Kenyans reign supreme in Delhi Half Marathon
Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 12.10.25. | 17:26
The duo won in contrasting fashion to cash in 3.4 million shillings
Kenya enjoyed a field day at the 20th edition of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon after two of its athletes - Alex Matata and Lilian Kasait - took top honors on Sunday, 12 October.
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Looking to make up for his second-place finish at last year’s event, 27-year-old Matata broke away from the lead group early to take a commanding victory in 59:50, while Kasait wrestled Ethiopia’s Melal Biratu to sneak to a win in 1:07:20.
The two victories made it the second time,in the event’s history, that Kenyan runners won both men's and women's titles in the same edition.
The other time was in 2006, when Francis Kibiwott and Lineth Chepkurui became the first ones to achieve such honours.
Matata, who has a 59:20 personal best in the half marathon, hit the first 10 kilometres alongside his teammate Reuben Rono in 28:43, followed by a group of six other runners.
It did not take long for the leader to stamp his authority however, as he ran a blistering second half of the race to wrap up his fifth half-marathon win this year.
Alex Matata reigns supreme 🔥
— Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon (@DelhiHM_) October 12, 2025
🇰🇪 Kenya’s powerhouse claims GOLD in the International Elite Men’s category (21.097km) at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon.
🥇Provisional timing: 59:50* pic.twitter.com/NgiM0Jgrbb
Ethiopia’s Bayelign Teshager finished second in 60:22, while Kenyan James Kipkogei took third spot in 60:25.
Speaking after the win, Matata, who missed out on the 58:53 course record, said: “This might be my best race of the season. The course record was not on my mind coming here, the only goal was to win the race, and I ran without any pressure, which was not the case last year.”
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Kasait would have hoped to win with similar ease, but used her experience to hold her own in a closely contested women’s race, which saw her run much of it in a pack of three.
Flanked by Ethiopians Mulat Tekle and Biratu, the 28-year-old covered the 10K mark in 32:10, before 2023 World Half-Marathon bronze medalist Catherine Amangole increased her pace to join them briefly, then faded away after taking them through 15K at 48:11.
Lilian Kasait Rengeruk blazes through Delhi in the International Elite Women's category (21.097km) 🙌
— Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon (@DelhiHM_) October 12, 2025
🇰🇪 Another Kenyan GOLD at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon!
🥇Provisional timing: 1:07:20* pic.twitter.com/Sz80R8JGKG
The close race would go till the final stretch at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, when produced the late surge to win ahead of a hundredth of a second ahead of Biratu, who crossed the line in 1:07:21. Tekle wrapped up the podium places, clocking 1:07:29.
Each winner was awarded US$27,000 (Ksh3,475,440) from the total prize pot.
