Things That Happened This Weekend Besides NCAA XC

Things That Happened This Weekend Besides NCAA XC

News from the track and field world that happened during the NCAA XC Championships weekend.

Nov 22, 2017 by Johanna Gretschel
Things That Happened This Weekend Besides NCAA XC
More than a few notable athletes put up impressive marks last weekend outside of the NCAA scene. Make sure you've checked out FloTrack's Division I, DII and DIII coverage of the NCAA XC Championships here, then skim the headlines below for more juice you may have missed.

Lenny Korir Becomes The Second American To Break 60 Minutes For Half Marathon In New Delhi

Leonard Korir shaved more than a minute from his PB to run 59:52 for third place at the Airtel New Delhi Half Marathon in India. The 30-year-old is now the second-fastest athlete in American history behind only Ryan Hall, who ran 59:43 to set the American record in 2007. Korir's prior best was 61:06 from 2015. This race was his third half marathon of a busy year; he won the USATF Half Marathon Championships in April as well as the USATF 10K Championship on July 4 at Peachtree. He also represented the United States in the 10K at the World Championships this summer, placing 13th overall in London.

Korir finished behind Ethiopians Berhanu Legese and Andamlak Belihu, who ran 59:46 and 59:51, respectively. World marathon champion Geoffrey Kirui placed sixth in 1:00:04.

The result is especially impressive given the air pollution in New Delhi. Earlier this month, air quality readings spiked to 75 percent times the level considered safe by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Almaz Ayana Makes Half Marathon Debut 


Almaz Ayana made her highly anticipated half marathon debut at the Airtel New Delhi Half, clocking 1:07:11 for the win over countrywomen Ababel Yeshaneh (1:07:19) and Netsanet Gudeta (1:07:24).

The Ethiopian, who turned 26 this week, has been unstoppable over 10K over the past two years, earning Olympic and World Championships gold as well as blasting a new world record of 29:17.45 in 2016.

Joshua Cheptegei Misses 15K World Record By Three Seconds In Netherlands


Anyone remember Joshua Cheptegei? The upstart Ugandan challenged Mo Farah in the World Championships 10K final in London this summer, earning a silver medal and 26:49.94 PB for his efforts as a mere 20-year-old. The now-21-year-old ran 41:16 to win the NN Zevenheuvelenloop 15K in the Netherlands, finishing just three seconds off Leonard Komon's world record. The race marked Cheptegei's third straight win at the event and he was 1:24 ahead of runner-up Amdework Walelegn of Ethiopia.

Sammy Kitwara Breaks Spanish All-Comers Marathon Record In 2:05:15


In his sole race of the year, 30-year-old Kenyan Sammy Kitwara obliterated the 26.2-mile distance in 2:05:15 to set a new Spanish All-Comers record at the Valencia Marathon in Spain. He earned 25,000 Euros for the feat (about $29,351 in American dollars) and defeated runner-up Evans Kiplagat by 15 seconds. His time is the seventh-fastest in the world this year.

Kitwara set his PB of 2:04:28 with a runner-up finish at the Chicago Marathon in 2014. He was runner-up in Amsterdam last year in 2:05, but had only served as a pacer thus far this year in Amsterdam, Berlin, and Boston. He was the World Half Marathon bronze medalist in 2010.

Molly Seidel, Tommy Curtin Win 10K Race In Florida; Kevin Castille Sets Master's World Record


Saucony Freedom Track Club teammates Molly Seidel and Tommy Curtin swept the Flanigan's Rockin' Rib 10K in Davie, Florida, with course record marks.

Seidel ran 33:03 to earn $2,500 ahead of Lindsey Scherf (33:51) and Marta Pen Freitas (33:56), the 2016 NCAA 1500m champion who represents Portugal. The previous record was 35:55, set last year by Ashley Brasovan.

Curtin ran 29:21 to finish 17 seconds ahead of runner-up Ryan Dohner, who set the previous course record of 30:12 in 2016. Third place went to 45-year-old Kevin Castille, who set a new ARRS men's 45-49 world record in 29:51. The previous world best for the 45-49 age group was 29:59.9 by Stephen Moneghetti of Australia in 2009.