Kenya secured double victory at the 2026 Cardiff Half Marathon on Sunday, 4 October, after Joyciline Jepkosgei and Gideon Kiprotich took wins in the Welsh capital.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsJepkosgei, the standout entry on the start list this year, set a course record while at it, cutting the tape in 1:05.40, to take 12 seconds off Edith Chelimo’s course record, which had stood since 2017.##NAJAVA_MECA_10003031##Kiprotich, on the other hand, fought off 2025 champion Yismaw Dillu, to storm to victory in 59:34.“I’m so grateful and happy to win this race,” 32-year-old Jepkosgei said after her win. “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. Kenyan athletes reign supreme in Kuala Lumpur MarathonThe crowds were some of the most excited I have seen, and they were across the whole course, which gave me another level of motivation," she added. "I will enjoy this win now and recover.”The race witnessed a two-horse race between Jepkosgei and Ethiopia’s Wede Kefale, until the eventual champion pushed clear with three miles to go around Roath Park Lake, en route to the record-breaking triumph.WADA boss in Kenya as country steps up fight against dopingKefale was second in 1:05.54, well clear of third-placed Tigist Tesema, who finished in 1:07.23.As for the men’s race, Kiprotich had it a little easier, as he asserted his dominance around the nine-mile point, leaving his closest challenger Dillu behind.##NAJAVA_MECA_9999600##“It feels great to win this race, there were some hard moments, but I am very happy to win,” Kiprotich said. “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.”Dillu was second in 1:00.18, with Bahraini Jonah Rutio finishing third in a time of 1:01.13.
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