Delhi Half Marathon: Matata wins in 58 min 52 sec, Alemu takes women's race

Charles Mbatha Matata won the Delhi Half Marathon on Sunday 18 October. The Kenyan finished in 58 min 52 sec, ahead of two compatriots. Ethiopia's Wudinesh Alemu won the women's race in 1:06:35.

Winner in Riga in May, Charles Mbatha Matata has improved his time again in Delhi. The Kenyan covered the 21.097 km in 58 min 52 sec this Sunday, 18 October, 23 seconds faster than the 59 min 15 sec of his win in Latvia. The two courses differ, but his Delhi time is quicker.

In Delhi, Matata finished ahead of Samwel Nyamai Mailu and Stanley Waithaka Mburu, giving Kenya the top three places in the men's race. Birhanu Legese is fourth in the provisional standings.

Dipping under 59 minutes after Riga

The win in Riga on 17 May had already marked a milestone for Matata. He beat James Kipkogei and Benson Tunyo Murkomen there, on an all-Kenyan podium. His time of 59 min 15 sec was then five seconds off the best mark on the Latvian course.

Five months later, Delhi allows him to go under 59 minutes. As in Riga, he has a lead of more than half a minute over the runner-up, here on net time. The standings remain provisional pending the final results.

Alemu wins ahead of two Kenyans

The women's victory goes to Wudinesh Alemu Keneni. The Ethiopian finished in 1:06:35 on gun time. Selah Jepleting Busienei and Cynthia Chelangat Chepkwony fill the other two places on the provisional podium.

Why two times can appear for the same runner

Matata is also credited with 58 min 50 sec in net time. For Alemu, that time is 1:06:32. These figures are net times, measured between the chip crossing the start and finish lines. The gun times are 58 min 52 sec and 1:06:35.

That distinction explains the two-second gap for Matata and the three-second gap for Alemu. It makes it possible to read the results without mistaking a difference in timing method for a change of winner.

File photo — Charles Mbatha Matata wins the Riga Half Marathon on 17 May 2026. Guntis Bērziņš / Rimi Riga Marathon. This photograph does not show the Delhi race of 18 October 2026.