Kenya's Charles Matata sets new 2026 Delhi Half Marathon record, takes home Sh5 million cash prize

Kenyan runners sweep men’s podium as nearly 40,000 people take part in the 2026 Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon.

Kenya’s Charles Matata set a new course record to win the men’s elite race at the 2026 Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon on Sunday, while Ethiopia’s Wudinesh Alemu claimed the women’s title.

Matata, 29, completed the 21.097km race in 58 minutes and 52 seconds, improving the previous record of 58:53 set by Ethiopia’s Amedework Walelegn in 2020 by one second.

The victory also marked a personal best for Matata, who had recorded 59:15 at the Riga Half Marathon in Latvia in May. His latest achievement came despite challenging conditions, with humidity at about 90 per cent and temperatures around 21 degrees Celsius.

Matata’s performance earned him the winner’s prize of $27,000 (Sh3,512,654), along with an additional US$12,000 (Sh1,561,179) for breaking the course record. He had finished second in the Delhi race in 2023, clocking 1:00:05.

Kenya dominated the men’s competition, taking all three podium places. Samwel Nyamai Mailu finished second in 59:24, while Stanley Waithaka Mburu took third in 59:33.

Matata’s success continued a strong run of form. He won the Riga Half Marathon earlier this year and the Beijing Half Marathon in 2025. He also finished second at the Istanbul Half Marathon in April, where he and his twin brother, Alex, were both credited with a time of 60:01 after a close finish. Alex had won the Delhi title in 2025 in 59:50.

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In the women’s elite race, Alemu crossed the finish line in one hour, six minutes and 35 seconds to take the title.

Kenya’s Selah Businei finished second in 1:07:01, followed by compatriot Cynthia Chelangat Chepkwony in 1:07:32.

Indian athletes also delivered strong performances in their respective elite categories.

Shailesh Kushwaha won the Indian men’s race in 1:05:05. Gaurav Mathur finished second in 1:05:11, while Hemant Kumar placed third in 1:05:37.

In the Indian women’s competition, Ankita Dhyani took first place in 1:12:46. Soniya finished second in 1:14:56, and Bhagirathi came third in 1:15:51.

The 21st edition of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, a World Athletics Gold Label event, offered total prize money of US$275,732. The men’s and women’s winners each received US$27,000. The event is also certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races.

The top three finishers in each Indian elite category were due to receive prize money of Rs 3.5 lakh, Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 1.5 lakh, respectively.