By Admin 
It was a Kenyan sweep of titles at the 20th Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, with experienced Alex Matata going under 60 minutes to take the men’s crown and Lilian Rengeruk winning among the women on Sunday.
This is only the second time that Kenya has won both men’s and women’s events in the same edition after Francis Kibiwott and Lineth Chepkurui way back in the second edition in 2006, the winners being richer by US$ 27,000 each.
Lilian Kasait Rengeruk celebrates after winning the women’s elite race in the 20th edition of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon 2025, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Sunday, October 12, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR
Matata, runner-up last year behind Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei, broke off soon after the 10k mark and stayed ahead of the rest of the pack all through for an easy win in 59:50. Compatriot James Kipkogei finished third in 60:25 while Ethiopia’s Bayelign Teshager (60:22) was second.
In contrast, Lilian kept pace with half a dozen runners in the leaders group, including Ethiopians Mulat Tekle and Melal Biratu, for most of the race before adding extra pace to sprint past her competitors in the final stretch and claim the title in 1:07:20, ahead of Melal and Mulat in second and third respectively.
Abhishek Pal, centre, Kiran Matre, right, and Kartik Karkera after finishing first, second and third respectively in the Indian category of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon 2025, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Sunday, October 12, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR
Abishek completes hat-trick
Among the elite Indians, Abhishek Pal continued his dominance in the event to win his third title after 2018 and 2023 while Seema, in her event debut, surprised the more-experienced field to win among the elite Indian women to pocket Rs. 4,00,000 each.
While Abhishek Pal won in 1:04:17, Seema clocked 1:11:23 for a comfortable victory. Staying close for much of the course, Pal and Kiran Matre (1:04:57) pushed each other before Pal relied on his experience to move ahead.
Gold medalist Seema, silver medalist Ujala and bronze medalist Sanjivani Jadhav during the presentation ceremony of the women’s Indian category of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon 2025, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Sunday, October 12, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR
The results: International: Men: 1. Alex Matata (Ken, 00:59:50), 2. Bayelign Teshager (Eth, 1:00:22), 3. James Kipkogei (Ken, 1:00:25). Women: 1. Lilian Rengeruk (Ken, 1:07:20), 2. Melal Biratu (Eth, 1:07:21), 3. Mulat Tekle (Eth, 1:07:29).
Indian: Men: 1. Abhishek Pal (1:04:17), 2. Kiran Mhatre (1:04:57), 3. Kartik Karkera (1:05:16); Women: 1. Seema (1:11:23), 2. Ujala (1:15:41), 3. Sanjivani Jadhav (1:15:52).