Kenyan Dominance at Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon: Matata and Rengeruk Crowned Champions

The 20th edition of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon witnessed a resounding display of Kenyan excellence, as Alex Matata powered through to claim the men’s title in under 60 minutes, while Lilian Rengeruk elegantly secured the women’s crown. This historic double victory marks only the second time since 2006 that Kenyan athletes have swept both elite races at this prestigious event, with each champion receiving a generous prize of US$27,000.

Alex Matata, last year’s runner-up, demonstrated exceptional race strategy. He broke away from the leading pack shortly after the 10-kilometer mark and maintained his advantage to secure an emphatic victory with a time of 59:50. Ethiopia’s Bayelign Teshager finished second in 1:00:22, just ahead of Matata’s compatriot James Kipkogei, who earned third place with 1:00:25.

For the women’s race, Lilian Rengeruk showed remarkable composure, staying with a group of half a dozen leaders, including Ethiopian talents Mulat Tekle and Melal Biratu, for much of the competition. Her decisive move came in the final stretch, where she unleashed a powerful sprint to seize the title in 1:07:20, with Melal and Mulat finishing closely behind in second and third, respectively.

Abhishek Pal Completes Hat-trick, Seema Makes a Victorious Debut

Among the Indian elite runners, Abhishek Pal continued his impressive legacy by clinching his third title at the event, following his triumphs in 2018 and 2023. In a surprising turn, Seema, participating in her debut half marathon, outperformed more experienced athletes to secure victory in the Indian women’s category. Both Pal and Seema were awarded Rs. 4,00,000 for their outstanding performances. Pal recorded a winning time of 1:04:17, while Seema crossed the finish line comfortably in 1:11:23. Pal and Kiran Matre (1:04:57) engaged in a tight contest for much of the race, but Pal’s experience ultimately proved decisive.

Complete Race Results:

• International Men:
  1. Alex Matata (Kenya): 00:59:50
  2. Bayelign Teshager (Ethiopia): 1:00:22
  3. James Kipkogei (Kenya): 1:00:25
• International Women:
  1. Lilian Rengeruk (Kenya): 1:07:20
  2. Melal Biratu (Ethiopia): 1:07:21
  3. Mulat Tekle (Ethiopia): 1:07:29
• Indian Men:
  1. Abhishek Pal: 1:04:17
  2. Kiran Mhatre: 1:04:57
  3. Kartik Karkera: 1:05:16
• Indian Women:
  1. Seema: 1:11:23
  2. Ujala: 1:15:41
  3. Sanjivani Jadhav: 1:15:52