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Sheila Chelang’at won the Istanbul Half Marathon in a race in which Kenya claimed the first two podium spots on Sunday, April 28, 2024.

Chelang’at took the first position after running in 1 hour, 6 minutes, and 46 seconds, with her compatriot Miriam Chebet claiming the second spot in 1 hour, 7 minutes, and 11 seconds. 

Ethiopian athlete Zewditu Aderaw was third after clocking 1 hour, 8 minutes, and 16 seconds.

According to the organizers, the event also served as the Turkish Half Marathon Championship, with Ali Kaya claiming the top spot among Turkish men with a time of 1 hour, 2 minutes, and 42 seconds, and Ozlem Kaya Alıcı emerging as the fastest Turkish woman with a time of 1 hour, 13 minutes, and 32 seconds.

Meanwhile, in the elite men’s race, Hicham Amghar of Morocco claimed victory with a remarkable time of 59 minutes and 46 seconds.

Ethiopia’s Dinkalem Ayele took second place after completing the race in 59 minutes and 53 seconds, while Gemechu Bute, another Ethiopian, secured the third spot with a time of 1 hour and 2 seconds.

The Istanbul Half Marathon drew participants from 72 different countries, and nearly 14,000 athletes took on the challenging 10-kilometer and 21-kilometer courses, making it one of the world’s top 11 ‘Gold Label’ half marathons.

Meanwhile, Naomi Chebet was the winner of the Madrid Marathon after clocking 2:26:20 on Sunday.

This is another remarkable achievement for Chebet, who won the Nairobi City Marathon in 2023.

Bontu Bekele from Ethiopia was second after finishing behind Chebet in 2:27:04. The third spot on the podium was claimed by another Ethiopian, Kebne Chala, who ran the race in 2:27:30. 

Ayantu Abdi clocked 2:29:05 to finish fourth ahead of Kenya’s Betty Chepkorir, who ran in 2:29:12.

Ethiopia’s Mitku Tafa ran in 2:08:58 to win the men’s race ahead of his compatriot Fikre Bekele, who completed the race and clocked 2:09:09.
Douglas Chebii from Kenya was third with a timing of 2:09:11, ahead of Gaddisa Tafa Dekebe (2:09:52), Musa Mitei (2:10:26), and Embay Goitom (2:11:37).