Top international runners ready to set Delhi Half Marathon ablaze

New Delhi: Ethiopia’s Birhanu Legase Gurmesa and Kenya’s Benard Biwott have been away from races due to injuries, so when they hit the road for the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon in the Capital on Sunday, they will be fresh.

“I am in good shape. I have had a 14 year career and I continue because running is my life. I like it. Sometimes I get difficulty but it is my life,” says Birhanu, the two-time winner -- 2015 first and then in 2017.

He last competed in a marathon in March.

Birhanu is returning to India to compete for the 10th time.  One of the strongest marathon runners in the World, Birhanu, won two back-to-back titles in the Tokyo Marathon during 2019-2020 and has a personal best of 2:02:48 from Berlin, a favourite destination for the fastest marathoners.

Sharing his love of running in India, the 31-year-old Ethiopian said, “India has always been special for me. Every time I race here, I feel happy — the people, the energy, the way we’re looked after. The warmth and respect we get here make it easy to run freely, and that’s why I always perform well in India.”

“The weather has been good, so no worries.”

Biwott of Kenya, who recorded his personal best in Spain, is visiting Delhi for the first time. His last marathon was in April in Paris and he won that. However, he was injured after that. And it took months to recover.

“I feel fresh.”

He will be joined by his countryman Isaac Kipkemboi, who is poised to mount a strong challenge for a podium finish.

“My plan is simple — I’ll stay with the pack for the first half and then push hard in the second. That’s when the real race begins. The challenge is to hold your form when the legs start to tire, and that’s what I love most — testing myself when it hurts,” said Biwott.

Women’s competition

Defending champion Alemaddis Eyayu will face multiple world cross-country medallist Lilian Rengeruk in the World Athletics Gold Label Road Race.

Lilian, who had a successful outing in India last year with a memorable victory in the Bengaluru World 10K, is eyeing the women’s course record in Delhi.  Having clocked 1:03:32 in Valencia last year and being in a strong form after winning the Prague half-marathon earlier this year, the Kenyan is ready to assault the course record of 1:04:46, which has stood in the name of Ethiopian Yalemzerf Yehualaw since 2020.  A Kenyan woman won the Delhi crown last time in 2015 through Cynthia Limo.

Talking to the media on Thursday, the 28-year-old Lilian said, “Injuries remind you how much you love sport.  I had to stop training for a week, and it made me realise how much I missed running.  Now I focus on staying strong and consistent – I want to be at my best without crossing that line again”.  

Lilian recently joined Claudio Berardelli, the Italian coach, who is imparting training to Kenyan athletes with the 2028 Olympic Games in mind. 

“Every season teaches you something new. This year, I’ve learned to be patient with my body and trust the process. I come to Delhi stronger, not just physically but mentally too — ready to run with heart,” said Ethiopian Alemaddis Eyayu, who is returning to defend her crown.

Started her 2025 campaign with a victory in Hong Kong, Grace Loibach Nawowuna shared her excitement about running here. 

“It feels amazing to be in Delhi for the first time for the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon. I’ve worked hard all season, and I’m excited to see what this race brings. Every run teaches me something new, and if I can walk away with a personal best, it will be a big step forward in my journey,” revealed the young Kenyan, who missed the World Cross-country podium by just a whisker two years ago.

Tags : Delhi Half Marathon, Birhanu Legase Gurmesa, New Delhi, Benard Biwott, Alemaddis Eyayu, Lilian Rengeruk