Charles Matata Breaks Course Record at Delhi Half Marathon
Kenya's Charles Matata made history at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon on Sunday, breaking the course record in the men's elite race with a stunning time of 58 minutes and 52 seconds. This performance not only secured him victory but also surpassed the previous record of 58:53 set by Ethiopia's Amedework Walelegn in 2020. Matata's achievement earns him a bonus of USD 12,000 in addition to the winner's purse of USD 27,000, totaling over Rs 36 lakh for his remarkable feat.
In a race dominated by Kenyan athletes, Matata's twin brother, Alex Matata, previously won the 2025 edition with a time of 59 minutes and 50 seconds. Following Charles in the men's elite race were fellow Kenyans Samwel Nyamai Mailu, who finished second in 59:24, and Stanley Waithaka Mburu, who took third place with a time of 59:33.
The women's elite race also saw impressive performances, with Ethiopia's Wudinesh Alemu claiming the title in one hour, six minutes, and 35 seconds. Kenyan runners Selah Businei and Cynthia Chelangat Chepkwony followed closely, finishing second and third with times of 1:07:01 and 1:07:32, respectively.
Indian Elite Runners Shine in Competition
In the Indian elite categories, Shailesh Kushwaha emerged victorious in the men's race with a time of one hour, five minutes, and five seconds, while Gaurav Mathur and Hemant Kumar completed the podium in 1:05:11 and 1:05:37. Among the Indian elite women, Ankita Dhyani took the top spot with a time of one hour, 12 minutes, and 46 seconds, followed by Soniya and Bhagirathi, who finished in 1:14:56 and 1:15:51, respectively.
The Home Straight
The 2026 edition of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon featured a total prize purse of USD 275,732, with the winners in both the men's and women's categories each receiving USD 27,000. Additionally, the top three finishers in the Indian elite categories were awarded cash prizes of Rs 3,50,000, Rs 2,50,000, and Rs 1,50,000, enhancing the competitive spirit of the event.
This year’s marathon not only highlighted the exceptional athletic prowess of the participants but also underscored the growing prominence of the Delhi Half Marathon in the international running calendar. As runners from various backgrounds and nationalities converged for this event, it reinforced the significance of distance running as a unifying sport.
