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 on 4 October 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, Xinhua reported on 27 April. 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.