Ugandan Olympian Joshua Cheptegei showcased his world-class talent as he claimed victory in the men’s race at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, while Ethiopia’s Alemaddis Eyayu stunned the field with a surprise win in the women’s race, beating pre-race favorite Cynthia Limo.
The World Athletics Gold Label Road Race, held in India’s capital, provided thrilling performances from some of the globe’s top distance runners.
The men’s race kicked off with Kenya’s Alex Matata, 27, taking an early lead and setting the pace for much of the course. Matata, who had been unbeaten in three European races earlier this year, including two sub-60-minute finishes, was expected to deliver another strong performance.
Running alongside him was his teammate Nicholas Kipkorir, competing in his first international half marathon after securing a bronze medal in the 5 km World Championships last year.
As the race neared its climax at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, where it had begun less than an hour earlier, Matata still led the pack. However, just seconds behind him was the ever-dangerous Cheptegei. In a thrilling finale, the Ugandan surged past Matata in the final stretch to claim victory with a time of 59 minutes and 46 seconds. Matata followed closely, finishing in 59:53, and Kipkorir completed the podium with a time of 59:59, marking a high-caliber finish with all top three athletes breaking the one-hour mark.
Cheptegei, a multiple world title holder, was elated with his performance. “This win in Delhi is special to me because it is my first-ever victory in a Half Marathon. India has been important for my career, and this country now means a lot to me,” he said. “I felt good throughout the race despite the slow start. My first aim was to catch up with Nicholas (Kipkorir) and then Alex (Matata) in the final few kilometers of the race. I am delighted with my performance and hope to continue in the same manner in future races.”
Reflecting on the challenging nature of the race, Cheptegei shared how he faced a brief scare around the 16-17 km mark. “I felt some problems in my feet, but I decided to push and catch up with Nicholas, and for about two kilometers, we pushed each other. I took it slow because I didn’t want to burn out, and I wanted to finish strong. Now I go back home with a feeling to conquer the roads.”
The men’s race was fiercely contested, with Ethiopia’s former world champion Muktar Edris finishing fifth in 60:52 and Tanzania’s Alphonce Simbu securing fourth place with a time of 60:40.
The women’s race saw a stunning upset as Ethiopia’s Alemaddis Eyayu outpaced Kenya’s Cynthia Limo, who had returned to Delhi as the pre-race favorite after winning the event in 2015. Limo, known for her strong performance in the 2016 World Half Marathon Championships, led the pack from the start, with Scotland’s Commonwealth Champion Eilish McColgan trailing behind. McColgan, the only woman in the field with a sub-66-minute time, was expected to challenge for the title, but the race soon became a duel between Limo and Eyayu.
Running in tandem for much of the course, Eyayu and Limo passed the 10K mark together and remained the sole leaders. However, Eyayu began to pull ahead in the second half, creating a crucial 10-15 second gap that proved decisive. She crossed the finish line in 68 minutes and 17 seconds, with Limo following closely behind at 68:27. Tiruye Mesfin of Ethiopia claimed third place with a time of 69:42, while McColgan finished fourth at 69:55, just missing the podium.
“I had a good race, tried to keep my pace, and aimed to finish well. I am happy to have achieved it,” Eyayu said after her victory, extending Ethiopia’s winning streak at the Delhi event.
Cynthia Limo, though not the winner, expressed pride in her second-place finish. “Securing second place is incredible, one that fills me with pride. The atmosphere was electric, with people lining the streets and cheering us. It’s heartwarming to see how the city comes together. This experience has been truly special; the support from the spectators, their enthusiasm, and the overall energy of the event have made this return to Delhi unforgettable,” Limo said.
The Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, known for its fast course and strong competition, once again delivered thrilling results, adding another chapter to its storied history. With a total prize purse of USD 260,000, the podium finishers in both the men’s and women’s races took home USD 27,000, USD 20,000, and USD 13,000, respectively. As the athletes turn their attention to future races, this year’s edition will be remembered for its nail-biting finishes and the rising stars of long-distance running, led by Cheptegei and Eyayu.
