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Swede Almgren becomes first European half-marathon world champion in 30 years

Andreas Almgren celebrates his win in Copenhagen
Andreas Almgren celebrates his win in CopenhagenCredit: SCHULER/BILDBYRĹN / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia

Sweden’s Andreas Almgren outsprinted Kenya’s Nicholas Kipkorir to win the half marathon title in a European record of 58:06 at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen on Sunday

Almgren timed his finishing surge to perfection, moving away from Kipkorir down the final stretch past Parken Stadium to claim his first global gold, adding the title to his world 10,000m bronze from Tokyo last year and the European 10,000m title he won last month.

Almgren clocked a time of 58 minutes and 6 seconds, becoming the first European winner in 30 years. The last European medalist was in 2016.

Almgren improved his own European record by 35 seconds to move into ninth on the world all-time list. He won by five seconds ahead of Kipkorir, while Uganda’s multiple Olympic and world champion Joshua Cheptegei got bronze in a PB of 58:26.

Ethiopia’s Tadese Worku finished fourth in a PB of 58:35, matching his position at the World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee in January.