Mo Farah breaks three European Records in one race
22nd March 2015 – Double Olympic, World & European Champion Mo Farah (GBR) smashed three European Records today en route to an exciting victory over Olympic medallist and former 10k World Record holder Micah Kogo (KEN) in the Lisbon Half Marathon.
The 31 year old Farah took 20 seconds of the previous European Half Marathon record with his 59:32 clocking on the Portuguese streets. En route he improved the European 15km and 20km best times to 42:xx (time tbc) and 56:27. At halfway it looked like fellow PACE athlete Micah Kogo was the man to beat as he forged ahead with Kenyan Stephen Kibet. Running just outside 59 minute pace the pair had opened up a 12 seconds lead on the field by 14km with Farah running in 4th position. As they approached 18km Farah had closed the gap and then after Kibet dropped it was the PACE duo, good friends and former training partners, who contested for the win. Kogo made a strong move at 20km but was unable to gap track specialist Farah and with 150m to go the British athlete unleashed his trademark kick to win by one second.
“It feels amazing, I got massive support from the crowd. It wasn’t easy, the race organisers put in a great field. To win here was hard but it’s my birthday is tomorrow so It’s a good birthday present. I feel so happy to break the British record and European record,” commented Farah after the race.
Farah now returns to Oregon to prepare for the 2015 T&F season while Kogo returns to Kenya to finish his preparations for the Hamburg marathon on April 26.
Article Tags: Micah Kogo, Mo Farah