Tomorrow, Saturday, the nineteenth Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon will take place, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah. Organized by the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, the event will be held on Coral Island and features four races. It will bring together elite runners with international experience and high potential.
Since its inception in 2007, the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon has gained immense popularity among runners of all levels, from amateurs to world elites. The event program includes the classic half marathon distance of 21.1 km, as well as races over 10 km, 5 km, and 2 km, suitable for athletes of all ages and abilities.
The elite race will start at 6:15 AM, followed by the other half marathon participants at 7:00 AM. Key contenders include Kenyan athletes. Their leader, Brigiton Kiprot, has been training in Addis Ababa in preparation for the upcoming event and is ready to make an impact on one of the world's fastest half marathon courses. His main rival is fellow countryman Isaiah Kiprot, who finished third in Ras Al Khaimah in 2024 and 2025 and expressed his desire to break the world record "soon." His personal best is 58:10 minutes.
They will be joined by Jamal Yerm Mekonnen, the winner of the 2024 Seoul Marathon (58:32 minutes), who has not finished outside the top three in a major race in seven years, Amdiork Waildgin, the previous winner of the Delhi Half Marathon (58:40 minutes), as well as the rising star Isma Dilo, the 20-year-old winner of the 2025 Cardiff Half Marathon in Wales (59:23 minutes).
In the women's race, Ethiopian Wede Kefele leads the list of competitors. Her participation in the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon will only be her second appearance at this distance. Her compatriot Jessica Chelangat (66:13 minutes) is also one of the runners who consistently secure top-three finishes in 10 km races and took third place in Ras Al Khaimah twelve months ago. A potential surprise could be Ethiopian runner Melal Seum, a 19-year-old who has competed in only one race outside her country, finishing second in the Delhi Half Marathon last October with a time of 67:21 minutes. The 25-year-old also delivered an outstanding performance in her first appearance, finishing third in Copenhagen last September with a time of 65:21 minutes, which reflects her strong background in road races and her notable results in the 10 km and 10,000-meter track events.
Also competing is Kenyan Gladys Chepkorui (65:46 minutes), who has focused on half marathons for the past three years, competing in 18 races at this distance and consistently achieving remarkable results. She has been victorious in Italy, Thailand, Japan, and Kenya.
The 10 km road race will start at 8:30 AM, while participants in the 5 km and 2 km races will begin at 10:00 AM. A key contender in the men's 10 km race is three-time world half marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworu with a personal best of 58:01 minutes.
