Kiplimo Reigns Supreme at Bogotá Half Marathon

The silver medalist at this year’s Hamburg Marathon edged out Eritrea’s Samson Amare, who finished second in 1:03:40, while fellow Kenyan and 2024 Tokyo Marathon winner Benson Kipruto settled for third place, just one second behind Amare in 1:03:41.

Kiplimo’s victory was a statement of intent as he nearly shattered Geoffrey Mutai’s longstanding course record, missing it by just 30 seconds.

Running through the high-altitude streets of Colombia’s capital, the 26-year-old appeared composed and powerful throughout the 21-kilometre course that started and finished at the iconic Simon Bolívar Park.

Benson Kipruto, who recently claimed victory in Tokyo, showed great resilience in the altitude but was narrowly edged out of second place in the final kilometer.

Also putting in a strong performance was 2025 Beijing Half Marathon champion Charles Matata, who finished fourth in 1:06:12 after a late fade in the final stretch.

In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Aynalem Desta took the crown, but Kenya’s 20-year-old rising star Janeth Mutungi stunned many by finishing second with a time of 1:12:49. Mutungi’s poise and endurance at such a young age impressed observers and marked her as one to watch in future international competitions.

So far, the Bogotá Half Marathon attracted over 900,000 participants from more than 60 countries, reinforcing its status as one of South America’s premier road races.

 The 2025 edition featured both 21K and 10K events and continued its tradition of showcasing the world’s best long-distance talent.