# 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships

The 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships was held in Birmingham, United Kingdom on 11 October 2009. It was the final event of the International Association of Athletics Federations' 2009 World Athletics Series.

## Organisation

The city of Birmingham was selected by the IAAF Council after a presentation by UK Athletics and the Birmingham City Council. It was the third time the championships were held in Great Britain, after the 1992 event on Tyneside and the 2001 edition in Bristol. A number of events were scheduled to coincide with the Championships: a three-day convention for Association of International Marathons and Distance Races, as well as an IAAF press conference to discuss the future and progression of the sport.
In addition to the main World Championship races, the Birmingham Half Marathon started thirty minutes after the women's World Championship race. Organised by Birmingham City Council and sponsored by EDF Energy, it was the second edition of the mass race which attracted over 9000 runners in 2008. A total of 12,068 people signed up to run the Birmingham Half Marathon.
A total of 47 IAAF member federations sent athletes to the championships, the highest number since the 2002 edition.

## Course

The men's race and women's race started at BST 9.00 am and 9:30 am, respectively. The course passed through Birmingham city centre and the city's southern suburbs, Centenary Square acting as the start and end point of the race. Highlights along the route included Cannon Hill Park, Cadbury World and the Bournville model village, Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Victoria Square and the Bull Ring. The course is largely straight and flat, although there is an abrupt descent and ascent at the start and finish of the route, and slight rises and falls between the 10 and 16 km marks around Selly Park.

## Competition
### Pre-race

Eritrean runner Zersenay Tadese, who had won the last two World Half Marathons as well as the 20 km race in 2006, announced that he would attempt to defend his title and his chances improved after world leader Patrick Makau Musyoki was not listed from the Kenyan squad. The defending women's champion Lornah Kiplagat did not attempt to defend her title due to a knee injury, and three-time champion Paula Radcliffe filled the void, aiming for a record fourth title. However, she too withdrew from the event due to tonsillitis, dealing a blow to the host nation's chances.
Tadese was the outright favourite of the men's race, with his greatest challenge coming from Kenyans Sammy Kitwara, Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich and Bernard Kiprop Kipyego, Ethiopians Tilahun Regassa and Dereje Tesfaye. Dathan Ritzenhein, Fabiano Joseph Naasi and Marilson dos Santos were other outside chances. The Kenyan and Eritrean men's teams were favoured for the gold and silver team medals, while the team's from Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda were suggested as possible bronze medallists. Unusually, Qatar (whose team placed third in 2008) did not send any runners to the competition.
In the women's race, Kenyan Mary Jepkosgei Keitany was the favourite in the absence of Kiplagat and Radcliffe. Keitany went into the championships as the world's leading half marathon runner, having run 1:07:00 seconds earlier in the season, and the race was seen as a chance for her to make her mark over the distance. The next fastest runner that season was her compatriot Philes Ongori, although her time of 1:07:50 was some way off Keitany's. Two more possible medallists, Filomena Cheyech and Caroline Cheptanui Kilel rounded out a strong Kenyan squad. The Ethiopian team was missing two of their best runners (Dire Tune and Aselefech Mergia), but Abebu Gelan and Aberu Kebede were still in medal contention. The Japanese athletes, Yukiko Akaba and Yurika Nakamura, looked to maintain Japan's past podium form in the team competition. New Zealand's Kim Smith was regarded as an unknown quantity, as she was moving to the road competitions after much success on the track.
At the pre-race press conference the IAAF General Secretary, Pierre Weiss, lamented the relative lack of interest in the competition, vocalising the IAAF's dissatisfaction with the number of competing athletes and federations. He acknowledged that the competition's prize money was not at parity with other top level marathons. Wilson Kipketer, the 800 metres world record holder, pointed out that the standard of Europe's long-distance runners had been largely surpassed by other region's athletes, most notably by Africa. Kipketer argued that Europeans were not making the most of their sporting facilities and were "not training properly or timing and planning their seasons properly". Ed Warner, chairman of UK Athletics, agreed that a rethink was needed in terms of training and mindset.

