Wanders Europe pulverized the record of Mo Farah

A little stomach upset after the arrival in the most Northern of the Emirates of the Persian Gulf has him irritated mid-week, maybe a little, but not slowed down and not stopped: Julien Wanders reached early Friday morning in the half marathon of Ras al-Khaimah in the best conditions all of its lofty goals: the Swiss record in the 60-minute mark, undercut, and even more importantly: 59:13 minutes powder the 22-initialized-year-old Geneva the European record by 2015, the multiple British Olympic medalist and world champion on the track, Mo Farah, to 19 seconds.

14 degrees in the objective, practical, calm, wide Boulevards on a newly designed small semi-Islands, and 13 competitors, which are all run under 60 minutes: The conditions for a race close to perfection would be for Wanders. Immediately after the Start he went with a 20-strong lead group, had provided that he is running with a second group. The pace was not for him, however, is too high, the 10-km mark, the runners crossed in 28:10 minutes, 20 seconds slower than planned.

As the peak after 12 km the pace increased, fell, one after another, but Wanders belonged to the five management group. It was only when the favorites Abadi Hadis (ETH) and Stephen Kiprop (KEN), rose again, fell to the Swiss, a little. Kiprop won in the final sprint in 58:42 minutes, a personal best. Wanders finally, it was in a elite field that exclusively of Africans, and African-born Turks stock outstanding Fourth.

Outstanding performance

His personal best of 60:09, ran exactly a year ago in Barcelona, lowered it to 56 seconds, it will be already the fourth in Europe record within 12 months. The time of Barcelona meant U-23 record, before he lowered in Durban in October and in Houilles the 10-km-best-brand continuously to 27:25. Never before has a Swiss cross-country delivery-distance runner at such a level.

Wanders, the training since 2014, the majority of in Iten in the high altitude of Kenya, is the first of five Europeans, who managed to run under 60 minutes. And with this performance he broke impressive in the powerful Phalanx of African runners. Of the fastest Hundred in the all-time best list of the half marathon he is the Only one with European roots - and it is hardly conceivable: Only 36 were ever faster than he was.

Wanders back for a few days in Switzerland and denies then on 17. February in Monaco as the end of his road season with a race over 5 kilometres. (Tages-Anzeiger.ch/Newsnet)

Created: 08.02.2019, 06:47 PM