Race Records at CPH Half: The IAAF Silver Label event is absolutely a classicRace records were shattered in both men’s and women’s races. Europe’s fastest half marathon course saw record breaking numbers of foreign participants – 3600 of 22,000 ran the Copenhagen Half Marathon in the heart of Copenhagen and Frederiksberg.
No less than seven men completed the fastest half marathon course in Europe in a time below 60 minutes. It was a record breaking atmosphere as Copenhagen invited runners alike for a great street party.
The CPH Half 2016 male winner, James Mwangi Wangari (KEN), and female winner, Hiwot Gebrekidan Gebremaryam (ETH), were in charge of the race records.
-Wauw. Just wauw. You basically had the population of a small village running through the streets of Copenhagen today, everybody having a great time! This IAAF Silver Label event is absolutely a classic now. It’s our third year, and we can only get better and better every single year. So congratulations to everybody involved, especially the participants who really are the true winners of this, whether they came in first place with a 59 minute time or back of the pack in over three hours. Everyone today is a winner. And especially the organisers of this event and the people of Copenhagen, says David Katz, international road race technical official, IAAF.
– This course has been designed for records. And today’s results prove this to the fullest. Race records for both men and women and seven runners below the hour – this makes us the fastest half marathon course in Europe. And you even have to add the wind which did not help at all. I suspect there will be several personal records among the 22.000 runners, says Jakob Larsen, director of the Danish Athletics Federation who highly appreciates the 800 volunteers making the race successful.
Director of Sparta, Dorte Vibjerg, agrees:
-This unique event in the heart of Copenhagen – now the fastest half marathon course in Europe – establishes the appeal this race offers both elite and recreational runners from Denmark and the rest of the world. It is our great hope that we also in the future will attract runners from near and far.
The record number of foreign participants pleases Sport Event Denmark that partners the event:
– Copenhagen Half Marathon builds of the legacy of the 2014 World Half Marathon Championships. And this year, CPH Half broke several records – I’m very pleased to see the record breaking number of foreign participants for example. This definitely brands Denmark not only as a runner’s nation but a destination for runners, says Lars Lundov, CEO, Sport Event Denmark.
CPH Half has established itself as a super-fast course in the heart of Copenhagen, states Lars Vallentin Christensen, Head of Sport Events, Wonderful Copenhagen:
– Today, CPH Half delivered an exceptional street party for participants and spectators alike. The power zones created an energetic and unique atmosphere along the course, and Copenhagen have proved itself as one of the world’s leading sport event cities. CPH Half underpins this fact.
Winners:
Men: James Mwangi Wangari, Kenya 59:07 min. Race record
Women: Hiwot Gebrekidan Gebremaryam, Etiopia 68:00 min. Race record
FACTS ON THE COPENHAGEN HALF MARATHON
• Hosts: Danish Athletic Federation and Sparta Athletics
• Contributor: Nordea-Fonden
• Collaborators: Bevæg Dig For Livet – Løb, Sport Event Denmark, Cities of Copenhagen and Frederiksberg and Wonderful Copenhagen
• Entries: Aprox. 22,000, of these 3600 foreign participants from 104 nations
• Learn more at www.cphhalf.dk/
• Next year: September 17 2017
• #cphhalf and #sporteventDK