## Medallists

Detailed reports on the event and an appraisal of the results were given both for the men's race and for the women's race.
| Event | Gold | Gold | Silver | Silver | Bronze | Bronze |
| Individual |||||||
| Men | Zersenay Tadesse (ERI) | 59:35 | Bernard Kipyego (KEN) | 59:59 | Dathan Ritzenhein (USA) | 1:00:00 |
| Women | Mary Jepkosgei Keitany (KEN) | 1:06:36 | Philes Moora Ongori (KEN) | 1:07:38 | Aberu Kebede (ETH) | 1:07:39 |
| Team |||||||
| Team Men | Kenya | 3:01:06 | Eritrea | 3:02:39 | Ethiopia | 3:06:42 |
| Team Women | Kenya | 3:22:30 | Ethiopia | 3:26:14 | Japan | 3:31:31 |

## Race results

Complete results were published for the men's race, for the women's race, for men's team, and for women's team.

### Men's

| Rank | Athlete | Nationality | Time | Notes |
| | Zersenay Tadese | Eritrea | 59:35 | CR |
| | Bernard Kipyego | Kenya | 59:59 | |
| | Dathan Ritzenhein | United States | 1:00:00 | PB |
| 4 | Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich | Kenya | 1:00:08 | |
| 5 | Samuel Tsegay | Eritrea | 1:00:17 | PB |
| 6 | Wilson Kwambai Chebet | Kenya | 1:00:59 | |
| 7 | Kiplimo Kimutai | Kenya | 1:01:31 | SB |
| 8 | Stephen Mokoka | South Africa | 1:01:36 | |
| 9 | Juan Carlos Romero | Mexico | 1:01:48 | PB |
| 10 | Sammy Kitwara | Kenya | 1:01:59 | |
| 11 | Tilahun Regassa | Ethiopia | 1:02:08 | SB |
| 12 | Dereje Tesfaye | Ethiopia | 1:02:09 | |
| 13 | Rachid Kisri | Morocco | 1:02:11 | PB |
| 14 | Abebe Negewo | Ethiopia | 1:02:25 | PB |
| 15 | Fabiano Joseph | Tanzania | 1:02:25 | SB |
| 16 | Marco Joseph | Tanzania | 1:02:41 | PB |
| 17 | Marilson dos Santos | Brazil | 1:02:41 | SB |
| 18 | Daniele Meucci | Italy | 1:02:43 | PB |
| 19 | Abrha Adhanom | Eritrea | 1:02:47 | PB |
| 20 | Andrew Carlson | United States | 1:02:50 | |
| 21 | Yukihiro Kitaoka | Japan | 1:02:50 | |
| 22 | Fouad Larhiouch | France | 1:02:55 | PB |
| 23 | James Theuri | France | 1:02:55 | |
| 24 | Martin Toroitich | Uganda | 1:02:55 | SB |
| 25 | Ryosuke Fukuyama | Japan | 1:03:00 | |
| 26 | Andrew Lemoncello | Great Britain | 1:03:03 | PB |
| 27 | Moses Aliwa | Uganda | 1:03:06 | |
| 28 | Yoshinori Oda | Japan | 1:03:09 | |
| 29 | Olebogeng Masire | South Africa | 1:03:13 | |
| 30 | Mourad Marofit | Morocco | 1:03:22 | SB |
| 31 | Shamba Gitimi | Tanzania | 1:03:23 | SB |
| 32 | Atsushi Sato | Japan | 1:03:25 | |
| 33 | Jackson Kiprop | Uganda | 1:03:31 | |
| 34 | Simon Munyutu | France | 1:03:33 | |
| 35 | Solomon Tsige | Ethiopia | 1:03:33 | SB |
| 36 | Mbongeni Ngxazozo | South Africa | 1:03:47 | |
| 37 | Sylvain Rukundo | Rwanda | 1:03:59 | SB |
| 38 | James Carney | United States | 1:04:00 | SB |
| 39 | Jean Baptiste Simukeka | Rwanda | 1:04:02 | PB |
| 40 | Gervais Hakizimana | Rwanda | 1:04:04 | |
