Ethiopia's Gerba Beyata Dibaba wins Buenos Aires half-marathon

Ethiopia's Gerba Beyata Dibaba won the Buenos Aires 21K half marathon on Sunday, beating off a record number of competitors. 

Organisers said that 25,000 people had registered to take part in this year's annual race.

Defying the winter cold, Beyata Dibaba was crowned champion by completing the 21-kilometre course in one hour and 26 seconds.

Second and third places went to Kenyans Cosmas Mwangi Boi, who finished in one hour and 25 seconds, and Richard Yator Kimunyan, who finished in one hour and 44 seconds.

Among the Latin Americans competing, Argentina's Ignacio Erario (01:01:11, in seventh place) was the fastest, followed by Peru's René Champi (01:02:39, eighth), Colombia's Iván Darío González (01:02:39, ninth) and Puerto Rico's Arnaldo Martínez (01:02:39, tenth).

The first woman to finish was Kenya's Ruth Chepngetich (01:05:58, 25th).

The women's podium was completed by Ethiopia's Alemaddis Eyayu Sisay (01:07:04, 36th) and Kenya's Joyce Chepkemoi Tele (01:07:35, 43rd).

Peru's Dina Zaida Ramos was the best-performing Latin American (01:11:52, 104th) female. Other top performers were Argentina's Micaela Levaggi (01:13:37, 148th), Peru's Saida Irma Meneses (01:14:38, 178th) and Argentina's Antonella Janet Guerrero (01:14:47, 185th).

The race is part of the International Athletics Federation calendar and is the prelude to the Buenos Aires International Marathon, scheduled for September 22.

– TIMES/AFP