PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Defending champion Stanley Biwott of Kenya won the Rock ‘n Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon on Sunday, running the second-fastest time in the 36-year history of the race.
He finished in 59 minutes and 36 seconds. The 27-year-old Biwott took the lead at the halfway mark of the 13.1 mile race through the city to record the fastest half marathon in the United States this year.
Lyudmyla Kovalenko of Ukraine won the women’s race in 1:08:59, edging Ethiopian Konjit Biruk by 1 second.
Kenyan men swept the top three spots with Cybrian Kotut second in 59:59 and Edwin Kipyego third in 60:04. Fernando Cabada was the top American man in eighth in 1:03:53.
The race had 18,000 starters from all 50 states and 19 countries.