Eritrean Zersenay Tadese struck 10 seconds from Sammy Wanjiru's three-year-old world record to win the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon today in 58:22.
The four-time world half marathon champion Tadese, 28, beat the Kenyan trio of Sammy Kitwara, Emmanuel Mutai and Duncan Kibet to earn 50,000 euros for surpassing Wanjiru's mark which was set in The Hague in 2007.
Kitwara, the winner of 2009 Rotterdam Half Marathon and the 2008 Paris Half Marathon, was 24 seconds behind Tadese for second place in a personal best 59:47 ahead of his compatriot Mutai, the 2009 World silver medalist in the Marathon, who clocked 1:00:03, also a personal best.
Kibet was fourth with 1:00:21and Gilbert Masai came up fifth in 1:00:28 (both with personal bests).
Tadese reached 15Km in 41:33 (four seconds behind Felix Limo's 41:29 World Record set in 2001) and crossed the 20Km marker in 55:21 (a new 20k World Record), 27 seconds faster than Haile Gebrselassie's World record of 55:48 set in 2006.
"I felt very good, and looking for a performance just like that," said Tadese, who had a previous personal best of 58:59 over the distance set at the 2007 World Half Marathon Championships in Udine, Italy.
"I'm in a good shape. Kilometre after kilometre I achieved more courage and determination and always believed that I can get the world record."
Kenyan Peninah Jerop Arusei, the winner of the 2009 Berlin Half Marathon, won the women's race in 1.08.38 with Ethiopia's Askale Tafa of Ethiopia second in 1:10:46.
Selected Results:
Men:
1. Zersenay Tadese ERI 58.23 (World Record subject to ratification)
2. Sammy Kitwara KEN 59.47 PB
3. Emmanuel Mutai KEN 1.00.03 PB
4. Duncan Kibet KEN 1.00.21 PB
5. Gilbert Masai KEN 1.00.28 PB
6. Jaouad Gharib MAR 1.00.33
7. Gedion Ngatuny KEN 1.01.07
8. Mathew Kisorio KEN 1.01.10
9. Samuel Kosgei KEN 1.01.57
10. Ernest Kebenei KEN 1.02.01
Women:
1. Peninah Jerop Arusei KEN 1.08.38
2. Askale Tafa ETH 1.10.46
3. Fernanda Ribeiro POR 1.12.17