Teams
1 Kenya 2:58:54
2 Eritrea 2:59.08
3 Ethiopia 3:01:15
4. Tanzania 3:02:19
5. Qatar 3:04:03
6. Rwanda 3:04:14
7. Japan 3:04:53
8 Uganda 3:05:09

National track and field icon Dieudonne Disi set a new national half marathon record as Rwanda finished sixth overall in the 2nd edition of the World Road Running Championship in Udine, Italy.

Disi who is the country’s leading long distance athlete came home in sixth position, clocking 59:32.

He however failed to improve on his earlier time of 57:42 recorded in the inaugural edition of the road running championship in Hungary where he finished ninth.

Fellow countrymen, Sylvain Rukundo and Gervais Hakizimana finished 26th and 38th respectively setting their personal best times. Rukundo clocked 1:01:59 while Hakizimana came home at 1:02:43.

Defending champion Zersenay Tadesse of Eritrea won the race with 58:59 thereby helping his country to a second place finish behind powerhouse Kenya.

Patrick Makau (59:02) and Evans Kiprop (59:05) claimed the remaining podium positions.

Ethiopia led by fourth-placed finisher Merga Deriba (59:16) took third position ahead of Tanzania, Qatar and Rwanda.

Kenyan-turned-Dutchwoman Lornah Kiplagat won the women’s event making her World’s best personal time of 1:06.25.

Rwanda’s Angeline Nyiransabimana set a new national half marathon record in the event. She clocked 1:12:44 to finish 31st.

Epiphanie Nyirabarame ran her personal best, clocking 1:17:14 to finish in 50th position.

Commenting on the impressive showing in Udine, the Director of Sports in the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sport, Gaspard Kaijuka hailed the team’s good performance.

"The team has performed better compared to last year’s edition and they have also brought pride to our country after years of unsuccessful championship performances,” Kaijuka said.

Meanwhile, Disi bagged US$3000 while Rwanda team pocketed US$ 3000 for their sixth overall position.

The six-man team is expected home today evening aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight.

Ends