 | |
| Host city | Nanning, Guangxi, China  |
|---|---|
| Nations | 30 |
| Athletes | 123 |
| Events | 2 |
| Dates | 16 October 2010 |
| Race length | 21.0975 km (13.1 mi) |
| Individual prize money (US$) | 1st: 30,000 2nd: 15,000 3rd: 10,000 4th: 7,000 5th: 5,000 6th: 3,000 |
| Team prize money (US$) | 1st: 15,000 2nd: 12,000 3rd: 9,000 4th: 7,500 5th: 6,000 6th: 3,000 |
The 2010 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships was held in Nanning, China on 16 October 2010.[1] The competition took place on the city streets, beginning and ending at Wuxiang Square, with a total prize purse of US$245,000 at stake.[2]
The Kenyan athletes emerged with both the individual and team titles in the men's and women's races. Despite limited experience in top level half marathon races, Wilson Kiprop and Florence Kiplagat won their respective races. Kiprop broke Zersenay Tadese's winning streak which dated back to 2006, out-sprinting the defending champion in the final stages. Sammy Kitwara won the men's bronze medal and helped Kenya to the men's team title. Led by Zersenay, the Eritrean men beat Ethiopia to the team silver medal spot.
Kiplagat, who was ever present at the front of the women's race, outdid Ethiopian Dire Tune in the last kilometre to win her second gold medal on the global stage. Mirroring Kitwara, Kenya's women's bronze medallist Peninah Jerop Arusei secured the team's victory over Ethiopia. Representing the hosts, Zhu Xiaolin was the only non-African to reach the top eight at the championships. The joint effort of the Japanese women aided them to a sixth consecutive team bronze medal – making them the only medalling country outside the typically strong African triumvirate of Kenya, Ethiopia and Eritrea.
A total of 30 countries were represented at the 19th edition of the competition and 123 runners altogether were entered into the men's and women's races. The event was the final edition to be held on an annual schedule, as the competition switched to a biennial format for the 2012 championships.
- ^ IAAF Council Meeting notes, Monaco – 20 November Archived 2012-10-24 at the Wayback Machine. IAAF (2009-11-20). Retrieved on 2010-01-02.
- ^ 2010 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine. USATF (2010-10-16). Retrieved on 2010-11-18.