58:53 … thats the time Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya took to complete the half marathon distance of 21.097 kms, and break the existing record of the great Haile Gebrselassie, who ran 58:55 in Phoenix, Arizona on 15 January 2006 (source iaaf.org). The record was set in the Ras Al Khaimah International Half Marathon in the United Arab Emirates on February 9th. This race also saw the third best time ever in a half marathon, recorded by another Kenyon, Patrick Makau. who finished second in 59:13.
The 20 year old Wanjiru in fact held this record at 59:16 before Gebraselassie broke it in 2006.