Kimberley Smith runs fastest half marathon by a woman on American soil and breaks New Zealand record – 13 February 2011
Kim Smith Half Marathon
Kimberley Smith sliced 19 seconds off her New Zealand half marathon record in winning the New Orleans half marathon by over three minutes in 1h 7m 36s.
She eclipsed Ethiopian Meseret Defar’s best time in the States of 1h 7m 44s set at the Philadelphia half marathon last September.
Smith, training towards the Boston marathon on April 18, recorded her previous record in New Orleans last year.
“My goal was to run a little bit slower because my coach didn’t want me to push it too hard,” said Smith, who finished sixth overall.
“But I felt good out there. I’m training for the Boston Marathon so I’m in pretty heavy training at the moment so I didn’t think I would run this fast. I’m pretty happy after the heavy training week to run like that,” she added.
New Zealander Karen Lockyer finished 25th and second woman in the full marathon in 2h 52m 23s.
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