Kenyans Jepkosgei and Kiprotich win Cardiff Half Marathon; Jepkosgei sets course record

Kenya won both elite races at the Cardiff Half Marathon on Sunday 4 October 2026. Joyciline Jepkosgei won the women's race in 1:05:39 and Gideon Kiprotich won the men's race in 59:34, according to the official results. Jepkosgei's time is a course record, Athletics Weekly reported on 4 October.

Jepkosgei beat the previous women's course record of 1:05:52, set by Edith Chelimo in 2017. Wede Kefale of Ethiopia was second and Tigist Tesema, also of Ethiopia, was third, Athletics Weekly reported.

Mozzart Sport reported that Jepkosgei broke away from Kefale near Roath Park Lake with about three miles remaining. "I'm so grateful and happy to win this race. It was a tough course but I kept fighting so I'm happy to get the victory here," she said, as quoted by Athletics Weekly on 4 October.

In the men's race, Kiprotich, 25, pulled clear around the nine-mile mark, Athletics Weekly reported. Yismaw Dillu of Ethiopia, the 2025 winner, was second in 1:00:17 and Jonah Rutio was third in 1:01:13, according to the official results.

"It feels great to win this race, there were some hard moments, but I am very happy to win," Kiprotich said, as quoted by Athletics Weekly on 4 October.

Jepkosgei finished third at the London Marathon on 26 April 2026, according to Xinhua. Her World Athletics profile lists a marathon best of 2:14:00, set on 7 December 2025.

Sam Kolek of Poland won the wheelchair race in 53:05, according to the official results.