In a country where distance running legends are born by the dozen, it takes something extraordinary for an athlete to rise above the crowd.
However, 27-year-old Alex Matata is quietly carving
out his niche, a relentless assassin on the Half Marathon circuit and a rising
force in Kenya’s distance running ranks.
Matata draws deep inspiration from one of Kenya’s track warriors, 2015 World 5,000m silver medallist Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku, a man who once dared to stare down Mo Farah on the grandest stage.
At the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, Ndiku pushed Farah to the brink before the Briton unleashed his famous kick to snatch gold in 13:50.38, with Ndiku claiming a hard-fought silver in 13:51.72 at the Beijing National Stadium.
Ndiku, nicknamed 'The Buffalo', holds accolades
spanning both continental and global championships.
His trophy cabinet further includes the 2014 Commonwealth Games 5,000m title from Glasgow (13:12.07), the 2011 All-African games 1,500m title from Maputo (3:39.12), two African Championship titles from Porto Novo 2012 (1,500m – 3:35.71) and Marrakech 2014 (5,000m – 13:34.27) as well as the 2014 African Continental Cup 3,000m title (7:52.64).
Matata is slowly scripting his own story, having been undefeated since lacing up his shoes for the 2025 season. Undefeated over the half marathon this season, he announced his intent in style on February 1 at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in the UAE, blasting to a personal best 59:20 after outkicking Ethiopia’s Gemechu Dida (59:29) and Isaia Lasoi (59:26).
“This year has so far been a blessing to me since kicking off my campaign in February. My first race was in Ras Al Khaimah, and I was well prepared for it psychologically. My body was feeling good, and I was very much confident heading into the race,” Matata recalls. “My target going into the race was to lower my personal best and win to get my season off to a flying start.”
With the pack intact up to the 15km mark, Matata felt the moment and struck for the win. “We were in a pack of seven athletes up to the 15km mark. I felt my body was in good shape, so I decided to break away and go for the win,” he said.
Heading into that race, Matata had set for himself a bold 58:09 target. Despite not meeting the mark, he was pleased to have lowered his personal best. “My target was to run 58:09 in that race, but I could not. However, I was pleased with the time I finished with and also winning in my first race of the season.”
“Before the race, the favourite to win was Laso, but I was able to outkick him and silence all the critics,” he added. China was next in line, where Matata reeled off back-to-back wins, first in Meishan (59:28), dusting off Tanzania’s Alphonce Simbu (1:01:05) and compatriot Timothy Kiplagat (1:01:06).
He followed it up with another triumph in Yangzhou, winning in 59:31, ahead of Ethiopians Gerba Dibaba (1:00:08) and Abduljelil Abdulwokil (1:00:10). “The races in China were good and the weather was also good. The only challenge was the food; I was not used to that kind of food. They have a very different cuisine from what we are used to here in Africa.”
His winning streak extended to Istanbul on April 27, clocking 59:40 against a competitive field with Ethiopia’s Berehanu Tsegu (1:00:47) and compatriot Shadrack Kendaywo (1:01:28) in second and third place. “I knew the race won’t be easy, but in every race I walk into, I am always psychologically prepared to tackle any challenge.”
Coached by John Litei, Matata is now ranked 14th globally over the 21km this season. Yet he isn’t content with road dominance alone.
On June 26, he tested his legs on the track at the National Championships, clocking 13:50.91 for fourth place in the 5,000m for Kenya Prisons Service. Gilbert Kiprotich (13:37.06), Amos Kiprotich (13:37.58) and George Manangoi (13:43.03) completed the podium places.
“The track is not bad, my body responded very well. I was targeting 13:40, but the time I got was also very good." After testing his mantle on the track, Matata sees a bright future for himself over the 10,000m, to follow in the footsteps of his role model Ndiku.
“I see a future in the 10,000m. I want to do more on the track this season and also next season with the hope of representing the country in international competitions one day and following in Ndiku’s big footprint.”But road running remains his hunting ground. With his management team, Posso Sports, Matata eyes the Copenhagen and Valencia Half Marathons later in the year.
“My management is working on getting me to the
Copenhagen and Valencia Half Marathons later on in the year.”
