Lisbon
Ethiopian Zerihun Adugna and Kenyan Dolphine Omare took top honours at the 26th edition of the Hyundai Half Marathon in Lisbon on Sunday, as a field of nearly 18,000 runners packed the Portuguese capital across the half marathon and the EDP 8K.
In the men’s elite race, with the course record (1:00:12, held by Titus Ekiru) on the line, the lead pack stayed shoulder to shoulder until the final kilometre, where Zerihun Adugna dropped a late surge to break the tape in 1:02:01.
Winner Dolphine Omare (second from right) in the women's lead pack at the 26th edition of the Hyundai Half Marathon in Lisbon on Sunday. (Photo / Maratona Clube de Portugal)
Making his debut over 21.1 km, the Ethiopian held off Uganda’s Titus Musau (1:02:05) by four seconds, with Kenyan Brian Kogo crossing just two seconds back in 1:02:07.
The women’s contest blew open earlier, as Dolphine Omare threw down a decisive break around the 17-kilometre mark to solo home in 1:07:25.
The Japan-based Kenyan, making her European racing debut, put 49 seconds into compatriot Margret Chacha (1:08:14), while Ethiopia’s Kuftu Tahir drifted back to finish over a minute and a half behind in 1:09:04.
Omare looked well on course record pace (1:06:54, set by Peres Jepchirchir in 2019) through the middle splits before tying up in the closing stages. Her 1:07:25 finish still ranks as the fifth-fastest winning mark in race history.
Ethiopia's Zerihun Adugna dropped a late surge to break the tape in 1:02:01. (Photo / Maratona Clube de Portugal)
In the domestic battle, Miguel Borges was first home among the Portuguese men, clocking 1:05:25 for 11th overall, while Salomé Rocha secured a top-ten finish in the women's field, crossing in 1:14:09 for ninth.
Leading Results:
Men:
- Zerihun Adugna Abdeta (ETH) 1:02:01
- Titus Musau (UGA) 1:02:05
- Brian Kibet Kogo (KEN) 1:02:07
Women:
- Dolphine Nyaboke Omare (KEN) 1:07:25
- Margret Gati Chacha (KEN) 1:08:14
- Kuftu Tahir Dadiso (ETH) 1:09:04
(Maratona Clube de Portugal)
Japan-based Kenyan Dolphine Omare threw down a decisive break around the 17-kilometre mark to solo home in 1:07:25. ((Photo / Maratona Clube de Portugal)
