New Delhi: In the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon 2026, Charles Matata of Kenya performed brilliantly and won the men's elite category title. Matata also set a new course record in the race held on Sunday. Ethiopia's Wudinesh Alemu achieved the distinction of becoming champion in the women's elite category. In the Indian elite category, Shailesh Kushwaha stood first among men and Ankita Dhyani stood first among women.
Five year old record broken by one second
Charles Matata completed the race in 58 minutes 52 seconds. With this, he broke the record of 58 minutes 53 seconds set in 2020 by Ethiopia's Amedevork Walelegan by one second.
On winning the title, Matata will get prize money of $27,000 i.e. about Rs 25.64 lakh. For breaking the course record, he will also be given an additional $12,000 i.e. about Rs 11.40 lakh.
Interestingly, Matata's twin brother Alex Matata had won the title in 2025 with a timing of 59 minutes 50 seconds.
Kenya's dominance in men's elite category
Kenyan runners captured the top three positions in the men's elite category. Charles Matata finished first, while Samwell Nyamai Melu finished the race in 59 minutes 24 seconds. Stanley Waithaka Mburu finished third with a time of 59 minutes 33 seconds.
Alemu won in the women's category
In the women's elite category, Ethiopia's Wudinesh Alemu won the title by completing the race in one hour, six minutes and 35 seconds. Selah Businei of Kenya finished second with a time of one hour seven minutes one second. Meanwhile, Cynthia Chelangat Chepkwoni finished the race in one hour seven minutes 32 seconds and finished third.
Shailesh and Ankita topped in Indian category
In the Indian men's elite category, Shailesh Kushwaha secured the first position with a timing of one hour five minutes five seconds. Gaurav Mathur finished the race second in one hour five minutes 11 seconds and Hemant Kumar stood third in one hour five minutes 37 seconds.
In the Indian women's elite category, Ankita Dhyani achieved the top position with a timing of one hour 12 minutes 46 seconds. Sonia stood second with a timing of 1 hour 14 minutes 56 seconds and Bhagirathi stood third with a timing of 1 hour 15 minutes 51 seconds.
Prize money of more than 2.75 lakh dollars
Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon 2026 had a total prize money of $2,75,732. The winners of the men's and women's elite categories were given $27,000 each. The top three runners in the Indian elite men's and women's categories will receive prize money of Rs 3.50 lakh, Rs 2.50 lakh and Rs 1.50 lakh respectively.
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