Kenyan runners Charles Mbatha Matata and Susan Chebet Chemaimek triumphed in the men’s and women’s races respectively at the 2025 Beijing Half Marathon on Sunday.
Chemaimak smash the women’s course record with a blistering time of 1:09:07, while Matata surged to victory in the men’s race in 1:00:25.
Chemaimak’s historic win rewrote the record books, eclipsing the previous best of 1:11:07 set by China’s Liu Min in 2023. Her commanding performance underscored Kenya’s continued dominance in long-distance running on the international stage.
Matata narrowly missed Kirui’s 59:37 course record (2023) but delivered an electrifying performance. Crossing the finish line in just over an hour, he led a competitive pack that highlighted the event’s growing international prestige.
This year’s race began at 7:30 a.m. in Tiananmen Square, passed Beijing landmarks, and ended at Olympic Park Central Area. With 20,000 runners participating, the event was a vibrant celebration of sport, community spirit, and Beijing’s lively spring atmosphere.
According to Beijing News, participants from 54 countries and regions submitted a record-breaking 169,879 applications. Jimu News reported that while 43.4% of runners were locals from Beijing, a majority — 56.6% — traveled from beyond the capital.
Recognized as a World Athletics Label Road Race and rated A1-level by the Chinese Athletics Association, the 2025 edition lived up to its poetic theme. “A half-marathon poem in a city of spring.” Organizers thoughtfully planned the 21-kilometer route to highlight Beijing’s cherry blossoms and historical landmarks in full springtime beauty.
Organizers unveiled several upgrades this year, including a reengineered layout beyond the 17.5-kilometer mark. Race organizers eliminated U-turns and introduced long straight stretches to minimize energy loss and help athletes maintain a consistent pace.
The elite field grew, with eight international men, five having sub-61-minute personal bests. They were joined by eight top Chinese men, four of whom had previously run sub-65. In the women’s race, eight international elites with five sub-70 times joined eight domestic runners, including Liu Min, former record-holder.
Liu, who graciously ceded her title to Chemaimak, reflected on the deeper meaning of long-distance running in a recent Global Times interview.
“There are so many uncertainties along the way, that’s the charm of competitive sport,” she said.
“A marathon is a way for young people to connect with a city’s culture and its unique character.”