Kiplangat, Jelimo win Betika Uasin Gishu Half Marathon

Erick Kiplangat and Milicent Jelimo claimed victory in the men's and women's categories of the Betika Uasin Gishu Half Marathon, which took place in Eldoret on Sunday. Kiplangat showcased a strong performance, crossing the finish line in 1:01:07, just behind Kenneth Kiprono who finished second in 1:01:14. Gilbert Kipkosgei secured the third spot in 1:01:22, while Stephen Chebon and John Mwaniki rounded out the top five with times of 1:01:25 and 1:01:26 respectively.

Kiplangat expressed his excitement about competing in the Uasin Gishu Half Marathon for the first time, stating that he had conserved his energy for a strong finish which ultimately led to his triumph. In the women's race, Jelimo emerged as the champion, finishing in 1:10:25, narrowly edging out Tabitha Njeri, who crossed the line two seconds later in 1:10:27.

The winners each earned Ksh 300,000, while the second-place finishers in both races took home Ksh 200,000. Third-place finishers received Ksh 100,000, with fourth, fifth, and sixth-place runners earning Ksh 50,000, Ksh 40,000, and Ksh 30,000 respectively. Those who finished seventh through tenth each received Ksh 20,000.

Over 1,000 athletes participated in this year's race, which also featured a Masters category for competitors aged 55 and above. The Betika Uasin Gishu Half Marathon continues to gain prominence on Kenya's domestic athletics calendar, drawing strong fields to Eldoret, a region known for its rich distance-running tradition. This marks the fourth staging of the event, with organizers highlighting the increasing participation numbers each year as proof of its growing significance among Kenya's road-running fixtures.