Team Rwanda fails in Birmingham

World Half MarathonYesterdayMen1. Z. Tadese (ERI) 59:35 (CR) 2. B. Kipyego (KEN) 59:59. 3. D. (USA) 1:00:00 (PB)37. S. Rukundo (RWA) 1:03:59 (SB) 39. J.B Simuceka (RWA) 1:04:02 (PB) 40. G. Hakizimana (RWA) 1:04:0441. E. Sebahire (RWA) 1:04:09 (PB)Women1. M. Keitany (KEN) 1:06:36 (CR) 2. P. Ongori (KEN) 1:07:38 (PB) 3. A. Kebede (ETH) 1:07:39 (PB)47. C. Mukasakindi (RWA) 1:16:31 (PB) Rwanda’s athletes failed to win any silverware at the fourth edition of the IAAF World half Marathon in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Rwanda men’s team which comprised of Sylvain Rukundo, Jean Baptista Simuceka, Eric Sebahire and Gervais Hakizimana failed to clinch both individual and team silverware. Rukundo was the country’s best runner as he finished 37th after recording his season’s best time of 1:03:59. Simuceka followed him in 39th position with a personal best time of 1:04:02 while Gervais came 40th in a time of 1:04:04. Sebahire, who was making his maiden appearance finished 41st in a personal best time of 1:04:09. Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadese secured his place in the history of distance running as he won his fourth consecutive title. His winning time of 59 minutes and 35 seconds rewrote his own championship record. Kenya’s Bernard Kiprop Kipyego won silver and USA’s Dathan Ritzenhein took bronze. Kipyego also helped his country take the team title.Ritzenhein became the first American athlete to make the podium at the World Half Marathon Championships. In the women category, Rwanda’s Claudette Mukasakindi recorded her best personal time of 1:16:31 to finish 47th. Mukasakindi failed to impress at the start of the 21km race. At 5km, she was at 39th position with 16:52 hour mark, on 10km she 47th in 35:21 hour mark, at 15km she fell to 49th position with 53:49 before she rose back to finish the race in 47th position. Despite winning gold in 10,000m in the just concluded Francophone Games in Lebanon, Mukasakindi failed to impress at her debut at the World Half marathon.Kenya’s Mary Jepkosgei Keitany produced a dominant display to claim the women’s title. Keitany clearly found the course and light drizzle to her liking as she stayed ahead of world record pace, averaging just over three minutes per kilometre. But she slowed slightly in the closing stages, narrowly missing out on Lornah Kiplagat’s world record as she gleefully upgraded the silver medal she won in Udine two years ago. Keitany’s time of one hour, six minutes and 36 seconds shattered her personal best by 12 seconds, as the 27-year old finally fulfilled her long predicted promise. Another Kenyan Philes Moora Ongori overhauled Ethiopia’s Kebebe in the closing metres to take individual silver, a performance that helped Kenya comprehensively secure the team title, ahead of Ethiopia and Russia. Ends

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Team Rwanda fails in Birmingham