Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadese and Mestawet Tufa of Ethiopia yesterday set new times in road race at the Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon in Japan.

Tadese upgraded Kenyan marathoner, Martin Mathathi’s record that has been in the archives for two years now as the Eritrean clocked 1:00:31 to hit the podium while the lady from Ethiopia, Tufa put up a stellar performance to break South African, Rene Kalmer’s one year-old record by a full three minutes.

Last edition’s winner, Martin Mathathi (1:00:54), occupied the second spot as he ran 24 seconds short of Zersenay Tadese’s time while two of his compatriots, Jacob Wanjuki (1:01:53) and  Cyrus Njui (1:01 :08) came third and fourth respectively.

In the ladies, long distance runner and runner up at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in 2008, Mestawet Tufa came six seconds earlier than second placed Eunice Jepkirui of Kenya.

Source: Starafrica.com