Keitany, the 2009 world half marathon champion, clocked 1:05.50 in perfect conditions to eclipse Lornah Kiplagat's 2007 record set at the world half marathon championships in Udine, Italy.

"I'm so delighted with her performance," Keitany's Italian manager Gianni Demadonna said.

"Even though we knew she could achieve it, we did not state that she was going for it before the race since we do not like putting our athletes under pressure to perform." The 29-year-old Keitany, third in the New York marathon last year, is set to compete in the London marathon on April 17.

"Our plan is to make her a marathoner to win the Olympic title in 2012 (in London) and capable of doing 2:18," said Demadonna.

"We planned for her to do one half marathon before the London Marathon in April where we are targeting a 2:25 performance and she in on course for that." Keitany took home a bonus of $50,000 for setting the world record on top of her $25,000 first place prize money.