Chipangama's Half-Marathon record... Estwanik's see-saw battle

Jordan Chipangama stole the show as the Bermuda Marathon Weekend reached a thrilling climax on Front Street this morning.

Zambian Chipangama followed up his 10k win on Saturday with a sensational run in the Half-Marathon, breaking the course record set in 2008 by six seconds in a time of one hour, four minutes and 21 seconds.

Kenyan Kiplagat Cheptoo held off local runner Chris Estwanik to claim second in 1:06.39, with Estwanik just four seconds behind.

The women’s Half-Marathon was won by Lauren Hagens, of the US, in 1:18.08, with Kenya’s Lilian Mariita in second (1:22.41) and Bermuda’s Ashley Estwanik third (1:22.54).

For Chris Estwanik his see-saw battle for second with Cheptoo was further confirmation he is returning to his best after the right knee injury that ruled him out of May 24.

He told the Bermuda Sun: “I competed really hard with the guy in second and we kind of battled to the finish line.

"In fact we were racing over eight miles, so it was nice to have the company and get that competitive instinct going again because that’s one thing that as you get older, you forget.

“Blood, sweat and tears used to be the name of the game when I was younger but you start to lose that competitive spirit. I came down on the losing end of it this time, he out-kicked me at the end but it will be better for me the next time I have to do that.

“I was six or seven seconds slower than last year and that was my best so to put it all in context I’m frustrated because I’m a perfectionist and I know that I wasn’t 100 per cent but to be running close to my best time at not 100 per cent I have to be thrilled about that.”

Estwanik says May 24 and the New York Marathon on November 2 are his main goals for 2014 but he knows he has to keep working on the knee to get himself back in prime condition.

He said: “I’m still favouring the left side a little bit so I have to work on that. It’s a tedious little injury that has wreaked havoc on my ability to train consistently but I think I am at that stage in my career where I’m really strong and able to get through injury but in order to get myself back to 100 per cent I really need to focus on my core strength and do a lot of physio over the next three months to get myself back.

“I was a little nervous today to see how the body would hold up over a longer distance but it was so far so good. The next thing is whether I can handle a marathon again.”