Delhi Half Marathon 2026: Record-breaker Matata, Alemu bag top honours; Shailesh, Ankita best among Indians

Kenya’s Charles Matata bettered by one second the previous course record of 58:53 set by Ethiopia’s Amedework Walelegn in 2020.

Updated : Oct 18, 2026 09:47 IST , New Delhi - 2 MINS READ

FILE PHOTO: Matata had finished second in the 2023 edition of this marathon. | Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP

Kenya’s Charles Matata shattered the course record to win the men’s elite race at the Delhi Half Marathon, while Ethiopia’s Wudinesh Alemu took the women’s crown on Sunday.

Matata clocked 58 minutes and 52 seconds to better by one second the previous course record of 58:53 set by Ethiopia’s Amedework Walelegn in 2020. He will pocket an additional USD 12,000 (Rs 11,39,586) for breaking the event record, besides the winner’s purse of USD 27,000 (Rs 25,64,068).

Matata’s twin brother, Alex Matata, had won the 2025 edition with a time of 59 minutes and 50 seconds.

Kenyans swept the top three positions in the men’s elite race, with Samwel Nyamai Mailu (59:24) and Stanley Waithaka Mburu (59:33) finishing second and third, respectively.

In the women’s elite race, Alemu clocked one hour, six minutes and 35 seconds to win the title. Kenyans Selah Businei (1:07:01) and Cynthia Chelangat Chepkwony (1:07:32) finished second and third, respectively.

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Shailesh Kushwaha won the men’s Indian elite race with a time of one hour, five minutes and five seconds, while Gaurav Mathur (1:05:11) and Hemant Kumar (1:05:37) finished second and third, respectively.

Among Indian elite women, Ankita Dhyani took the top spot with a time of one hour, 12 minutes and 46 seconds, while Soniya (1:14:56) and Bhagirathi (1:15:51) finished second and third, respectively.

The 2026 edition of the Delhi Half Marathon offered a total prize purse of USD 275,732, with the men’s and women’s winners each receiving USD 27,000.

The top three finishers in the Indian elite men’s and women’s categories will receive Rs 3,50,000, Rs 2,50,000 and Rs 1,50,000, respectively.

Over 40,000 participants hit the streets of the national capital for the World Athletics Gold Label Race.

The event featured a revised route, with all major races, including the Half Marathon and the Open 10K, starting and finishing at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

Published on Oct 18, 2026

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