By Ahmed Ali
DUBAI, UAE – Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei and Irine Chepet Cheptai are the winners of the 2026 Burj2Burj Half Marathon that climaxed on February 8th in Dubai, UAE.
The world star Cheptegei clocked 59 minutes, 26 seconds and 2 microseconds to complete the 21KM.
Kenya’s Nicholas Kipkorir and Alphonce Felix Simbu finished in second and third place respectively. Kipkorir recorded a time of 59 minutes, 28 seconds and 3 microseconds, and Simbu 59:30:04.
“I am very happy to start the 2026 season with a win in Dubai. I now shift my attention to prepare for the London Marathon in April,” said the 2 time Olympic gold medalist Cheptegei.
In the women’s race Cheptai triumphed with a time of 1:06:57. Another Kenyan Daisilah Jerono came second with a time of 1:06:59.
Men’s top five results
1 Joshua Cheptegei 59:26 (Uganda)
2 Nicholas Kipkorir 59:28 (Kenya)
3 Alphonce Felix Simbu 59:30 (Tanzania)
4 Enos Kipruto Saat 1:00:03 (Kenya)
5 Lulu Babsa 1:00:04 (Ethiopia)
Women’s top five results
1 Irine Chepet Cheptai 1:06:57 (Kenya)
2 Daisilah Jerono 1:06:59 (Kenya)
3 Ftaw Zeray 1:07:01 (Ethiopia)
4 Jackline Cherono 1:09:11 (Kenya)
5 Alexandra Bell 1:09:35 (England)
