Running News Daily

Ugandan distance-running star Deogratius Musobo delivered an impressive performance in Spain, claiming victory at the Bilbao Half Marathon with a course record and a personal milestone that makes his achievement even more remarkable.

Musobo crossed the finish line in 1:00:34, producing a commanding performance on his half marathon debut to secure the title and establish a new course record. His breakthrough victory marks an exciting moment for Ugandan road running, as he demonstrated his ability to compete at a high level over the 21.1km distance.

The race also produced a thrilling battle for the remaining podium positions, with Kenya’s Evans Kipkorir finishing just 11 seconds behind the winner. Kipkorir clocked 1:00:45, recording a personal best in an impressive display of consistency and determination.

Ethiopia’s Alemayehu Mulate Teshager completed the podium after crossing the line in 1:00:47, also achieving a personal best. The Ethiopian finished just two seconds behind Kipkorir, underlining how closely contested the fight for second place was.

The narrow margins between the three leading athletes highlighted the competitive quality of the race, with all three breaking the 61-minute barrier.

For Musobo, however, the day belonged to Uganda. To win a major road race on his debut over the half marathon distance while setting a course record is a significant achievement, offering an encouraging indication of what he could accomplish as he gains more experience over the distance.

His victory adds another memorable moment to Uganda’s growing presence in international distance running and provides fresh encouragement for the country’s athletes competing on the global road-running circuit.

With a course record already secured on his first attempt at the distance, Musobo has given himself a strong foundation for the next chapter of his career. His performance in Bilbao will be an important benchmark as he looks ahead to future challenges on the international road-running stage.

Musobo’s triumph was a proud moment for Ugandan athletics, while the personal-best performances from Kipkorir and Teshager added further quality to a memorable contest on the streets of Bilbao.

Loice Chemnung has set a new course record at the Tokyo Legacy Half Marathon leading a strong Kenyan performance.

Loice Chemnung etched her name into the record books after a stunning performance at the third edition of the Tokyo Legacy Half Marathon held on Sunday at the iconic Japan National Stadium.

The 27-year-old Kenyan long-distance runner broke the course record in style, clocking an impressive time of 1:07:27, significantly improving the previous mark and showcasing her exceptional talent.

Chemnung, who entered the race with the fastest time on paper—1:05:58, set earlier this year at the Málaga Half Marathon—lived up to expectations by leading from the front.

The 2014 World U20 5000m fifth-place finisher displayed her strength and determination as she ran a near-flawless race.

She crossed the finish line in a new course record of 1:07:27 obliterating the previous record and making her mark in the international running scene.

Her performance left a gap of almost four minutes between herself and the second-place finisher, Mao Kiyota of Japan.

Kiyota, the 2015 Asian 5000m bronze medalist, put up a valiant effort but could only manage 1:11:29, a distant second.

Meanwhile, Mongolia's Khishigsaikhan Galbadrakh rounded out the top three, clocking 1:12:12 to claim the final spot on the podium.

Chemnung’s dominance in the women's race set the tone for a thrilling day of racing but it was not just her success that stood out.

In the men's category, Kenyan runners continued their tradition of excellence. Defending champion Evans Keitany, who had won the title the previous year, saw his compatriot Amos Kurgat steal the show.

Kurgat ran a phenomenal race, clocking 59:52 and smashing the previous course record of 1:00:10, set by Vincent Kipkemoi during the inaugural race in 2022.

Kurgat’s performance was nothing short of spectacular, becoming the first man to run sub-60 minutes in the history of the event.

His victory was followed by another Kenyan, Bedan Karoki, who clocked 1:00:38 to secure second place, improving on his third-place finish from last year.

Paul Kuira, also of Kenya, came in third, crossing the line in 1:00:49. All three podium finishers managed to run faster than the previous course record, further cementing the dominance of Kenyan runners at this year's race.

Elsewhere, in Spain, Uganda’s Ezekiel Mutai won the Bilbao Half Marathon, clocking 1:01:13.

However, it was the Kenyan duo of Wilson Kiprono Too and Josphat Kiprono Menjo who grabbed headlines by finishing second and third, respectively.

Kiprono Too clocked 1:01:24, while Menjo came home in a personal best time of 1:01:28, rounding off a strong showing for Kenyan athletes on the international stage.

The women's race in Bilbao was another moment of glory for Kenya.

Purity Kajuju Gitonga, making her debut at the half marathon distance, clinched the title with an impressive time of 1:08:52.

Gitonga led a Kenyan sweep of the podium, with Sheila Cherotich finishing second in 1:10:34, and Sheila Jeruto taking third in 1:13:27.

All three athletes were racing their first half marathon and managed to dominate the field, underscoring Kenya's depth of talent in long-distance running.