New Delhi
Joshua Cheptegei won the men’s race, while Alemaddis Eyayu took the women’s crown at the Delhi Half Marathon on Sunday. Cheptegei finished with a time of 59:46, overtaking Kenya’s Alex Matata (59:53) in a thrilling finish. Nicholas Kipkorir of Kenya finished third with a time of 59:59.
Cheptegei, an Olympian, called his first half-marathon win in India a special achievement, noting the strong competition and a challenging start to the race.
In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Eyayu defeated pre-race favorite Cynthia Limo from Kenya, clocking 68:17. Limo, who led for most of the race, finished second at 68:27, while Tiruye Mesfin of Ethiopia took third with 69:42.
Sawan Barwal won the Indian Elite Men’s category with a time of 1:02:46, outpacing Puneet Yadav, who finished second. Barwal, who previously earned a bronze in 2023, made a strong push in the final kilometers to secure gold.
In the Indian Elite Women’s category, Lili Das claimed gold in her debut race with a time of 1:18:12. Last year’s winner, Kavita Yadav, came in second, finishing in 1:19:44, followed by Priti Lamba in third place at 1:20:21. Lili overcame cramps in the final stretch, making her victory even more rewarding.
The total prize pool for the race was $260,000, with the top male and female finishers taking home $27,000 each.