He believes the Valencia course offers the perfect platform for him to attack his personal best. “I have never run in Valencia, but I know it is a fast course. If I run there, I am very sure I can lower my personal best to 58 or probably 57 minutes,” he said.
Born on July 27, 1997, in Katangi, Yatta, Machakos County, Matata, the second born in a family of five boys, recalls how his passion for running was sparked by stories of his late father, himself a running enthusiast, told by his mother, Rose Matata Kiamba, after his father’s passing in 2007.
“My father died in 2007 while I was still very young. My mother would tell us stories of him and how he used to run, and that sparked a flame within me,” he recalls. The tales of his late father not only inspire him, but his brother Charles Matata too.
Charles is also a half-marathon runner, boasting victories from Beijing 2025 (1:00:25) and back-to-back triumphs in Venlo from 2024 (1:00:39) and 2025 (1:00:36). Ndiku’s Beijing heroics further ignited young Matata’s flame.
“I remember I was herding cows when I heard the news of Ndiku, that inspired me, and I wanted to be like him one day and achieve what he was able to in Beijing.”
Matata joined Kakunike Primary in Katangi, after which he switched to Kisaani Primary due to school fee complications. In his school days, Matata had mastered the 3,000m and 10,000m distances.
It was, however, while at Mekilingi High School that his talent truly blossomed, representing his school in regional competitions.
His talent would catch the eye of Coach Dennis Muthusi, who took him into his Machakos training camp, where he would hone his skills during the holidays. In 2017, Matata would meet with his role model, Ndiku, and this proved a turning point in his life.
“In 2017, while I was in Form Three, Ndiku came to
visit us in camp. It was a very big moment for me. He told me that I was
talented and motivated me. That for me was a life-changing encounter.”
However, Matata’s schooling journey was not without its hurdles. Raised by a single mother, Matata recalls that school fees became a challenge.
“Being raised by a single mother was a big challenge, more so when it comes to paying school fees. My brother Charles and I used to sell firewood so we could assist our mother in getting money to cater for our school fees.”
“Proper running shoes also proved a challenge for
me. You have to have proper running shoes for long distances, hence you risk
being injured.”
In 2018, inspired and determined, Matata stormed to victory in the 3,000m at the National School Games and placed third in the 10,000m. Yet a family crisis robbed him of a chance to compete at the East African Games.
“Ndiku’s motivation struck a chord within me, and in 201,8 I won the national 3,000m and finished third in the 10,000m. However, I could not represent my school at the East African Games because of some challenges back home.”
Muthusi later linked him up with coach Litei in Eldoret, where he honed his craft. “Muthusi introduced me to Litei after the nationals, and because Machakos was not that favourable for long-distance training, I switched to Eldoret.”
But in 2022, a stress fracture sidelined him for a year, a dark chapter where he resorted to washing clothes at camp to make ends meet.
“I got a stress fracture on my leg, which kept me out for a whole year. I pushed my body too much, so it could not hold hence the injury. It was a very big challenge because I had taken up running to support my family. I used to wash clothes at camp so I could get some money to send to my family back home.”
Matata rebounded in 2024 with a stunning half-marathon debut win in Padova (59:37). Matata, however, bounced back in 2024, opening his season with an emphatic win in his maiden half marathon appearance in Padova (59:37).
“In that race, I was hungry for a win, and I wanted to make a statement and announce my arrival in the half marathon.”
He extended that top form in his next appearances,
winning in Bucharest (1:00:04) and Antrim Coast (59:46) before finishing second
in New Delhi (59:53) behind two-time Olympic gold medallist Joshua Cheptegei of
Uganda (59:46).
“When I was heading to that race, I was not feeling very well. I was to cancel, but my management pushed me to continue with the race.”
“I hit 10K at 27:57, and at that time, Cheptegei was
behind me. However, as we approached the finish, my body started failing me, and
Cheptegei came past me and ended up winning. It was my very first time running
against Cheptegei.”
He, however, bounced back in his final race of the 2024 season in Al Khobar, winning in 1:00:17 ahead of Ethiopia’s Adisu Negash (1:00:21) and Nicholas Kipkorir (1:00:23).
