Taferi completed the demanding 42.195-kilometer route from Marathon to Athens 31 seconds faster than the previous record of 2:10:34, which had been established by Kenya's Edwin Kiptoo in 2023.

The champion entered the venue, also known as Kallimarmaro, to enthusiastic applause from spectators while smiling as traditional Greek music played throughout the stadium.

His performance was particularly notable given the course's challenging hills, which make the Athens competition considerably more demanding than many of the world's leading city marathons.

Taferi faced strong competition from compatriot Assefa Tefera Mengisa, who finished second in 2:10:18, finishing just 15 seconds behind the winner and also dipping under the previous course mark.

Kenya's Patrick Keter Kiplagat secured third place in 2:11:22, followed by fellow Kenyan Vincent Kipsang Rono in 2:12:06 on the iconic Greek course.

Eritrea's Nguse Amlosom Tesfaldet completed the top five in 2:12:20, while Kenya's Victor Kipkech Bigwot and Ethiopia's Adane Nega finished sixth and seventh.

Greece's Konstantinos Stamoulis was the first Greek male athlete to finish, placing eighth overall in 2:17:37 to earn the national marathon championship title.

Ethiopia also dominated the women's race as Yatane Kormose Dusa claimed victory in 2:30:04, breaking the previous women's course record of 2:31:06 set by Lithuania's Rasa Drazdauskaite in 2010.

Fellow Ethiopian Tsiyon Abebe Temesgen finished second in the women's event in 2:30:29, followed by American Jane Chemkemboy Bareikis in 2:32:59.

Greece's Stamatia Noula set a national record for the historic course by finishing sixth overall among women in 2:35:13, surpassing the previous Greek mark held by Maria Polyzou.

Earlier in the supporting events, Panagiotis Petroulakis won the men's 10-kilometer race in a record 29:40, while Anastasia Marinakou claimed her sixth consecutive women's victory in the shorter distance.

This year's event established a new participation record with 85,000 registrations across the races held during the weekend, according to the Hellenic Athletics Federation.

Approximately 25,000 runners registered for the full marathon, while thousands more participated in the five-kilometer and 10-kilometer races, university competitions and shorter events.

Organizers reported participants from 125 countries, highlighting the growing international appeal of the historic race that follows the route associated with the ancient Greek messenger.

The impressive triumph shaved a single second off the previous benchmark of 58:53, which had been established by Ethiopian runner Amedework Walelegn back in the 2020 edition of the race. Matata's stellar achievement added his name to the illustrious history of the World Athletics Gold Label event.

In addition to the winner's standard prize purse of USD 27,000, which translates to roughly Rs 25,64,068, the record-breaking Kenyan earned an additional bonus of USD 12,000, amounting to about Rs 11,39,586. His victory continues a remarkable family legacy in the event, as his twin brother, Alex Matata, had secured the crown in the 2025 race with a time of 59 minutes and 50 seconds. Furthermore, Charles Matata had previously finished as the runner-up in the 2023 edition of the celebrated marathon.

The men's elite podium turned into a complete sweep for Kenya as compatriots followed closely behind the champion. Samwel Nyamai Mailu secured the runner-up spot by clocking 59 minutes and 24 seconds, while Stanley Waithaka Mburu rounded out the top three with a time of 59 minutes and 33 seconds.

Meanwhile, the women's elite race produced a thrilling contest that ultimately favored Ethiopia. Wudinesh Alemu claimed the top honors by completing the distance in one hour, six minutes and 35 seconds, demonstrating superior stamina and pace throughout the testing course.

Alemu's victory was chased closely by a strong contingent of Kenyan athletes who filled the remaining podium positions. Selah Businei secured second place with a time of one hour, seven minutes and one second, while Cynthia Chelangat Chepkwony took third place after finishing in one hour, seven minutes and 32 seconds.

In the domestic categories, Shailesh Kushwaha emerged as the leading performer in the men's Indian elite race. He crossed the finish line in one hour, five minutes and five seconds to claim the national top spot.

Gaurav Mathur followed in second position with a time of one hour, five minutes and 11 seconds, while Hemant Kumar secured third place by finishing in one hour, five minutes and 37 seconds. These runners demonstrated the rising depth of distance running talent within the country.

Among the Indian elite women, Ankita Dhyani delivered a stellar performance to capture the top position. She stopped the clock at one hour, twelve minutes and 46 seconds to claim the coveted domestic crown.

Soniya secured the second position among the Indian women with a time of one hour, fourteen minutes and 56 seconds, while Bhagirathi completed the podium by taking third place in one hour, fifteen minutes and 51 seconds.

The 2026 edition of the Delhi Half Marathon featured a substantial total prize purse of USD 275,732 across its various categories. Under the tournament payout structure, the top three finishers in the Indian elite men's and women's divisions are slated to receive Rs 3,50,000, Rs 2,50,000, and Rs 1,50,000 respectively.

Beyond the elite competitions, the event witnessed massive public engagement with over 40,000 participants taking to the streets of New Delhi. Runners of all backgrounds enjoyed the atmosphere of the World Athletics Gold Label Race, which is a major fixture in the regional sporting calendar.

Organizers implemented a revised route for this year's running festival to accommodate the large number of entrants and improve traffic flow. All the major races, including the prestigious Half Marathon and the Open 10K, successfully utilized the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium as their starting and finishing point.

The smooth execution of the race highlights New Delhi's growing capability to host large-scale international athletics events. Security, medical, and hydration stations were strategically placed along the thoroughfares to support the tens of thousands of amateur and professional runners.

The Delhi Half Marathon continues to attract world-class distance runners from across the globe, particularly from East Africa, where altitude training produces some of the planet's finest endurance competitors. Events of this stature provide crucial competitive opportunities and substantial financial rewards for athletes striving to make an impact on the international circuit.

As the dust settles on the 2026 event, attention will eventually turn toward how these elite competitors transition into the upcoming cross-country and marathon seasons. Records set on the streets of the Indian capital often serve as springboards for athletes targeting major global championships in the months ahead.

East African dominance in long-distance running was once again underlined during the grueling contest through the heart of the Indian metropolis. The cool morning conditions helped athletes push their limits from the opening gun, facilitating fast splits right from the lead pack.

Spectators lined the newly designed route in large numbers to cheer on both the international stars and the gritty domestic competitors. The enthusiastic crowd support provided an extra layer of motivation as runners tackled the challenging latter stages of the half marathon distance.

Medical personnel and race officials reported a successful event with no major health incidents among the vast field of starters. The comprehensive operational planning ensured that elite pacing strategies were maintained without disruption from the mass participation waves.

Looking forward, the success of the 2026 Delhi Half Marathon cements its status as a premier destination for elite distance runners seeking fast times and lucrative purses. The enduring legacy of this race will continue to inspire a new generation of Indian and international athletes alike.