2013 Hervis Prague Half-Marathon: World Record Attempt Never Materializes As Zersenay Tadese Settles For Sprint Victory
by LetsRun.com
April 6, 2013
Flash Recap: The world record attempt by Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadese at the 2013 Hervis Prague Half Marathon never materialized today, but he did manage to get a narrow victory over over compatriot Amanuel Mesel in a race where both were timed in 60:10. The unusually prolonged winter that has cast a spell over Central Europe this year produced cold and windy conditions and the pace never was close to fast enough to challenge Tadese’s own world record of 58:23. At 5k, Tadese’s split of 14:07 meant he was on 59:33 pace. World record pace at 5k would result in a split of 13:50.
Additionally, an unconfirmed report on the messageboard claims Tadese said he had the flu the night before the race.
The pace stayed roughly the same through 10,000 (28:12 which is 59:29 pace) before slowing dramatically in the second-half of the race. Tadese’s four 5km splits were 14:07, 14:05, 14:25, 14:37. He then slammed home the final 1.0975 kms in 2:56 (4:18 mile pace).
The runner-up Mesel is a 22-year old with a a 13:16 5000 pb. He was a 2011 world championship finalist at 5000 and also participated in the 2012 Olympics where he went out in the heats of the 5000. Prior to today, he had a 61:20 half-marathon pb.
The race also served as the half-marathon debut for 2010 World Cross Country silver and 2013 World Cross Country bronze medalist Teklemariam Medhin who finished 45 seconds back in ninth in 61:55.
More: MB Discussion of Race: Zersenay Tadesse wants 13.1 half marathon WR and race is on Internet Saturday (April 4, 2013) morning at 5:50 am ET
| Rank | Start # | Surname Name | Club | Nat. | Cat. | Time | RealTime |
| 1 | 1 | TADESE ZERSENAY |  |
AMM | 01:00:10 | 01:00:10 | |
| 2 | 12 | MESEL AMANUEL | |
AMM | 01:00:10 | 01:00:10 | |
| 3 | 23 | KIPSANG JOHN |  |
MM45 | 01:00:15 | 01:00:15 | |
| 4 | 3 | KIROP PIUS MAIYO | |
AMM | 01:00:18 | 01:00:18 | |
| 5 | 6 | KIPLAGAT HENRY | |
AMM | 01:00:21 | 01:00:21 | |
| 6 | 9 | KASSW ABERE |  |
AMM | 01:01:17 | 01:01:16 | |
| 7 | 24 | GEBREMARYAM TIGABU | |
AMM | 01:01:28 | 01:01:28 | |
| 8 | 4 | CHEBII DANIEL KIPCHUMBA | |
AMM | 01:01:52 | 01:01:51 | |
| 9 | 5 | MEDHIN TEKLEMARIAM | |
AMM | 01:01:55 | 01:01:55 | |
| 10 | 2 | LIMO PHILEMON KIMELI | |
AMM | 01:01:57 | 01:01:57 |