The 2023 Buenos Aires Half Marathon champion, Roncer Konga,
was in imperious form on Sunday, powering to victory at the Shanghai Half
Marathon in 1:01:07 and spearheading a commanding Kenyan podium sweep.
Konga led compatriots Edmond Kipng'etich, who clocked
1:01:11 for second place and Isaac Kipkemboi, who rounded off the podium in
1:01:15.
Konga, 30, was hunting for redemption after finishing sixth
at the Barcelona 21K in February, where he posted 1:00:46.
Sunday’s triumph marked Konga’s first half-marathon win of
the year and added to an already glittering resume.
In Buenos Aires 2023, he lowered his personal best by
clocking 59:08 for victory, leading a Kenyan top-four finish. Felix Kipkoech
(59:28), Cosmas Boi (59:29) and Bedan Karoki (59:37) placed in positions two
through four.
That same year, Konga triumphed in Paris after cutting the
tape in 59:38 ahead of Josphat Chumo (59:53) and Jimmy Gressier (59:55)
representing the hosts. He further holds another victory in Prague, having
clocked 59:43 to outpace Maxwell Rotich of Uganda (1:00:06) and Geoffrey Koech
(1:00:11).
In the women’s race in Shanghai, Ethiopia’s Ftaw Zeray
shattered the course record after cutting the tape in 1:06:36.
Kenya’s Veronicah Maina (1:10:57) settled for second ahead
of home favourite Xu Shuangshuang (1:11:07). Meanwhile, in Beijing, rising
Kenyan star Charles Matata continued his fine run of form with a commanding
victory in 1:00:25. Despite emerging victorious, Matata noted that he had not
met his target time in the Chinese capital. "I was focusing on 59 minutes,
which is my target time. The final result is not so bad and not so good,"
Matata said after the race. Matata noted that he was pleased with the course
and the opportunity to run in Beijing. "I appreciate the opportunity to
race in Beijing. The course here is good," he noted.
This was Matata's second half-marathon triumph after opening
the 2025 season with a 1:00:36 victory at the Venloop Half Marathon.
In the women’s race, Susy Chemaimak stormed to a course
record in 1:09:07.
