Kenyan runners Charles Mbatha Matata and Susy Chebet Chemaimek delivered commanding performances to capture the men’s and women’s titles at the 2025 Beijing Half Marathon held on April 20 in the Chinese capital.
Matata completed the 21.0975‑kilometre course in one hour and twenty‑five seconds, finishing seven seconds ahead of fellow Kenyan Wisley Kipkemoi Yego, while Ethiopia’s Getachew Masresha Kidie claimed third place.
After the race Matata said “I really appreciate the opportunity to race in Beijing. The course here is good,” adding “I was focusing on 59 minutes, which is my target time. The final result is not so bad and not so good”.
Susy Chebet Chemaimek shattered the women’s course record with a time of one hour nine minutes and seven seconds, outrunning Ugandan Rispa Cherop into second place and Ethiopia’s Beriha Gebreyohanes Gebreslasie into third.
Organised by the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau and supported by national athletics authorities, the Beijing Half Marathon traces its roots back nearly seventy years, ranking it among Asia’s oldest road races. This year’s route wound from Tiananmen Square to the Beijing Olympic Park, combining historical landmarks with state‑of‑the‑art sporting facilities.
The event’s popularity was evident in the record number of lottery entrants: 169,879 runners registered for the chance to compete in the 20,000 available starting spots. Such overwhelming interest underscores the race’s mass appeal and reflects Beijing’s efforts to foster a running culture across both elite and recreational levels.
These victories reinforce the longstanding dominance of East African athletes in international distance running, a trend observed for decades in middle‑ and long‑distance events.
As Beijing continues to showcase major sporting events, the Half Marathon’s blend of elite competition and mass participation offers a unique platform for athletes and amateurs alike to engage with China’s evolving athletics scene.
