It’s been another momentous day in the Welsh capital as thousands of runners took part in an annual event
It was another record-breaking Cardiff Half Marathon on Sunday (Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)
A Cardiff Half Marathon course record was smashed on Sunday by a woman who was already a record-breaker. Kenyan athlete Joyciline Jepkosgei had already conquered the London, New York and Valencia marathons, when she ran through the streets of Cardiff on Sunday.
Jepkosgei, the first woman in history to run under 65 minutes, crossed the finish line in 1:05:40 to take 12 seconds off Edith Chelimo’s course record, which had stood since 2017. See all the best pictures and updates from the race here.
The 32-year-old said the Cardiff crowds were some of the most excited she had ever seen, with thousands gathering to cheer on the participants in the sunshine. The Kenyan said these crowds gave her the motivation she needed to smash the record.
It was a two-horse race between Jepkosgei and Ethiopia’s Wede Kefale in the women’s race until the eventual champion pushed clear en route to a record-breaking triumph.
“I’m so grateful and happy to win this race,” she said. “It was a tough course but I kept fighting so I’m happy to get the victory here.
“I enjoyed it out there but there were some hills, especially near the end, which made it tough, but coming down the last straight and getting the win was special. The crowds were some of the most excited I have seen and they were across the whole course, which gave me another level of motivation. I will enjoy this win now and recover.”
Kefale’s PB was also inside the long-standing Cardiff course record, but Jepkosgei surged clear with three miles to go around Roath Park Lake and maintained control as she headed back into the city centre to set the new benchmark.
In the men’s race, Gideon Kiprotich made it a Kenyan double after fighting off 2025 champion Yismaw Dillu. Despite having to settle for second, Dillu’s 59:22 course record survived as Kiprotich stormed to victory in 59:34.
The 25-year-old dipped under 59 minutes in Rome last year and asserted his dominance in the Welsh capital, leaving Dillu behind around the nine-mile point after reaching it in 40:35.
It was a procession for Kiprotich from that point on as he surged down King Edward VII Avenue to take the title. Never miss a Cardiff story by signing up to our daily newsletter here
He said: “It feels great to win this race, there were some hard moments, but I am very happy to win. I felt good so I got quicker in the second half of the race and I am happy I could keep the pace to win. I enjoyed the crowds too, it was a good day.”
The wheelchair competitions kicked off proceedings for the tens of thousands of participants on Sunday beneath the imposing presence of Cardiff Castle, with Sam Kolek knocking three minutes off his personal Cardiff Half Marathon best to win the race in 53:05 after his nearest rival JohnBoy Smith was forced to pull out after suffering a puncture.
The 2026 Cardiff Half Marathon results in full:
Men
- Gideon Kiprotich- 59:34
- Yismaw Dillu – 1:00:18
- Jonah Rutio – 1:01:13
- Simon Maywa – 1:01:36
- Gemechu Tolosa – 1:01:51
Women
- Joyciline Jepkosgei (Kenya) — 1:05:40
- Wede Kefale (Ethiopia) — 1:05:54
- Tigist Tesema (Ethiopia) — 1:07:23
- Winnie Kimutai (Kenya) — 1:07:50
- Emebet Kebede (Ethiopia) — 1:09:45
Wheelchair
- Sam Kolek (Poland, Kirby AC) — 53:05
- Mel Nicholls (Great Britain, Coventry Godiva) — 1:07:04
- Xander Foster (Weir Archer Academy) — 1:08:09
- Owain Terrell (Great Britain, Newport Harriers) — 1:15:32
- Claire Howard (Cambridge & Coleridge AC) — 1:32:10
