Regina Wambui (L), Diana Wanza and Monica Ngige (R) after completing the women's 10km race/ HANDOUTThe 2023 Nairobi Standard Chartered Marathon champion, Evelyne Chirchir, and Joshua Kithuku are the winners of the 2025 World Aids Day Half Marathon after their dominant displays on Sunday at the Nyayo National Stadium.
Chirchir clocked 1:08:05 to secure the women’s title ahead of a spirited Desilah Jerono (1:08:46) and the ever-consistent Beatrice Cheserek (1:09:36). The 27-year-old celebrated her first victory on the roads since kicking off her 2025 campaign.
She opened her season in China at the Meishan Half Marathon, where she clocked 1:06:40 for fourth place. Ethiopia’s Fikrte Wereta (1:06:28), Grace Loibach (1:06:31) and Tiruye Mesfin (1:06:34) completed the podium in that tightly contested race. Chirchir then moved up in distance, lining up at the Prague Marathon on May 4, where she finished runner-up in 2:21:25.
She crossed the line behind Ethiopian Bertukan Welde (2:20:55), with compatriot Pascalia Chepkogei (2:22:11) sealing third place. On August 31, she returned to the tarmac for her second marathon of the year in Sydney, posting 2:23:13 for fifth place.
Netherlands star Sifan Hassan clinched the title in 2:18:22, with Brigid Kosgei (2:18:56) and Workenesh Edesa (2:22:15) completing the podium. Her most recent outing before Sunday was at the Boston Half Marathon on November 9, where she clocked 1:09:01 to finish third behind Ethiopia’s Fantaye Belayneh (1:08:51) and Melknat Wudu (1:08:53).
In the men’s race, Kithuku clocked 1:00:58 to claim the crown. Mathew Kimeli was second place in 1:01:09, while Michael Kimani sealed the podium in 1:01:10.
Kithuku has endured a mixed bag of results over 21 km this season. He kicked off his campaign at the Generali Berlin Half Marathon, where he managed 1:01:41 for a disappointing ninth place. The race was dominated by Gemechu Dida (58:43), Richard Etir (59:30) and Amanal Petros (59:31).
He, however, roared back to form at the Gutenberg race, finishing third in 1:01:24 behind James Matelong (1:00:50) and Samuel Sibhatu (1:01:22), restoring belief ahead of Sunday’s triumph.
At the World Aids Day event, Diana Wanza stormed to the women’s 10km title, cutting the tape in 32:01 ahead of Regina Wambui (33:47) and Monica Ngige (34:30).
In the men’s 10km contest, Edgar Kipkorir reigned supreme in 28:50, with Alfred Kimani (28:57) and Martin Ndungu (29:55) completing the podium.
