How returning to RAK after 13 Years is special for Kamworor’s London Marathon bid
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Reading Time: 3min | Fri. 13.02.26. | 19:00
Gladys Chepkurui leads the Kenyan charge for the title, in a field headlined by newcomer Ethiopian Wede Kafale
Thirteen years since conquering the Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Half Marathon, seven-time Abbott World Marathon Majors podium finisher and two-time TCS New York City Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor returns to a race dear to him chasing victory on the Valentine's Day race.
Kamworor achieved his breakthrough when he won the RAK in 2013, smashing his personal best (PB) by over half a minute with 58:54.
Six years later, he broke the half-marathon world record with a PB of 58:01 in Copenhagen, which makes him the eighth fastest half-marathon runner of all time and the fastest on the 2026 RAK start list.
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Held under the patronage of Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, the 19th RAK is going all-in on island vibes.
All four race routes are set exclusively on Al Marjan Island, which means runners will be clocking kilometres with uninterrupted coastal views, ocean breezes, and some serious “pause-the-watch-for-a-photo” moments.
He heads to Saturday's race as the quickest on paper, but his focus is more on preparations for the London Marathon.
"I won here 13 years ago, so I have great memories of this fast course, and I would love to win again this weekend,” Kamworor told organisers.
Fellow Kenyan Isaia Lasoi, third in RAK in both 2024 and 2025, will challenge Kamworor, his focus on breaking the world record ‘soon’ likely to push him beyond his 58:10 PB.
The duo's closest competition comes from 2021 Boston Marathon bronze medalist and 2024 Seoul Marathon winner, Ethiopia's Jemal Yimer Mekonen, a 58:33 runner in the half-marathon, a mark he carries from 2018 in Valencia. In seven years, he has only once finished outside the top three in a major race.
Also in the race for the title is Kenyan counterpart Brian Kibor, fresh from winning the Mitja Marató Internacional, Santa Pola.
His PB of 58:39 set in Valencia on 26 October last year makes him a real threat.
Two other Ethiopian runners, Amedework Walelegn Tadese (58:40), a former New Delhi Half Marathon winner, and upcoming star 20-year-old Yismaw Dillu, winner of the 2025 Cardiff Half Marathon in Wales (59:23), are also in the mix.
Leading the women’s field is Ethiopian Wede Kafale, whose appearance at the RAK Half Marathon will be only her second competition at the distance.
The 25-year-old produced a fine debut performance when she was third in Copenhagen last September with 65:21, although it was not a surprise since she has a good cross-country background and achieved some fine results over 10k and 10,000m on the track.
Also in the field is Kenyan Gladys Chepkurui (65:46), who has focused on the half-marathon over the past three years, competing 18 times over the distance, consistently producing strong results and winning in Italy, Thailand, Japan and Kenya.
Her compatriot Jesca Chelangat (66:13) is another consistent top-three finisher at 10km and was third in RAK twelve months ago.
Should the race produce a surprise contender, it could well come in the shape of 19-year-old Melal Siyoum.
The Ethiopian teenager has competed in just one race outside her home country, finishing runner-up in a highly competitive event at the New Delhi Half Marathon last October in 67:21.
Since then, she has focused on training in Addis Ababa for her next outing, and she could be ready to make an impact on one of the world’s fastest half-marathon courses.
