Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon 2024: Paris Olympic gold medal winner Joshua Cheptegei to debut

The Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon 2024, recognised as a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race, is set to feature a star international field, highlighted by two-time Olympic gold medallist Joshua Cheptegei and former 5000m World Champion Muktar Edris. Additionally, the women’s competition will be led by Eilish McColgan, the 2022 Commonwealth Games champion in the 10,000m event. The race will take place in the heart of India’s National Capital on Sunday, October 20, 2024.

Pairs Olympics champion Cheptegei aims for strong debut

Fresh off his victory in the 10,000m at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Uganda’s Cheptegei is set to make his debut in the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon. A three-time World Champion in the 10,000m, he has an impressive personal best of 59:21 in the Half Marathon. His remarkable career also includes a gold in the 5,000m and a silver in the 10,000m at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Expressing his excitement ahead of the race, Cheptegei said, “I’m incredibly excited to debut at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon. This race is known for its energetic atmosphere, fast course, and unmatched hospitality. I can’t wait to soak it all in and push myself to deliver a memorable performance. With such a competitive line-up, it will be an exciting challenge, and I’m aiming for nothing less than the top spot.”

Edris brings experience back to Delhi

Muktar Edris will be returning to the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon after he participated in 2022. A standout at the junior level, Edris finished fourth on his debut in Delhi in 2020 with a time of 59:04. He is a two-time world champion in the 5,000m, having secured titles in 2017 and 2019.

Commonwealth Games champion McColgan leads the Women’s field

Eilish McColgan, who won gold in the 10,000m at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, is at the forefront of the women’s competition. She not only set a new Games record but also secured silver in the 5000m. McColgan holds the European record for the 10km road race and boasts multiple British records across various distances. Having represented Great Britain in four Olympic Games (2012-2024) and Scotland in three Commonwealth Games (2014-2022), she has claimed seven national championships, establishing herself as one of Scotland’s most accomplished runners. Last year, she achieved a personal best of 65:43 at the Berlin Half Marathon.

Joining McColgan in the women’s race are several elite athletes, including Kenya’s Cynthia Limo (66:04), Ethiopia’s Yalemget Yaregal (66:27) and Tiruye Mesfin (66:31), and Tanzania’s Magdalena Shauri (66:37). With five women having clocked times under 67 minutes, the competition promises to be both thrilling and fast-paced.

Elite ﬁelds for the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon 2024

Men’s

Name	Country/ YOB	PB (Half Marathon)
Joshua Cheptegei	UGA/1996	59:21:00
Muktar Edris	ETH/1994	58:40:00
Dinkalem Ayele	ETH/2000	59:30:00
Alex Matata	KEN/1997	59:37:00
Alphonce Simbu	TAN/1992	60:03:00
Ismael Kiprono	KEN/1995	60:46:00
Levy Kibet	KEN/2003	61:37:00
Asmamawu Diro	ETH/2000	61:42:00
Malede Bukayaw	ISR/1997	62:45:00
Yitayew Abuhay	ISR/1996	64:21:00
Moogas Tesama	ISR/1988	65:33:00
Nicholas Kipkorir	KEN/1998	59:06:00
Embay Goitom	ETH/2002	Debut
Emmanuel Kibet	UGA/2004	PACER
Amos Langat	KEN/2005	PACER

Women’s

Name	Country/ YOB	PB (Half Marathon)
Eilish McColgan	GBR/1990	65:43:00
Cynthia Limo	KEN/1989	66:04:00
Yalemget Yaregal	ETH/2003	66:27:00
Tiruye Mesfin	ETH/2002	66:31:00
Magdalena Shauri	TAN/1996	66:37:00
Alemaddis Eyayu	ETH/1999	67:04:00
Zerihun Alemstsehay	ETH/2001	67:59:00
Lemlem Hailu	ETH/2001	68:50:00
Dibabe Beyene	ETH/2001	69:10:00
Faith Chepchirchir	KEN/2001	70:33:00
Gelane Getu	ETH/2003	72:06:00
Balemlay Shumet	ETH/2005	Debut
Bernard Cheptoch	UGA/1992	PACER