Defending Champion Alemaddis Eyayu, Ethiopia’s Jemal Mekonen to Lead 20th Delhi Half Marathon

New Delhi- Defending champion Alemaddis Eyayu and fellow Ethiopian Jemal Mekonen will headline the 20th edition of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race, set for October 12.

Mekonen, part of Ethiopia’s winning squad at the 2017 World Cross Country Championships, leads the men’s elite field. Making his Indian debut, the 29-year-old brings strong credentials, including multiple sub-60-minute half marathons and a personal best of 58:33. A two-time fourth-place finisher at the World Half Marathon Championships (2018, 2023), he is also the 2018 African 10,000m champion and winner of the 2024 Seoul Marathon.

“It is my first visit to India. I have heard a lot about the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, which fellow athletes often describe as fast and fabulous,” said Mekonen.

Kenya’s challenge will be spearheaded by Benard Biwott, the 2024 Paris Marathon champion, and Paris Olympic 5000m silver medallist Ronald Kwemoi, who makes his half-marathon debut in Delhi. They will be joined by compatriot Isaac Kipkemboi.

Adding further strength to the Ethiopian line-up are Birhanu Legese, a two-time Tokyo Marathon champion with a best of 2:02:48, along with Bayelign Teshager and Melesse Birhan. The men’s field includes eight sub-60-minute runners, promising an intense contest.

In the women’s race, Eyayu will defend her crown against Kenya’s Lilian Rengeruk, a world cross-country medallist and Olympic finalist, who holds personal bests quicker than the Delhi course record of 1:04:46.

“I’m very excited to return for the 20th edition. It won’t be easy, but I look forward to pushing myself and defending my title,” Eyayu said.

Ethiopia’s Ababel Yeshanesh, former half-marathon world record holder with a best of 1:04:31, and Kenya’s Catherine Amangole, the 2023 World Half Marathon bronze medallist, add further star power.

The race carries a prize purse of USD 260,000, with equal rewards for men and women. Winners in both categories will receive USD 27,000, while second and third place finishers will earn USD 20,000 and USD 13,000, respectively. An additional USD 12,000 bonus awaits anyone breaking the event record.

Reflecting on the milestone edition, Vivek Singh, Joint Managing Director of Procam International, said: “It feels like yesterday, but we’ve already reached our 20th year. We thank our sponsors, partners, and the athletes who have continually raised the bar for this race.”

With inputs from IANS