Ejgayehu Taye claimed victory in the women’s half marathon at the Rimi Riga Marathon on 17 May, finishing in 1:04:22 and setting a new course record. In the men’s race, Kenya’s Charles Mbatha Matata took the win in 59:15, missing the Rimi Riga Marathon course record by just five seconds.
In the women’s competition, the course record set in 2024 — 1:07:13 — was convincingly improved by Ethiopia’s Ejgayehu Taye, who crossed the finish line in 1:04:22. She was followed by Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui in 1:06:01, while Stella Chesang finished third in 1:08:15.
In the men’s race, Matata was followed by Kenya’s James Kipkogei, who finished second in 59:50, while Benson Tunyo Murkomen, also from Kenya, claimed bronze in 1:00:29.
Jānis Višķers and Ilze Jumiķe fastest Latvian runners in the half marathon
Among Latvian runners, Jānis Višķers delivered the fastest result in the men’s race, finishing in 1:12:50 and placing 14th overall. Vadims Marinecs recorded the second-fastest Latvian result with 1:13:20, while Raitis Jirgensons was the third-fastest Latvian runner at the Rimi Riga Marathon, finishing in 1:15:14.
In the women’s elite field, Ilze Jumiķe was the fastest Latvian today, winning in 1:21:35 and placing 10th overall among women. Zanda Malančuka took silver in 1:23:24, while bronze went to Baiba Medne in 1:25:07.
