Ethiopians triumph in Barcelona

In the men’s race, Gebrhiwet broke away from his rivals early on, setting a relentless pace that no one could match. For much of the race he appeared on track to dip below the 58-minute mark, eventually crossing the finish line in 58:05 a remarkable performance and the fastest time recorded worldwide this season over the distance. Switzerland’s Dominic Lobalu finished second (59:25) and France’s Emmanuel Roudolff third (59:35).

In the women’s race, Chemnung secured a clear victory in 1:04:00. Her performance not only earned her the win but also set a new course record, improving the previous mark by 12 seconds, and ranked as the sixth fastest time in history. American runner Weini Kelati placed second (1:06:03), followed by Ethiopia’s Diniya Abaraya (1:06:27).

Alongside the men’s world-leading time and the women’s course record, the race also witnessed several national records, including Australia’s Jack Rayner, who finished sixth in 59:51 to set a new national best.

Hagos Gebrhiwet said: “The race is beautiful and the course is very fast. I expected that after seeing last year’s performances. My first goal was to win and I also wanted to run under 58 minutes. I achieved the victory and came close to my personal best, so I’m happy. I did think about the record, but I started to feel fatigue and the wind in the final stretch made things difficult.”

Loice Chemnung commented: “The course is very fast and flat, ideal for good performances. I enjoyed it very much and the atmosphere was fantastic — thank you all, I hope to return to Barcelona. I’m very happy with both the victory and the course record.”

Barcelona once again experienced a vibrant running celebration with the largest half marathon ever held in Spain and the second largest in Europe. The 36,000 participants represent the highest entry number in the race’s history and mark the fourth consecutive year of growth. Organized by the City Council of Barcelona and RPM Sports, the event also achieved a record female participation rate, with more than 14,000 women (40% of the field), alongside 40% international runners representing 93 countries and a strong youth presence, with 35% under the age of 35.

The city streets were filled with spectators throughout the morning, supported by 25 entertainment points along the course, reinforcing the race’s position as a key fixture on the international calendar — both competitively and culturally.