World championship personal best for Aussie runner

Ellie O’Kane said the conditions were windy and flat which ensured a fast, tactical race that resulted in a new personal best time of one hour, 11 minutes and 43 seconds for the half marathon.

TORQUAY resident Ellie O’Kane has run a personal best whilst representing Australia at the IAAF half marathon World Championships in Valencia, Spain.

Ms O’Kane said the conditions were windy but flat for the March 24 race which ensured a fast course and tactical approach.

“I finished 24th out of 130 other runners in a time of one hour, 11 minutes and 43 seconds. It was a two minute personal best for me,” she said.

“Trying to get into good packs was important. I was really happy as it was significantly faster than I thought I could run. My team mate Sinead Diver from Melbourne was 23rd so we ran together almost the entire race.”

Ms O’Kane said the race was won by Ethiopian runner Netsanet Gudeta Kebede, who set a new world record of one hour, six minutes and 11 seconds.

She beat the favourite Joyciline Jepkosgei from Kenya who came second.