RAS AL KHAIMAH, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Ababel Yeshaneh set a world record in the women's half marathon on Friday in the latest breakthrough by athletes wearing high-tech Nike shoes. The Ethiopian runner won the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in 1 hour, 4 minutes, 31 seconds, knocking 20 seconds off the previous record set by Joyciline Jepkosgei in Valencia in 2017. Brigid Kosgei, the marathon world record holder, also broke Jepkosgei's time while finishing second behind Yeshaneh. Since 2018, the men's and women's records in both the marathon and half marathon have all been broken by athletes in Nike shoes. The shoes have prompted concerns that athletes sponsored by other companies have no chance of competing in key races, such as the upcoming Olympics.

Source: Ethiopian News February 21, 2020 09:00 UTC