Abraham Cheroben of Bahrain ran a swift 58:40 to win the Copenhagen Half Marathon on Sunday, improving his personal best in the distance by just eight seconds but jetting up the world all-time list from No. 8 to No. 4. Only two men have ever run faster: world record holder Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea, who owns the top two spots on the world list with 58:23 and 58:30, and the late Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya, who ran 58:33 in 2007.

The 25-year-old Cheroben's time, then, is the fastest half marathon the world has seen since Tadese clocked his 58:30 in 2011 -- six years ago.

Abraham Cheroben sizzles 58:40 world lead at Copenhagen Half Marathon to become third fastest man ever! https://t.co/YbqaqIjZ8x pic.twitter.com/zN0Ub4sW5f

— IAAF (@iaaforg) September 17, 2017

He, along with nine others, split 27:50 for the first 10K of the race in Denmark. He faced strong competition from Jorum Okombo and Alex Oloitiptip Korio, who finished second and third in 58:48 and 58:51, respectively, equaling the sixth- and eighth-fastest marks of all time.

Cheroben, who switched nationalities from Kenyan to Bahraini in 2015, is mostly known for his road racing prowess and has only four recorded track races on his resume, including a 10th-place finish at the Rio Olympic Games 10K in 27:31.86 and a 12th-place run at the IAAF World Championships in London with a national record time of 27:11.08.

He had not broken 60 minutes for the half marathon in two years, and his prior personal best of 58:48 is from 2014.

Fellow Bahraini Eunice Chumba won the women's race in 1:06:11. American Sara Hall took 10th place in 1:09:37, her first time running under 70 minutes.

Top results below.

Men's Top Results

1 Abraham Cheroben (BRN) 58:40
2 Jorum Lumbasi Okombo (KEN) 58:48
3 Alex Oloitiptip Korio (KEN) 58:51
4 Albert Kipkosgei Kangogo (KEN) 59:25
5 Leonard Barsoton (KEN) 59:28
6 Moses Martin Kurong (UGA) 59:50
7 Geoffrey Kimutai Koech (KEN) 59:50
8 Shura Kitata (ETH) 1:00:10
9 Geoffrey Yegon (KEN) 1:00:16
10 Abrar Osman (ERI) 1:00:19

Women's Top Results

1 Eunice Chumba (BRN) 1:06:11
2 Joan Chelimo Melly (KEN) 1:06:25
3 Brigid Jepchirchir Kosgei (KEN) 1:06.35
4 Roza Dereje (ETH) 1:07:23
5 Meskerem Assefa (ETH) 1:07:42
6 Agnes Barsosio (KEN) 1:08:21
7 Paskalia Chepkorir (KEN) 1:08:23
8 Desi Jisa Mokonin (BRN) 1:09:07
9 Yeshi Chekole (ETH) 1:09:13
10 Sara Hall (USA) 1:09:37