Germany’s Esther Pfeiffer blazed to victory in the women’s race at the Köln Half Marathon on Sunday (5) in 1:07.28, the third fastest time by a European this year.
It slashed nearly two minutes from her previous lifetime best of 1:09:15 and provides some consolation after she failed to finish at the inaugural European Running Championships in Brussels-Leuven in April.
"I'm super happy it worked out. Even the training went well, so I was aiming for a time under 68 minutes," said Pfeiffer whose next goal is the Valencia Half Marathon on 26 October.
The 28-year-old Pfeiffer is now 17th in the all-time European lists and the third fastest German ever behind former world silver medallist Melat Yisak Kejeta (1:05:18) and former European 5000m champion Konstanze Klosterhalfen (1:05.41).
Germany’s Jona Bodirsky won the men’s race in 1:03:11.