| 41 | Eric Sebahire | Rwanda | 1:04:09 | PB |
| 42 | Jeffrey Gwebu | South Africa | 1:04:11 | |
| 43 | Jeff Hunt | Australia | 1:04:16 | |
| 44 | Tesfahiwet Gebretinsae | Eritrea | 1:04:17 | PB |
| 45 | Giomar da Silva | Brazil | 1:04:20 | |
| 46 | Mark Miles | Great Britain | 1:04:21 | |
| 47 | Yemane Teame | Eritrea | 1:04:23 | PB |
| 48 | Giovanni Ruggiero | Italy | 1:04:24 | |
| 49 | Ahmed Baday | Morocco | 1:04:42 | |
| 50 | Abdellah Taghrafet | Morocco | 1:04:46 | |
| 51 | Miguel Ángel Gamonal | Spain | 1:04:47 | |
| 52 | Denis Curzi | Italy | 1:04:51 | SB |
| 53 | John Cusi | Peru | 1:04:56 | |
| 54 | Joe McAlister | Ireland | 1:04:57 | PB |
| 55 | Matt Loiselle | Canada | 1:04:59 | |
| 56 | Francesco Bona | Italy | 1:05:01 | |
| 57 | Arturo Regules | Mexico | 1:05:09 | |
| 58 | Sergio Reyes | Mexico | 1:05:11 | PB |
| 59 | Jaime Caldua | Peru | 1:05:16 | |
| 60 | Phil Wicks | Great Britain | 1:05:18 | |
| 61 | David Ramard | France | 1:05:23 | |
| 62 | Daniele Caimmi | Italy | 1:05:23 | SB |
| 63 | Andrew Jones | Great Britain | 1:05:37 | |
| 64 | Brett Gotcher | United States | 1:05:43 | |
| 65 | Cristinel Irimia | Romania | 1:05:51 | |
| 66 | Keenetse Moswasi | Botswana | 1:05:59 | SB |
| 67 | Tomomi Itakura | Japan | 1:06:00 | |
| 68 | Benoit Holzerny | France | 1:06:00 | |
| 69 | Constantino León | Peru | 1:06:05 | |
| 70 | Scotty Bauhs | United States | 1:06:07 | SB |
| 71 | Godiraone Nthompe | Botswana | 1:06:07 | PB |
| 72 | Ndabili Bashingili | Botswana | 1:06:08 | SB |
| 73 | Rapula Diphoko | Botswana | 1:06:12 | PB |
| 74 | Pablo Villalobos | Spain | 1:06:17 | |
| 75 | Gareth Raven | Great Britain | 1:06:51 | |
| 76 | Kaelo Mosalagae | Botswana | 1:07:10 | SB |
| 77 | Wu Shiwei | China | 1:07:14 | |
| 78 | João de Lima | Brazil | 1:07:14 | |
| 79 | Franck de Almeida | Brazil | 1:07:44 | |
| 80 | Daglas Mashili | Zambia | 1:07:56 | SB |
| 81 | Taivo Püi | Estonia | 1:07:58 | PB |
| 82 | Edmundo Torres | Peru | 1:08:12 | |
| 83 | José Francisco Chávez | Costa Rica | 1:08:41 | PB |
| 84 | César Lizano | Costa Rica | 1:09:08 | PB |
| 85 | Xolisa Tyali | South Africa | 1:09:12 | |
| 86 | Chan Ka Ho | Hong Kong | 1:10:17 | SB |
| 87 | Fernando Rey | Spain | 1:10:18 | |
| 88 | Marcel Tschopp | Liechtenstein | 1:10:28 | SB |
| 89 | Ronnie Holassie | Trinidad and Tobago | 1:11:18 | SB |
| 90 | Gaylord Silly | Seychelles | 1:11:57 | |
| 91 | Simon Labiche | Seychelles | 1:12:01 | SB |
| 92 | Mengi Patou | DR Congo | 1:12:17 | PB |
| 93 | Andrew Pollando | Uganda | 1:14:00 | PB |
| 94 | Chan Chan Kit | Macau | 1:28:04 | SB |
| — | Haylu Mekonnen | Ethiopia | DNF | |
| — | Gary Murray | Ireland | DNF | |
| — | Mohamed Isak | Somalia | DNF | |
| — | Perhat Annagylyjov | Turkmenistan | DNF | |
| — | Damian Paul Chopa | Tanzania | DNS | |

