2006 European Champion in the 10,000 m and reached the final at the 2008 Summer Olympics... Silvia Skvortsova Elza Kireeva |
3:31:23 |