Kenyan male and Ethiopian female take glory in Buenos Aires half-marathon

Kenyan male Bedan Karoki and Ethiopian female Ababel Yeshaneh Brihane were the winners of the Buenos Aires half-marathon on Sunday.

An epic turn-out saw some 20,000 runners participate in the event, of which 4,000 of them were foreigners, the event's organisers said.

Karoki was delcared victory with a record of 59 minutes and five seconds, after having finished second in last year's edition, when he completed the course in 59m, 50s.

Ethiopian Seifu Tura Abdiwak (59:17), Kenyan Paul Lonyangata (59:49) and South African Stephen Mokoka (59:51) followed him on the podium.

In the women's category, Yeshaneh Brihane secured victory with a new course record of one hour, seven minutes and 44 seconds.

Among the Latin Americans who scored the best times was local man Josquin Arbe, who finished ninth with  one hour, two minutes and 51 seconds, a best for an Argentine.

The Buenos Aires half marathon is one of the most important events of its kind in South America. Its circuit takes in some of the most emblematic neighbourhoods of the capital, including Puerto Madero, Palermo and to the historic Plaza de Mayo.

– TIMES/AFP