### Women's

| Rank | Athlete | Nationality | Time | Notes |
| | Mary Jepkosgei Keitany | Kenya | 1:06:36 | CR |
| | Philes Ongori | Kenya | 1:07:38 | PB |
| | Aberu Kebede | Ethiopia | 1:07:39 | PB |
| 4 | Caroline Cheptanui Kilel | Kenya | 1:08:16 | PB |
| 5 | Mestawet Tufa | Ethiopia | 1:09:11 | PB |
| 6 | Tirfi Tsegaye | Ethiopia | 1:09:24 | PB |
| 7 | Kim Smith | New Zealand | 1:09:35 | NR |
| 8 | Filomena Cheyech Daniel | Kenya | 1:09:44 | |
| 9 | Silvia Skvortsova | Russia | 1:09:56 | SB |
| 10 | Amy Yoder Begley | United States | 1:10:09 | PB |
| 11 | Yurika Nakamura | Japan | 1:10:19 | |
| 12 | Ryoko Kizaki | Japan | 1:10:32 | |
| 13 | Workitu Ayanu | Ethiopia | 1:10:35 | PB |
| 14 | René Kalmer | South Africa | 1:10:37 | PB |
| 15 | Remi Nakazato | Japan | 1:10:40 | |
| 16 | Serena Burla | United States | 1:10:55 | PB |
| 17 | Analía Rosa | Portugal | 1:11:08 | PB |
| 18 | Peninah Arusei | Kenya | 1:11:10 | |
| 19 | Annerien van Schalkwyk | South Africa | 1:11:26 | PB |
| 20 | Dulce María Rodríguez | Mexico | 1:11:32 | SB |
| 21 | Abebu Gelan | Ethiopia | 1:11:33 | |
| 22 | Elza Kireeva | Russia | 1:11:34 | PB |
| 23 | Furtuna Zegergish | Eritrea | 1:11:56 | |
| 24 | Claire Hallissey | Great Britain | 1:12:14 | |
| 25 | Yukiko Akaba | Japan | 1:12:20 | |
| 26 | Irina Timofeyeva | Russia | 1:12:38 | SB |
| 27 | Olivera Jevtić | Serbia | 1:12:44 | |
| 28 | Hiroko Shoi | Japan | 1:12:46 | |
| 29 | Maria Sig Møller | Denmark | 1:12:50 | PB |
| 30 | Cassie Fien | Australia | 1:12:55 | |
| 31 | Galina Aleksandrova | Russia | 1:13:01 | |
| 32 | Amy Hastings | United States | 1:13:20 | PB |
| 33 | Michelle Ross-Cope | Great Britain | 1:13:50 | |
| 34 | Alina Istudora | Romania | 1:14:01 | PB |
| 35 | Emma Quaglia | Italy | 1:14:11 | SB |
| 36 | Nyakisi Adero | Uganda | 1:14:17 | |
| 37 | Heidi Westover/Westerling | United States | 1:14:22 | |
| 38 | Marisol Romero | Mexico | 1:14:26 | PB |
| 39 | Poppy Mlambo | South Africa | 1:14:27 | PB |
| 40 | Inés Melchor | Peru | 1:14:33 | PB |
| 41 | Jimena Misayauri | Peru | 1:14:47 | |
| 42 | Ivana Iozzia | Italy | 1:14:52 | |
| 43 | Gemma Miles | Great Britain | 1:14:56 | |
| 44 | Alyson Dixon | Great Britain | 1:15:19 | |
| 45 | Rebecca Robinson | Great Britain | 1:16:21 | |
| 46 | Claudette Mukasakindi | Rwanda | 1:16:31 | PB |
| 47 | Elva Dryer | United States | 1:16:42 | |
| 48 | Nuța Olaru | Romania | 1:16:56 | |
| 49 | Hortencia Arazapalo | Peru | 1:17:27 | |
| 50 | Maria Baldaia | Brazil | 1:18:32 | SB |
| 51 | Julia Rivera | Peru | 1:18:51 | |
| 52 | Caroline Desprez | France | 1:19:06 | |
| 53 | Elizet Banda | Zambia | 1:19:07 | NR |
| 54 | Judith Ramírez | Mexico | 1:19:41 | |
| 55 | Caitriona Jennings | Ireland | 1:20:47 | |
| 56 | Liu Yingjie | China | 1:24:29 | PB |
| 57 | Chao Fong Leng | Macau | 1:31:47 | NR |
| 58 | Simone Zapha | Seychelles | 1:38:58 | PB |
| — | Inga Abitova | Russia | DQ | $^†$ |
$^†$: Inga Abitova from Russia was initially 9th (1:09:53), but her competition results were annulled, beginning October 10, 2009, because of breaking anti-doping regulations.

