Kenyan runner Charles Matata set a course record at the 21st Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon on 18 October 2026. He completed the 21.097-kilometre race in 58 minutes and 52 seconds.
Race Record and Results
Matata’s time was one second faster than the previous course record of 58 minutes and 53 seconds, set by Ethiopia’s Amedework Walelegn in 2020. The event record earned Matata an additional USD 12,000, on top of the winner’s purse of USD 27,000. His Delhi performance also improved his personal best of 59 minutes and 15 seconds, recorded at the Rimi Riga Marathon in May 2026. Kenyans finished in the top three places in the men’s elite race. Samwel Nyamai Mailu placed second in 59 minutes and 24 seconds, while Stanley Waithaka Mburu finished third in 59 minutes and 33 seconds. Matata had previously placed second at the Delhi Half Marathon in 2023, finishing in 1 hour and 5 seconds.
Half-Marathon Distance and Records
A half marathon is a road-running race covering 21.0975 kilometres, or 13.1094 miles. Its distance is half the standard marathon distance of 42.195 kilometres. The race result is measured by elapsed time, and competitive races commonly record finishing times to the second. A course record is the fastest performance recorded on a particular race course. It is distinct from a world record, which is the fastest performance recognised across eligible courses under the applicable rules. A personal best is an athlete’s fastest time at a given distance.
Event and Participation
The 2026 race was the 21st edition of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon. Participation was reported at nearly 40,000 to more than 41,000 runners. The event included a men’s elite race, in which Matata, Mailu and Mburu occupied the first three positions.
Important Facts for Exams
- The half-marathon distance is 21.0975 kilometres.
- The standard marathon distance is 42.195 kilometres.
- A course record applies to a specific course, while a world record applies across eligible courses.
- Matata’s 2026 time was one second faster than Walelegn’s 2020 Delhi course record.
Matata’s 2026 time was 58:52, and his previous personal best was 59:15. The top three finishers in the 2026 men’s elite race were all Kenyan athletes.
