L. MathekaKennedy Kimutai defends Paris Half Marathon title as Ftaw Zeray breaks course record
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Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 09.03.26. | 15:37
Last year's women's winner Jackline Cherono clocked 1:08:26 for fourth place in the women's race
Kenya's Kennedy Kimutai delivered a sensational performance to clinch victory at the HOKA Semi de Paris 2026 Half Marathon, crossing the line in an impressive 1:00:11.
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Holding a relentless 2:52/km average pace, Kimutai controlled the race from the early kilometres and maintained the rhythm all the way through the streets of Paris.
Kimutai, 26, who clocked an impressive 58:28 in Valencia in 2021, was the man to beat, having already etched his name into the event's winners' list with a time of 1:00:16 last year.
Starting out with 14:20 in the opening 5km, he maintained a steady pace to cross the 10km in 28:40. He went on to clear the next five kilometres in 43:02, before hitting the 20km mark in 57:05.
He defended his title, finishing ahead of Timothy Misoi, who was second in 01:00:41, while South Africa's Thabang Mosiako completed the podium places in 01:00:44.
Meanwhile, Ethiopia's Ftaw Zeray set a new women's course record in 1:05:12 to win the race on Women's Day, improving her personal best by nearly a minute. The previous record was held by Kenyan Sheila Chepkurui at 1:06:01 in 2023.
Zeray controlled the pace with confidence before pulling clear in the decisive stages, cementing her place in the history of the Paris Half Marathon.
She finished ahead of Uganda's Sarah Chelangat, who secured second place in 01:06:31, with Kenya's Mercy Chepwogen third just a second behind (01:06:32) to complete the podium.
Women
1st - Ftaw Zeray (ETH) 01:05:12
2nd - Sarah Chelangat (UGA) 01:06:31
3rd - Mercy Chepwogen (KEN) 01:06:32
Men
1st - Kennedy Kimutai (KEN) 01:00:11
2nd - Timothy Misoi (KEN) 01:00:41
3rd - Thabang Mosiako (RSA) 01:00:44