## Team results
### Men's

| Rank | Country | Team | Time |
| | Kenya | Bernard Kipyego Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich Wilson Kwambai Chebet | 3:01:06 |
| | Eritrea | Zersenay Tadese Samuel Tsegay Adhanom Abraha | 3:02:39 |
| | Ethiopia | Tilahun Regassa Dereje Tesfaye Abebe Negewo | 3:06:42 |
| 4 | United States | Dathan Ritzenhein Andrew Carlson James Carney | 3:06:50 |
| 5 | Tanzania | Fabiano Joseph Marco Joseph Shamba Gitimi | 3:08:29 |
| 6 | South Africa | Stephen Mokoka Olebogeng Masire Mbongeni Ngxazozo | 3:08:36 |
| 7 | Japan | Yukihiro Kitaoka Ryosuke Fukuyama Yoshinori Oda | 3:08:59 |
| 8 | France | Fouad Larhiouch James Theuri Simon Munyutu | 3:09:23 |
| 9 | Uganda | Martin Toroitich Moses Aliwa Jackson Kiprop | 3:09:32 |
| 10 | Morocco | Rachid Kisri Mourad Marofit Ahmed Baday | 3:10:15 |
| 11 | Italy | Daniele Meucci Giovanni Ruggiero Denis Curzi | 3:11:58 |
| 12 | Rwanda | Sylvain Rukundo Jean Baptiste Simukeka Gervais Hakizimana | 3:12:05 |
| 13 | Mexico | Juan Carlos Romero Arturo Regules Sergio Reyes | 3:12:08 |
| 14 | Great Britain | Andrew Lemoncello Mark Miles Phil Wicks | 3:12:42 |
| 15 | Brazil | Marilson dos Santos Giomar da Silva João de Lima | 3:14:15 |
| 16 | Peru | John Cusi Jaime Caldua Constantino León | 3:16:17 |
| 17 | Botswana | Keenetse Moswasi Godiraone Nthompe Ndabili Bashingili | 3:18:14 |
| 18 | Spain | Miguel Ángel Gamonal Pablo Villalobos Fernando Rey | 3:21:22 |

### Women's

| Rank | Country | Team | Time |
| | Kenya | Mary Keitany Philes Ongori Caroline Cheptanui Kilel | 3:22:30 CR |
| | Ethiopia | Aberu Kebede Mestawet Tufa Tirfi Tsegaye | 3:26:14 |
| | Japan | Yurika Nakamura Ryoko Kizaki Remi Nakazato | 3:31:31 |
| 4 | Russia | Silvia Skvortsova Elza Kireeva Irina Timofeyeva | 3:34:08$^†$ |
| 5 | United States | Amy Yoder Begley Serena Burla Amy Hastings | 3:34:24 |
| 6 | South Africa | René Kalmer Annerien van Schalkwyk Poppy Mlambo | 3:36:30 |
| 7 | Great Britain | Claire Hallissey Michelle Ross-Cope Gemma Miles | 3:41:00 |
| 8 | Mexico | Dulce María Rodríguez Marisol Romero Judith Ramírez | 3:45:39 |
| 9 | Peru | Inés Melchor Jimena Misayauri Hortencia Arazapalo | 3:46:47 |
$^†$: The team from Russia was initially ranked 3rd (3:31:23), but fell behind Japan after the disqualification of Inga Abitova.

## Participation

The participation of 157 athletes (98 men/59 women) from 39 countries is reported.
* Australia (2)
* Botswana (5)
* Brazil (5)
* Canada (1)
* China (2)
* Democratic Republic of the Congo (1)
* Costa Rica (2)
* Denmark (1)
* Eritrea (6)
* Estonia (1)
* Ethiopia (10)
* France (6)
* Hong Kong (1)
* Ireland (3)
* Italy (7)
* Japan (10)
* Kenya (10)
* Liechtenstein (1)
* Macau (2)
* Mexico (6)
* Morocco (4)
* New Zealand (1)
* Peru (8)
* Portugal (1)
* Romania (3)
* Russia (5)
* Rwanda (5)
* Serbia (1)
* Seychelles (3)
* Somalia (1)
* South Africa (8)
* Spain (3)
* Tanzania (3)
* Trinidad and Tobago (1)
* Turkmenistan (1)
* Uganda (5)
* United Kingdom (10)
* United States (10)
* Zambia (2)